There are numerous reasons why your water heater’s pilot light may suddenly go out. It could be due to a passing wind or draft, depending on the location of your water heater. Or perhaps you have had some work done recently that required the gas supply to be shut off. Whatever the case, Loveland Plumbing & Drain is here to assist you in getting your water heater back up and running – that way you can go back to enjoying your warm, toasty showers once again.
WHAT SHOULD YOU CHECK FIRST?
Before we discuss the step-by-step process of relighting your water heater’s pilot light, it’s important to note that most manufacturers place pilot light relighting instructions on the side of the unit for your convenience. If these are available for you to read, it’s best to refer to directions straight from the manufacturer, as they are designed for your specific water heater model. However, if your water heater doesn’t have these instructions or is not easily accessible, please refer to the general guide we have pieced together for you below.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO RELIGHTING YOUR WATER HEATER’S PILOT LIGHT?
- Before proceeding with anything, shut off the gas supply first.
- Next, if your specific water heater model has a burner cover, you will first need to remove this access panel. So, if your water heater has one, carefully place it to the side in the meantime.
- Thirdly, you need to give the previously built-up gas an appropriate time to dissipate. Five to ten minutes should suffice.
- When the gas has had sufficient time to dissipate, turn the gas control valve to the “pilot” setting.
- Then press the knob inward and keep holding it down (it should also function like a button).
- Keep your grip pressing the knob inward, and then hit the ignition button. On most water heaters, this is the square black button right below the knob. As a result, you should see the pilot flame make its appearance. (You can verify this through the viewing window.)
- Now, don’t let go of the knob just yet. You should remain pressing down on this knob until you see the indicator light blink on. Once you see it, you may release your hold on the knob.
- With the pilot flame now relit, go ahead and rotate the knob to the temperature setting you desire.
- Be sure to turn the gas supply back on.
- In addition, don’t forget to return the burner cover back to its original position if you did have to take one off your unit.
Congratulations! You have successfully relit your water heater’s pilot light! A handy trait for every homeowner to be proud of, in our opinion!
WHAT ARE SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS TO KNOW?
- Now that your pilot light is ablaze again, you should be able to see it burning steadily with a bluish hue. If, however, the pilot flame snuffs right back out upon releasing the knob, this may mean there is a component-related issue at hand. If this is the case for you, please give us a call so we can have one of our highly qualified technicians diagnose the problem.
- Every water heater model is different. But most of them are set up with a pretty similar structure. If you are having trouble identifying your gas controls and switches, you can try looking for your exact model online to better pinpoint where your controls are.
- Furthermore, it’s important to know that even if a gas water heater has an electronic ignition system, it may still have a pilot light as a means of backup. This is in case the ignition system malfunctions. If this happens to you, the pilot light may be used to manually ignite the burner if necessary, by using a lighter or a match.
If your water heater is still giving you grief, let your favorite service professionals at Loveland Plumbing & Drain handle it for you. We are a local, trustworthy company you can rely on. So what are you waiting for? Call us for all your plumbing needs at (513) 644-0556, or schedule an appointment now by clicking here!