If you're like most people, you may
feel a bit hesitant to mess with that furnace. However, turning
on and off a pilot light is perfectly safe, if you know the basics
and the proper process for doing so. Don't let this very basic
home appliance intimidate you. Whether you live in a new or old
home, most furnaces these days operate on pilot lights. Sometimes,
they blow out, due to drafts and other conditions. If the pilot
light has gone out, the furnace won't work.
To light a furnace pilot light:
1)Remove the access cover to the furnace
unit. Look for the gas control knob. If the furnace has a pilot,
it will allow the knob to turn to three different positions:
On, Off and Pilot.
2)Turn the knob until the arrow points
to 'Pilot'.
3)Press the knob down.
4)While holding the knob down, light
a long match, preferable a fireplace match, and hold it to the pilot
nozzle, which is usually found underneath the metal block holding
the knob.
5)When the flame is lit, continue
to hold the knob down for 30 seconds to a minute, and then release
the knob. If the flame stays lit, turn the knob to the 'On' position.
If it goes out, repeat the process, but hold the knob down for a
longer period of time.
6)If the pilot refuses to light,
you may have a dirty pilot nozzle. The pilot nozzle is the area
where the flame should be. Clean with a wire spark-plug brush. In
addition, make sure the fuse in the circuit breaker is on.
Once the pilot light is lit, you may
replace the cover to the furnace unit. Turn the wall thermostat
on to the temperature you want. You should be able to hear a whoosh
as the furnace kicks in.
Periodically check the pilot light
for several days afterward, making sure that it is still on. It's
also a good idea to check the pilot monthly anyway, to ensure safety.
Most types of furnaces will allow you to adjust the burner flame.
Remove the burner cover so that you can see the flame. A yellow
flame means not enough oxygen is reaching the burner. A blue flame
means too much oxygen is reaching the burner.
You want a flame that is a bluish
color on the outside, and greener toward the inside. Then, turn
the shutter until the flame lifts a bit away from the burner and
then turn it back the other way until the flame settles on
the burner again.
