Kitchen Gas Appliances - Furnace Pilot Problems
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mechrus
12-05-02, 07:31 PM
My furnace pilot light will not stay lit.
I will notice when I walk in that the room is cooler than it should be.
I will go light the pilot, the furnace will fire up.
But 12-14 hours later I am doing it agian.
Help!!!!
I will notice when I walk in that the room is cooler than it should be.
I will go light the pilot, the furnace will fire up.
But 12-14 hours later I am doing it agian.
Help!!!!
twelvepole
12-05-02, 08:42 PM
Pilot flame will not stay on – check that the head of the thermocouple is directly in the flame; replace the faulty electric starter; replace the thermocouple
Sharp Advice
12-05-02, 10:37 PM
Hello mechrus. Welcome to my Gas Appliances topic.
Most likely the thermocouple is too weak to produce the current needed to keep the gas valve opened or the thermocouple is simply burned out from normal usage.
Replacing it should resolve the problem. The thermocouple is the part the pilot flame is in contact with. The opposite end of the thermocouple is threaded into the gas valve. This end must be carefully unscrewed out of the gas valves control using a small open ended wrench.
A thermocouple is generic except for it's length. Thermocouples are made in different lengths. Measure the removed part or take the one you remove to any hardware store and replace it with an exact duplicate in length. The parts cost is very nominal.
New thermocouple packages will contain complete do-it-yourself installation instructions and pictures. The package also contains additional clips of various assortments.
Not all the parts contained in the package with the thermocouple will be needed. The packages contain an assortment of holding parts and clips that are generic and designed to fit a wide variety of applications.
Read the other topics in this forum and those within the heating & cooling forum on the topic of heaters for additional information. Doing so will provide you with other problem possibilities and alternate correctional solutions to them.
To save time, search this form and the gas appliances forum for topics & subjects on heater problems. In doing so you'll find the same or similar problem asked. The reply or replies contained within the question will be all of the possbile solutions.
The "Search" option is a button way up on this page in the right hand corner of this page in the blue selection.
Printing all the pages of prior asked questions pertaining to "Heater Problems," "Pilot Problems" or similarly named topics may also help to provide all the possible problem causes and correctional possibilities at one time.
The printing option selection is a blue link provided way below. Scroll down this page and look for the wording "Show Printable Version."
Be sure the electrical power to the appliance is turned off, the thermostat is turned down and the gas control valve is in the off postion before attempt any repairs.
If you need further assistance, use the REPLY button to add any additional information or ask additional questions after attempting the correctional method or methods offered.
Regards & Good Luck, Forum Host & Multiple Topic Moderator.
TCB4U2B2B Company Enterprises. Energy Conservation Consultant & Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.
Most likely the thermocouple is too weak to produce the current needed to keep the gas valve opened or the thermocouple is simply burned out from normal usage.
Replacing it should resolve the problem. The thermocouple is the part the pilot flame is in contact with. The opposite end of the thermocouple is threaded into the gas valve. This end must be carefully unscrewed out of the gas valves control using a small open ended wrench.
A thermocouple is generic except for it's length. Thermocouples are made in different lengths. Measure the removed part or take the one you remove to any hardware store and replace it with an exact duplicate in length. The parts cost is very nominal.
New thermocouple packages will contain complete do-it-yourself installation instructions and pictures. The package also contains additional clips of various assortments.
Not all the parts contained in the package with the thermocouple will be needed. The packages contain an assortment of holding parts and clips that are generic and designed to fit a wide variety of applications.
Read the other topics in this forum and those within the heating & cooling forum on the topic of heaters for additional information. Doing so will provide you with other problem possibilities and alternate correctional solutions to them.
To save time, search this form and the gas appliances forum for topics & subjects on heater problems. In doing so you'll find the same or similar problem asked. The reply or replies contained within the question will be all of the possbile solutions.
The "Search" option is a button way up on this page in the right hand corner of this page in the blue selection.
Printing all the pages of prior asked questions pertaining to "Heater Problems," "Pilot Problems" or similarly named topics may also help to provide all the possible problem causes and correctional possibilities at one time.
The printing option selection is a blue link provided way below. Scroll down this page and look for the wording "Show Printable Version."
Be sure the electrical power to the appliance is turned off, the thermostat is turned down and the gas control valve is in the off postion before attempt any repairs.
If you need further assistance, use the REPLY button to add any additional information or ask additional questions after attempting the correctional method or methods offered.
Regards & Good Luck, Forum Host & Multiple Topic Moderator.
TCB4U2B2B Company Enterprises. Energy Conservation Consultant & Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.
george7197
12-13-02, 01:26 PM
you sound like you definitley hava a pilot problem, first make sure the thermo-couple (TC) tip isn't insulated buy mineral buildup from the pilot It would look like there is a white crust on the tip of the TC, scrape it off if U have any. if the tip of the TC is'nt completely covered by the pilot flame, it maybe generating a weak milivoltage (mv). not enough to keep th e gas valve pick coil (feeds the pilot) open. if the pilot flame is good you may have a weak TC. change it. If the pilot flame is barely hitting the TC. U have a dirty pilot orifice. To clean this U have to take off the pilot tubing from the bottom of the pilot assembly and take out the orifice (looks like atiny thumb thimble) or if it dosn't come out of the assembly hold the hole thing up to a light and you should be able to see about a pinholes amout of light come through. If it's dirty try blowing or tapping it out. DO NOT attempt to clean it w/ a pin/ needle you will make the hole too big and ruin it. I have a speacial super tiny brill bit index for this. put everthing back together tight and make sure you have no gas leaks. Good luck.
P.S. Every once in a great while replacing a TC on a 10+ yr old furnace will burn out the pick coil on the gas valve. Imagine putting a 20 yr old heart in a 80 yr olds body. the 80 yr olds arteries and veins wouldn't take all blood pressure and rupture.
to test the coil you need a ohm meter with a 10000 scale. so if this suggestion fails I reccomend calling a pfoffesional.
P.S. Every once in a great while replacing a TC on a 10+ yr old furnace will burn out the pick coil on the gas valve. Imagine putting a 20 yr old heart in a 80 yr olds body. the 80 yr olds arteries and veins wouldn't take all blood pressure and rupture.
to test the coil you need a ohm meter with a 10000 scale. so if this suggestion fails I reccomend calling a pfoffesional.