Why Did My Pilot Light Turn Off?

The pilot light is one of the crucial parts of a conventional water heater. But when it turns off, there’s no flame available to heat water and provide a home with hot water.

Since 2007, we at Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric have responded to and addressed thousands of service requests regarding a lack of hot water due to a pilot light that turned off. Throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding counties, we’ve seen a recurring list of reasons why the pilot light turns off.

The pilot light of your conventional water heater may have turned off due to.

• Gas supply issues
• Dirty pilot light
• Pilot light assembly issues
• Thermocouple problems

After you read this article, you’ll be able to use this insider information to communicate with a technician in case your pilot light issue is diagnosed further. By understanding why a pilot light goes out, you can determine whether it’s worth repairing or replacing it with a new water heater.

How Do You Check if the Pilot Light Went Out?

A lack of hot water is one of the most common symptoms of a turned-off pilot light. Homeowners can confirm that the pilot light went out by visually inspecting the pilot light assembly located at the bottom of the water heater on the front-facing side of the tank.

Once you confirm that the pilot light went out, you can attempt to relight it yourself. Or, you can contact a certified technician to come and not only relight your conventional water heater but inspect and diagnose why it went out in the first place.

Before you attempt to relight your water heater or decide to wait for a technician, read on further to learn why your water heater’s pilot light went out.

Issues with Gas Supply

Pilot lights are standard with conventional water heaters and are powered by gas. If there’s an issue with the supply of gas feeding the pilot light’s flame, then the pilot light will go out and remain off.

The pilot light tube is the part responsible for delivering natural gas to ignite the flame of a pilot light. If the tube is cracked or clogged, a technician may need to replace that part so it can continue supplying the pilot light with natural gas.

There’s also a possibility of a gas leak not reaching the conventional water heater’s pilot light. When inspecting the pilot light, be alert for any leaking gas odors. If you do smell gas, contact your natural gas provider, such as SoCal Gas, to report a possible gas leak.

Natural gas is part of the formula that keeps a flame lit on the pilot light, but sometimes, it is so dirty that it may go out.

Dirty Pilot Light

The pilot light can accumulate dirt and debris, which may cause the fire from the pilot light to go out. Some pilot lights are easily accessible enough that a homeowner can use an old rag or soft brush to wipe any dirt from the pilot light area.

Some pilot lights are only accessible behind an assembly panel. Once the panel is removed, a homeowner can use compressed air to remove debris and accumulated dirt.

The pilot light can be relit once it’s cleaned. Even if it’s cleaned, there may be an issue within the entire pilot assembly, causing it to go out.

Pilot Light Assembly Problems

The pilot light assembly comprises different parts, which can cause the pilot light to go out if there’s an issue with the components. Here’s a look at some crucial parts of the entire pilot light assembly.

• Gas control valve: The valve is either a knob or a switch that monitors gas flow into the pilot light. The gas control valve usually has three settings: off, pilot mode, and on. If the valve is broken, gas may not reach the pilot light and fuel its flame.
• Igniter: This part is responsible for creating a spark that becomes the pilot light’s flame. The igniter can get dirty, broken, or worn down to the point where it can no longer generate enough of a spark to start a burning flame. Depending on the overall condition of the assembly, the igniter can be swapped for a new one and then tested to see if it kickstarts a spark.
• Thermocouple: This component acts as a safety mechanism responsible for monitoring the flame present in the pilot light. It cools down if there’s no heat present and triggers a shutoff signal to the gas control valve to help prevent gas from leaking. Even if the pilot light is relit, a broken thermocouple may not detect the heat, causing it to keep the gas valve off unless the thermocouple is repaired or replaced.

These parts are small and should be handled with care, which is why it’s recommended a technician inspects a pilot light assembly so they can get a diagnosis.

Can The Pilot Light be Relit?

To conclude, we looked at some of the more common reasons why a pilot light went out. Even though homeowners can relight their conventional water heater’s pilot light, a professional technician may be better equipped to determine why it went out in the first place.

For over 15 years, we’ve helped inspect and diagnose thousands of conventional water heaters with pilot lights going out. Although each water heater differs, we understand the importance of an operating pilot light. By sharing our insider knowledge, homeowners can feel more assured of discussing pilot light issues with a technician.

If your water heater’s pilot light went out, contact us through the buttons below. You can directly book an appointment through our water heater repair online scheduler.

Pilot light replacements are inexpensive, but if your water heater is reaching the end of its lifespan, a newer replacement may be more suitable. To help prepare for a future when you need to replace a water heater, check out this article on the costs of different water heaters.