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Your boiler pilot light is an essential part of your boiler. The pilot light or flame must be lit to ensure that your boiler can produce hot water for your taps and central heating as and when required. If your pilot light goes out, identify your boiler.
The boilers in our homes primarily work in the background, and years can go by before we check to see if the pilot light is still lit.
It can be hard to figure out what’s wrong and how to fix it when things go wrong.
This blog will discuss these typical reasons: how to light your pilot light again if it goes out and what lights your boiler should have.
What Is A Boiler Pilot Light, And Why Is It Important?
The boiler pilot light is an essential element of older boilers that needs to stay lit for the boiler to function. It lights the gas that goes into the boiler, which provides heat and hot water to your home.
Keeping your pilot light lit is essential to ensure your boiler works appropriately and remains safe. The pilot light should always be on; if it goes out, you must fix it immediately.
There are two types of boiler pilot lights. These are pilot lights that use automated and human controls. Before figuring out why it keeps going out, you’ll need to know what kind of pilot light you have.
- A manual pilot light: The best way to tell if your pilot light is manual is to look at the gas control knob. Three options should be available: “pilot,” “on,” and “off.” This means that your pilot light is probably manual if the gas control knob has these settings.
- An automatic pilot light: Your boiler should have a label on the front that says it has an automatic pilot light.
You can find the sign on the front of the boiler if there isn’t one. If not, look at the gas control button. Only “on” and “off” should be able to be used to set your automatic pilot light.
Trying to light an automatic pilot light by hand is never a good idea.
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What Do You Do If the Pilot Light Goes Out?
First, make sure that the gas valve is not “on” or “pilot” but “off.” If something worse goes wrong, this will keep the gas from building up and becoming dangerous.
Then, you must choose whether you can relight the pilot light yourself or need a gas-safe registered engineer.
What Happened If A Pilot Light Goes Out?
The way these older gas boilers work means a slow and steady stream of gas is constantly being fed from the gas pipe.
The pilot light will constantly burn the gas, producing the desired heat.
However, if the pilot light is not working, the same amount of gas will still be fed through the pipe and will continue accumulating—which is dangerous.
To prevent gas explosions in our homes, valves are fitted to sense whether the flame is lit. When this valve senses no flame, the gas is cut off, and any build-up of dangerous gases is prevented.
Regardless of this fact, it is recommended you leave a pilot light out for a short period.
How Do You Relight the Pilot Light On a Boiler?
If the guidebook or the boiler itself doesn’t have clear directions on how to use it, try these steps:
- Turn off the appliance and the gas control valve on your boiler. Do the same for any other appliances whose pilot lights are out if this happens to more than one—still waiting. Don’t let off the gas.
- Wait to do any of the following steps for about 10 minutes. This makes sure that any gas that has gathered can escape.
Once the gas is gone, you can safely take off the appliance’s cover or door.
- Set the gas to “pilot.”
- Hold the flame on the pilot light and press the reset button for one minute. Only hold down the switch once the pilot light has lit to prevent the gas from building up again. The light should stay after you let go of the button. The restart won’t work if it goes out again.
- If everything works as it should, put any cases or doors back in place and turn the gas from ‘pilot’ to ‘on.’
How Do I Know If My Pilot Light Is Off?
If your model is new, the start may not have a pilot light because it is electric.
On older models, you will likely have a more manual ignition process. It should be apparent when you open the door/remove your appliance’s casing by the presence of a small blue flame.
If a blue flame is not seen, it indicates that your pilot light is out.
Why Does My Pilot Light Keep Going Out?
If you regularly relight the pilot light on your gas boiler, you may need to investigate other causes.
Call an expert if you must relight your pilot more than once every three months.
If you can see your pilot light repeatedly blowing out, it could be due to a dirty pilot tube.
Small, challenging objects like a drinking straw could clean out any debris from the tube.
Alternatively, a draft could be the reason for the light to go out. If you think a draft is causing the issue, you will need a Gas Safe Engineer to check how your boiler has been installed, as it should not be exposed to drafts.
What Causes a Pilot Light To Go Out?
There are so many reasons why a boiler pilot light can go out, which is why, once electrical ignition was developed, most models switched to this new technology.
It could be as simple as refilling the gas/propane tank. However, the nature of these appliances means your boiler has more dangerous issues.
For example, pilot lights could go out with high winds/drafts and low gas pressures but could also be faulty, loose, or broken vents, valves, thermocouples, or heat exchangers.
That’s why you should never take a pilot flame outage lightly.
Boiler Pilot Light: Dos & Don’ts
Do’s | Don’ts |
Do always read/consult the manufacturer’s guidelines first. | Do not apply brute force or oil to the appliance, even if the controls are sticky or difficult. Damaging the appliance could lead to a gas leak, which is more dangerous than ever. |
Please remove others from the area before attempting to relight your pilot light to ensure maximum safety for those around you. | Do not light your pilot light if you doubt there could be a more complex issue with your boiler. The dangers of gas ignition can be incredibly high and could result in death. |
Keep the room you’re in well-ventilated to ensure the gas dissipates safely. If you smell gas, evacuate everyone as quickly as possible. Turn off the gas supply valve quickly and report a gas leak. If you believe a gas leak has occurred, refrain from returning to your building. | Do not ignore gas odours (recommended reading: Gas Leak Symptoms). Do not try to relight the flame if a strong odour could cover any gas and prevent you from detecting a gas leak. |
Do not attempt to relight a pilot light if devices like mobile phones or other electrics could cause sparks. |
Conclusion
Understanding the standard lights on your boiler and what they mean is crucial for maintaining its efficiency, safety, and longevity. By checking these lights often and following the care tips, you can keep your boiler in good shape and avoid common problems. Remember that if you’re unsure how to ensure your boiler works safely and correctly, it’s always best to talk to a professional heating tech.
Being cautious and well-informed can help keep your home warm and cosy while lowering the risk of sudden boiler breaks and expensive fixes. Keep this guide close by; if you need help, don’t hesitate to ask. Taking care of your boiler is essential because it’s an integral part of your house.
