Trying to relax in a hot shower, hoping for the calming sensation of warm water only to be greeted with an icy stream is frustrating! We’ve all been there. Blown-out pilot lights on water heaters are quite common issues that are the main culprit to these plumbing catastrophes. One reason why this happens is due to drafts passing through the room. If your water heater’s pilot light has blown out, it could also be due to a clogged or malfunctioning thermocouple, which is the small sensor that detects if the flame is lit. But no matter what caused your pilot light to be snuffed out, Pickerington Plumbing & Drain has you covered with our easy-to-follow guide on how to relight your pilot light! So, don’t fret; simply follow these simple steps, and you’ll have your hot water back in no time.
DO YOU NEED HELP REIGNITING THE PILOT LIGHT OF YOUR WATER HEATER?
- To begin, search for the access panel on the side of your water heater. It is usually held in place with a few screws or latches, so gently take it off and set it aside while you are working. By simply taking off the access panel, you can instantly view both the electronic ignition system and the gas control valve. Familiarize yourself with these controls before moving on.
- Before reigniting your pilot light, it’s vital to switch off the gas supply by twisting the gas control valve to “off.” Safety is the top priority here. Therefore, we want to stress how crucial it is for you to pause for 5-10 minutes after turning it off so that any existing gas can fume away. Don’t forget this step!
- Now that the gas has had time to disperse, go ahead and turn the gas control valve to “pilot.”
- Then, press and hold down the knob. (Several water heaters have knobs that also function like buttons, meaning you can also push it inwards if your model has this feature.)
- As you are still pressing on the knob, push in the small black square beneath it (depending on the model, buttons may vary). This is the “ignition” button. All you need is one click to get things going. If it’s not successful, you can try clicking it again. Make sure to continually hold “pilot” mode throughout this procedure! Once the “ignition” button is pressed, the pilot flame should spark up and now remain lit once again.
- Keep pressing down on the knob until the indicator light blinks. When you see it blink, you finally can let go of the “pilot” button/knob.
- Then set the water heater to your desired temperature setting.
- Turn the gas supply back on.
- Finally, make sure to firmly fasten all screws or latches and place the access panel back in its original position.
It’s crucial to remember that even if your gas water heater operates with an electronic ignition system, it should still come equipped with a backup pilot light in case the electric equipment malfunctions. It might be helpful to keep this in mind as you can manually ignite the burner using a match or lighter, utilizing the reserve pilot light whenever necessary.
Follow these steps one by one to relight your pilot light. Though it may not be particularly difficult, each step must still be carefully followed in order for the process to go smoothly and safely. When you take all of the necessary precautions, you can soon return to the comfort of your home and enjoy its warmth without having to worry about any hassles or hazards.
Don’t wait another minute! Pickerington Plumbing & Drain is standing by to lend a helping hand and ensure that all of your plumbing needs are taken care of. We look forward to providing our services to you and your family! So, call today at (614) 350-1955, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
