A pilot light is a small flame that serves as the ignition source for your furnace’s burners. If it won’t turn on or can’t stay on, that threatens to derail every significant function of your furnace. Here are a few reasons why the furnace in your Buford, GA, home may be having pilot light problems.
Old or Dirty Air Filters
Dirty air filters can block airflow through your furnace, causing it to overheat. This, in turn, can damage your furnace’s heat exchanger, causing the whole unit to shut down and extinguish the pilot light. To prevent this, remember to replace your filters at least once every 90 days.
A Broken Thermocouple
A thermocouple is a small copper tube located near your pilot light whose function is to sense whether the pilot light is burning or not. If the pilot light is working, the thermocouple should allow additional gas to flow and enable the furnace’s combustion process to continue. If the thermocouple senses that the pilot light is off, it will close and shut off the flow of additional gas, curbing the risk of gas leaks.
However, if your thermocouple malfunctions, it may shut off gas flow even though the pilot light is burning normally. This will eventually eliminate a source of fuel for the pilot light and cause it to go out.
Dirty Furnace Burners
For the pilot light to burn adequately, the orifice leading to it needs to be open. Otherwise, the thermocouple may fail to sense it. Since dirt and soot can clog this opening, you’ll need periodic maintenance to clean it out.
A weak, inconsistent or dysfunctional pilot light is a serious problem, and fixing it means examining the internal components of your furnace. Thankfully, we have skilled heating technicians who can do precisely that for you. All you need to do is call Pruitt Heating & Air, Inc. around Buford, GA and request heating repair services.
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