The house is getting colder by the hour, you head down to check the furnace, and the little flame that is supposed to be burning is gone. A pilot light that goes out is one of the most common heating problems in older Granite City homes, and the good news is that it is often a quick fix you can handle yourself.
Here is the part most homeowners miss: if your furnace was installed after the 1990s, it probably does not have a pilot light at all and runs on electronic ignition instead. Knowing which system you have changes what you should do next. Before you grab a lighter, read this first.
Key Takeaways
- If you smell gas, do not relight the pilot. Leave your home and call your gas company or 911 from outside.
- A standing pilot light can usually be relit in a few minutes using the gas valve and igniter.
- Furnaces installed after the 1990s use electronic ignition and have no pilot light to relight.
- A pilot that keeps going out often points to a dirty or failing thermocouple that needs professional service.
- Repeated outages, a yellow flame, or any gas smell mean it is time to call a licensed technician.
What to Do If Your Pilot Light Goes Out
If your pilot light goes out, first check for the smell of gas. If you notice a rotten egg odor, leave your home right away and call your gas company or 911 from outside. If there is no gas smell, you can safely relight a standing pilot by turning the gas valve off, waiting five minutes for any gas to clear, then following the steps below.
For most Granite City homeowners with an older furnace, a single relight solves the problem and heat returns within minutes.
The trouble starts when the flame will not stay lit, or when you find your furnace has no pilot light to relight at all. Both situations point to something that needs a closer look, and we will cover each one. First, the safe way to bring that flame back.
How to Safely Relight Your Furnace Pilot Light
Relighting a standing pilot light is a task most homeowners can handle, as long as you go slowly and respect the gas. Start by finding the gas valve near the bottom of your furnace, usually marked with three settings: On, Off, and Pilot. Keep your furnace manual handy if you have it, since the exact steps vary by model.
Follow these steps in order:
- Turn the gas valve to Off. This stops the flow of gas to the pilot and main burner.
- Wait at least five minutes. This lets any built up gas clear out so it cannot ignite all at once. Use this time to confirm you do not smell gas.
- Turn the valve to Pilot. Locate the pilot burner, the small metal tube where the flame sits.
- Press and hold the valve knob down. This releases a small amount of gas to the pilot. Keep holding it.
- Light the pilot. Press the igniter button if your furnace has one, or use a long lighter held to the pilot opening. You should see a small blue flame catch.
- Keep holding the knob for 30 to 60 seconds. This warms the thermocouple, the safety sensor that tells the gas valve the flame is lit. Release too soon and the pilot goes right back out.
- Turn the valve to On. The main burner should fire and your furnace should start producing heat.
If the flame holds, you are back in business. If it goes out again the moment you release the knob, or it will not light after two tries, stop there. Forcing it usually means a repair is needed.
Why Your Pilot Light Keeps Going Out
A pilot that will not stay lit is your furnace telling you something is wrong. Relighting it over and over only treats the symptom. The most common cause is a dirty or failing thermocouple, the safety device that shuts off the gas when it does not sense a flame. When it gets coated in soot or wears out, it cuts the gas even though the pilot is burning, and the flame dies.
Other causes show up often in Granite City’s older heating systems:
- A draft or downdraft. A strong air current near the furnace, or wind pushing down the flue, can blow the small flame out. This is common on windy winter days.
- A clogged pilot orifice. Dust and debris build up in the tiny opening that feeds the pilot, starving the flame of gas.
- An interrupted gas supply. A partially closed valve, an empty propane tank, or a utility issue can all cut the fuel the pilot needs.
- A faulty gas valve. Less common, but a worn valve can fail to deliver steady gas pressure to the pilot.
A draft is sometimes a simple fix, but a bad thermocouple, a clogged orifice, or a failing valve all call for a trained technician with the right tools. These are not parts to guess at when gas is involved.
Does Your Granite City Furnace Even Have a Pilot Light?
Here is what trips up many homeowners: your furnace may not have a pilot light to relight in the first place. As noted above, furnaces installed after the 1990s almost always use electronic ignition rather than a standing pilot flame. Instead of a flame that burns constantly, these systems spark or heat up only when the thermostat calls for heat.
