How to Light a Gas Furnace Burner

Most modern furnaces use an electric ignition to light the furnace. But if you have an older furnace, your pilot light may occasionally go out, causing your burner to go out. You will need to relight the pilot in this case. Most gas furnaces have directions posted on them that tell you how to turn on the gas and light the pilot. If so, follow these directions posted on your unit. You can contact a professional to do this, or you can take a few steps to try to light the pilot yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Long match or wand lighter

Instructions

1. Shut off the main gas line to your house. If you don't know where this is, contact your utility service. Wait ten minutes for any gas fumes to dissipate before proceeding.

2. Light a long fireplace match or automatic lighter wand for lighting barbecue grills. Turn the gas valve on your furnace to "pilot."

3. Press the red button next to the dial as you hold the lit match to the pilot valve (it looks like a little metal pipe).

4. Keep pressing the button for one minute so the pilot can heat up the thermocouple (two metal wires that signal when the gas valve should open).

5. Release the red button and look to see if the pilot stays lit. If it doesn't stay lit, wait ten minutes for the gas to dissipate and try to relight the pilot.

6. Turn on the main valve once you get the pilot and burner to stay lit.

Tips & Warnings

• If your pilot light stays lit, but the burner does not, you may need a new thermocouple. In this case, you should call a service professional to replace it.

References

• Repair Home: Relighting a Gas Furnace Pilot Light
• Home and Garden: How to Light a Pilot Light
• Omega Engineering: Thermocouple an Introduction