A furnace pilot light that is not staying lit is one of the more common issues typically occurring this time of year. With furnaces in high usage, it’s not normal for pilot lights to be acting up. You may be experiencing this particular furnace issue for a few reasons. So, we have listed the 5 most common reasons why your furnace may not stay lit.
We’d never want to leave you hanging, trying to figure it all out alone! With these points from Five Star Home Services, you’ll hopefully be able to narrow down the issue and figure out what’s going on with your furnace’s pilot light.
1. Consider the Airflow If Your Furnace’s Pilot Light Is Not Staying Lit
Let’s start by checking if your system is getting adequate airflow and nothing is being obstructed. More often than you’d think, restricted airflow is the leading cause of many furnace issues.
In order for your furnace’s burner to ignite, airflow is required to take place. For the ignition process, the blower fan draws in air through the return ducts, so if the airflow is restricted due to a clogged filter, for example, the burners will not be able to stay on for an extended period. Of course, several other things can cause airflow to be obstructed, in which a technician will need to diagnose. However, checking your air filters and changing them out is a doable task that you can take on yourself.
You should also check all your HVAC registers and vents to confirm they are all in the open position and that no objects are blocking the line of airflow in front of them, on top of them, or over them.
2. Consider the Flame Sensor If Your Furnace’s Pilot Light Is Not Staying Lit
Another common cause of burners not being to stay on is a faulty flame censor. The flame censor is a part of your heating system and is designed to function as a safety precaution to test the gas coming from the ignited burners. When the censor is not able to detect any flame, it will turn off the gas to prevent it from flowing and causing unburned gas to flow into and ultimately flooding the combustion chamber.
If a flame censor isn’t working properly, it can falsely “sense” that the burners have not been ignited and then turn off the gas source. This, of course, will lead the burners to go out. There is a likely chance that your furnace’s flame sensor may just need to be cleaned or perhaps even replaced. Per Carrier, it is best to have a professional HVAC technician clean your flame censor, if you suspect your flame censor may be the cause.
3. Consider the Burners If Your Furnace’s Pilot Light Is Not Staying Lit
Another component that should be checked throughout this troubleshooting process is the burners. They play a large role in your heating unit, and the burners may be extinguishing repeatedly due to insufficient oxygen, which is needed for combustion to take place. This is often a natural reaction to burners that are especially covered in dirt or excess grime. Typically, this happens when a furnace has not been serviced regularly.
Furnaces should receive one annual fall maintenance check a year. These maintenance appointments include a detailed inspection of the furnace’s components and a cleaning of these areas when necessary. So, it’s not too late if you have not yet scheduled your fall furnace maintenance check.
4. Consider the Heat Exchanger If Your Furnace’s Pilot Light Is Not Staying Lit
The heat exchanger could very well be another reason the burners are going out. Usually, this happens because of the burner’s safety feature called the limit switch. This switch is meant to activate when the heat exchanger is overheated at a certain temperature. The limit switch will respond by shutting off the gas and the furnace’s power.
Remember that this could be another problem related to having a clogged air filter. (A lack of airflow flowing and moving around the heat exchanger could cause problems.) But if you’ve already checked on your air filters, the source of the issue could also be due to your furnace not being able to vent the combustion gas from the heat exchanger adequately. This particular HVAC problem, should also be left to a licensed HVAC technician. The good news is that at Five Star Home Services, all our HVAC techs are NATE-certified, making us qualified to take care of any HVAC issue you have quickly and efficiently.
5. Consider the Control Board If Your Furnace’s Pilot Light Is Not Staying Lit
Last but not least, the control board is another component to consider. This part of the furnace is the piece that controls when the other furnace components are turned off and on. Therefore, if the control board is malfunctioning, it will cause the burners to shut off when they are not supposed to. Again, getting a licensed HVAC technician to diagnose the issue and discuss your options is the best course of action.
You Can Count on Five Star Home Services
If you are still dealing with a pilot light that is just not staying lit (or able to be lit at all), there may very well be a component that needs to be either repaired or replaced. Remember that we strongly suggest and do not recommend you perform any extensive tasks other than basic troubleshooting. Safety is the number one priority (we don’t want you doing anything you are uncomfortable with or unsafe)…so, at this point, it would be best to call in a professional. We’ll safely tackle the issue for you! Remember, your Five Stay family is only a phone call away!
Five Star Home Services is here to provide you with home service needs. We can be reached at (833) 405-8009, or you can click here to schedule an appointment online conveniently!