If you have a newer furnace and no heat, do not go looking for a flame to light. The problem is more likely a failed ignitor, a faulty flame sensor, or a control board issue, none of which you can fix with a lighter. Trying to force an electronic ignition system to behave like an old pilot model will only waste your time on a cold night.
Not sure which type you have? Check the age of your furnace and look for a gas valve with a Pilot setting. If it has one, you have a standing pilot. If not, you have electronic ignition, and a professional is your fastest path back to heat.
A Real Granite City Furnace Repair Story
Last winter, a homeowner on Niedringhaus Avenue called B & W Heating & Cooling after their furnace pilot light kept going out every few hours during a cold snap. They had relit it three times overnight, and each time the flame died within an hour.
Our technician found the real problem quickly: a corroded thermocouple that was no longer sensing the flame properly, which caused the gas valve to shut off as a safety measure. While inspecting the unit, the technician also found a partially blocked pilot orifice adding to the trouble.
We replaced the thermocouple, cleaned the orifice and pilot assembly, tested the flame sensor, and ran the furnace through several full cycles to confirm the pilot held steady.
The homeowner had a warm, reliable furnace again before the evening. It is a good reminder that a pilot light that keeps going out is rarely random. There is almost always a worn part behind it, and catching it early prevents a freezing night without heat.
When to Call a Professional for Furnace Repair
Some pilot light situations are simple, and some are safety issues you should never push through alone. Relighting a pilot once is fine. Beyond that, certain signs mean it is time to bring in a licensed technician rather than keep trying:
- You smell gas at any point, even faintly
- The pilot light will not stay lit after you relight it
- The flame burns yellow or orange instead of a steady blue
- Your furnace has electronic ignition and will not start
- You see soot around the furnace or get headaches and nausea when it runs
That last point matters most. A furnace burning incorrectly can produce carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that is dangerous in an enclosed home. When safety is on the line, the cost of a service call is nothing next to the risk of guessing.
B & W Heating & Cooling holds a 4.8 star rating across more than 400 Google reviews from homeowners throughout the Metro East, and our team provides fast, dependable furnace repair for Granite City and the surrounding area. A trained technician can diagnose the real cause and get your heat back safely.
Staying Warm and Safe in Your Granite City Home
A pilot light that goes out is usually a small problem with a simple fix, as long as you handle it safely. Check for gas first, relight a standing pilot carefully, and know that a flame which keeps dying points to a worn thermocouple or another part that needs attention. If your furnace runs on electronic ignition, skip the lighter and call a pro, since there is no pilot to relight.
When the flame will not hold, you smell gas, or your newer furnace simply will not fire, do not spend a cold Granite City night troubleshooting alone. Call B & W Heating & Cooling at (618) 254-0645 or reach out online, and our team will get your heat running again safely. Quick action keeps a minor furnace issue from turning into a long, cold emergency.
FAQ
Is it safe to relight a pilot light yourself?
Yes, relighting a standing pilot is safe if you do not smell gas. Turn the gas valve off, wait five minutes for gas to clear, then follow the relighting steps. If you smell gas at any point, leave and call your gas company.
Why does my furnace pilot light keep going out?
A pilot that keeps going out usually means a dirty or failing thermocouple, which shuts off the gas when it cannot sense the flame. Drafts, a clogged pilot orifice, an interrupted gas supply, or a faulty gas valve can also cause repeated outages.
What should I do if I smell gas when the pilot is out?
Leave your home immediately and do not touch any light switches, appliances, or the furnace. Call your gas company or 911 from outside or a neighbor’s home. Do not attempt to relight the pilot until a professional confirms the system is safe.
Do all furnaces have a pilot light?
No. Furnaces installed after the 1990s almost always use electronic ignition instead of a standing pilot light. If your furnace has no flame burning and no Pilot setting on the gas valve, it uses electronic ignition and needs a technician rather than a relight.
How much does it cost to fix a pilot light that won’t stay lit?
Most repairs involve replacing a thermocouple or cleaning the pilot assembly, which are affordable fixes compared to major furnace work. The exact cost depends on the part and your furnace model. A technician can give you a clear quote after diagnosing the problem.