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How do you check the pilot light on a furnace? While pilot lights aren’t a common sight anymore for average household furnaces, they still tend to make an appearance in homes that are over 100 years old.
Most furnaces today rely on electronic ignition that uses sparks to ignite the gas as it flows into the furnace. If you’re wondering how to evaluate your furnace, why not let a premier HVAC company in Bowie explain it in a short article? Below, our S&L Air Conditioning and Heating team will explain how to undertake a furnace pilot light inspection and how you can check it to see if both the light and your thermocouple are functioning correctly.
Steps for Pilot Light Check on Furnaces in Bowie
While most furnaces don’t have a pilot light anymore, some still do. When checking the pilot light on your heater, evaluate your furnace to see if it has a flame, regardless of whether it’s on or not. If you do have a flame, there should be a pilot control knob behind the access door on your machine.
So, how do you check the pilot light on a furnace? Here are a few steps to follow when inspecting furnace pilot flames:
Relight the Flame
Pilot light verification in your furnace can be tricky if the light isn’t on. If your pilot light is out, try to reignite it using a lighter.
On the side of the pilot valve body, you should see a screw responsible for adjusting the standing pilot flame. If you don’t see the screw or knob, refer to your furnace’s manual instructions.
Turn the screw until the flame is adjusted to an appropriate height and color. Once your pilot flame is on, examine it to see if it’s functioning properly.
Examine the Flame’s Color
The pilot light’s color is indicative of its status. If the flame is weak, your pilot light won’t be bright enough to heat your thermocouple, which is responsible for opening the gas valve.
Optimally, your flame should be no longer than a half-inch, mostly blue, with a yellow tip at the end of the flame. If your flame wavers excessively, there may be a draft in the room that is hard to notice. If possible, try to quell the source of the draft.
If your flame is yellow, it’s likely due to a lack of air coming through the pipe. This may be due to either a faulty or dirty pilot tube. To clean your pilot tube, turn the flames off completely and clean out any debris with a small object, such as a nail, Q-tip, or screwdriver.
Another way you can tell that your pilot tubes need cleaning is if the flame is split. Cleaning your tubes can resolve both of these issues, but if more flame irregularities persist, it may be time to call an expert.
Examine Your Thermocouple
If your flame is not lit and refuses to light, it may be a problem with your thermocouple. Since the thermocouple causes the gas valve to open, having either a problem with the pilot light or the thermocouple can interfere with your furnace’s functionality. If you are certain that your pilot flame is not the issue, then your thermocouple may be unable to detect the heat from your flame.
Provided you have a flame, you can test this by turning the pilot flame up as high as it can go. If, upon turning down the pilot light back to its original level, the thermocouple closes the valve, then you may have a bent or excessively dirty thermocouple. Because of how fragile thermocouples tend to be, we don’t recommend undertaking DIY fixes for one on your own, both for your safety and for the sake of delicate hardware.
How Do You Check the Pilot Light on a Furnace? Ask a Bowie HVAC Expert!
Now that you know the answer to the question, “How do you check the pilot light on a furnace?” you may have even more questions about how to keep your furnace functional and safe. If you’re looking for help for your furnace in Bowie, MD, consider partnering with S&L Air Conditioning and Heating.
Whether you need to learn more about how to examine furnace pilot lights or determine whether you have a malfunctioning thermocouple, S&L Air Conditioning and Heating can help. Call us at 301-381-2147 to schedule your appointment today!