Pilot Light Keeps Going Out

Relighting the same pilot over and over means a safety device is trying to shut the appliance down for a reason, so it deserves a look rather than another match.

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When this becomes an emergency

You've relit the pilot more than once in the same week.
The flame doesn't wrap around the sensor probe the way it used to.
There's a sharp gas odor near the appliance; get outside and call from there.
The pilot burns orange or lifts away from the burner instead of sitting steady.

What a pro does

Standing-pilot systems fail in predictable ways. The sensor that proves the flame produces a tiny voltage when it's hot enough, and a tech measures that output directly rather than guessing, because a weak reading condemns the part while a good reading points somewhere else entirely. Flame geometry matters just as much: a pilot that's drifted off the probe, or an orifice partially blocked with lint from a nearby dryer vent, starves the sensor even though the flame looks lit. Gas pressure and combustion air get checked as well, since a mechanical room sealed up tight can pull the flame away from where it belongs.

Frequently asked questions

How is a bad flame sensor confirmed rather than guessed at?

With a meter. The sensor produces a measurable output when properly heated, and a reading well under spec is direct evidence rather than a hunch.

Why does the pilot look orange instead of blue?

Orange or yellow usually means poor combustion, often from a partially blocked orifice or from dust and lint drawn into the burner area.

Can a tight, well-sealed basement cause pilot problems?

It can. Combustion needs makeup air, and a sealed mechanical room competing with a dryer or a bath fan can pull enough to disturb the flame.

Is it worth converting an old standing-pilot unit to electronic ignition?

That isn't usually a retrofit so much as a reason to consider replacement, and it's a decision better made on the equipment's overall condition than on one pilot complaint.

Pilot Light Keeps Going Out?

Get connected with a local pro now.

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