North Dakota Heating
North Dakota Heating
24/7 North Dakota heating pros

Pilot Light Keeps Going Out

A pilot that refuses to hold is usually a failed safety part doing its job, so it deserves a call instead of another round of relighting.

Tap to Call(866) 661-2784

When this becomes an emergency

What a pro does

The pilot flame itself is rarely what's wrong. A thermocouple or thermopile has to be heated properly by that flame to hold the gas valve open, and when it corrodes, drifts out of position, or simply ages out, the valve closes seconds after the knob is released even though a perfectly good flame was burning against it. Clogged pilot orifices are the other frequent finding, especially on propane appliances in dusty utility rooms and shops. A tech also checks draft and vent condition, since a downdraft strong enough to blow the pilot out is a venting problem rather than a parts problem.

Frequently asked questions

Holding the knob overrides the safety and feeds gas manually. Releasing it hands control back to the sensor, and if that sensor isn't producing enough signal the valve shuts immediately.
Standing-pilot equipment of any age drifts out of adjustment, and older units in shops or garages pick up dust and cobweb debris that partially blocks the pilot orifice.
A brief whiff during relighting can happen. A smell that lingers or that you notice with the appliance idle means leaving the building and calling from outside.
Yes, a strong downdraft through the flue or an air leak in the mechanical room can knock it out repeatedly, which is why venting gets inspected alongside the parts.

Pilot Light Keeps Going Out?

Get connected with a local pro now.

Tap to Call(866) 661-2784

Keep going

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