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View Full Version : Pilot Light Forced Air Gas Furnace


drgnlady61
Oct 18, 2007, 09:19 PM
How do I light it? I haven't had to do it in a couple years, and I have forgotten how. The knob has off, pilot, and on. I believe I turn it to pilot hold it it until light, and then turn to on. Is this correct? About how long should this take? Yesterday it was on, and working fine. I guess we must have had a gust of wind just right last night to blow it out.

tsa7man
Oct 19, 2007, 05:03 AM
First take a sniff, to be sure you smell no gas in the furnace, if you smell none, light a match and hold it over the pilot light, switch the gas valve from the off position to pilot position ( on most gas valves you have to push down on the knob ) When the pilot lights, remove the match but CONTINUE to hold the down the gas valve in the pilot position for about a 45 seconds or longer to heat the thermocouple. If you now let up on the gas knob and if the pilot stays lit... (If this does not light the pilot, repeat this sequence but hold the gas valve knob down for over a minute, if you then let up on the knob and the pilot drops out again, you can try to clean the thermocouple with some sand paper, re-assemble everything and repeat this lighting process. If still you can't light the pilot, your problem is MOST likely a bad thermocouple, replace it... NOTE: the pilot flame should only be covering the end inch or so of the thermocouple to work properly)... you can now turn the gas valve knob to the "on" position, and if you have a call for heat by your t'stat your furnace will start.

KISS
Oct 19, 2007, 07:27 AM
This info is additional information:

To light the pilot, you may have to remove some covers. Replace the covers while pilot is selected and lit.

It's always best to look in the opposite direction when turning from the pilot to ON position.

You don't want your face looking at the flame when it decides to ignite.

Depending on the age of the furnace, you may have to put the doors in place before the furnace will ignite.