How to Light Your Pilot Light: Tips from a Fireplace Designer in Seattle, WA

While the majority of newer models of furnaces, boilers and other appliances have electric starters, there are still many older models of these appliances that require you to manually light the pilot light. This was once a commonplace task, but today, many people might not know exactly how to accomplish it.

Here are some step-by-step instructions for how to light your pilot light, straight from an experienced fireplace designer in Seattle, WA:

1. Make sure you’ve read your manual: This is good general advice for doing just about anything with any appliance, but it holds especially true here. Your model is likely to have lighting instructions, whether it’s in the manual itself or on a sticker next to the door. Make sure you read these directions closely, and follow them to the letter. If your device does not have instructions, continue to follow the directions below.
2. Turn the gas control valve to “off”: Once the gas is off, check any gas appliances surrounding the valve for unlit pilot lights, and make sure to turn their valves off as well if the pilot lights are out. Wait about five to 10 minutes for the gas fumes to disperse before lighting. If you still notice the smell of gas, DO NOT PROCEED. Evacuate the area and call for assistance from a professional. Attempting to light the pilot light while you smell gas could produce an explosion.
3. Remove the cover to your furnace: If you do not smell gas, remove the cover, which is typically below the gas control knob. Use a flashlight to locate the pilot light tube on the inside of the furnace.
4. Prepare your lighter/match and then light: You will need to use either a long match or a long lighter to light your pilot light. Hold it right next to the light tube while you turn the gas control knob on to “pilot.” Press the reset lever or switch, and then light the tube. This switch might be a red lever or a button. You should hold it for a minute while lighting the tube.
5. If your pilot light does not stay lit: It’s not uncommon for a pilot light to go out immediately after you with draw your match or lighter after step four. If this happens, repeat all of these instructions a couple more times, making sure you do not smell any gas before proceeding. Again, it is important to make sure the smell of gas has completely dissipated before you attempt to proceed.

Newer furnaces and boilers might have different sets of instructions or methods to turn on the pilot light, but for the vast majority of older fixtures, these are the steps you are going to need to go through to get the pilot light lit.

For more information about lighting your pilot light or caring for the heating fixtures in your home, contact Custom Fire Art, your trusted fireplace designer in Seattle, WA, today to get the help you need.

Categorised in: Fireplace Remodeling

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