My roommate is freakingout because she's never used a pilot light and the flame being constantly on is freaking her out, could some one explain how it stays where it is with out lighting the rest of the house on fire? She's afraid it's going to light the wall on fire.We have a wall thermostat.
I keep telling her it's fine but she wont believe me...
2006-11-26 16:32:50 · 6 answers · asked by pixi_doll 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Put her mind at ease by comparing the pilot light in a furnace with a battery in an automobile. By themselves, they don't have enough energy to cause trouble, but they do have enough energy to ignite the furnace or a car engine (that's why its called an ignition).
As for the pilot light setting other things on fire, the flame burns off the little bit of gas that is emanated. Ensure the area around your furnace is free and clear of any flammable or combustible material.
I think the best way to put her mind at ease is to show her annual inspection that should be recorded on a log attached to the furnace. If this hasn't been done, do it immediately. If you live in an appartment, ask you land-lord to have an annual inspection done (or show you the paper work.)
Paul
Member: National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI)
2006-11-26 16:52:13 · answer #1 · answered by Paul O 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you have is a thermocouple unit. a pilot valve, a gas supply valve and an ignither.
Your thermocouple unit is normally closed(doesn't allow gas to flow as long as it is not heated,).
Once your thermostat calls for heat the thermocouple will temporary open to allow gas to flow though the supply valve into the burner, and the pilot will light it up. Than once it is lit and as long as it stays hot the gas will flow though and burn producing heat. If the thermostat calls for less heat it will shut down or shut off the gas. but the pilot stays on because it also has a thermocouple of sorts that allows gas to flow though the pilot valve only as long as it is is lit. once heat is remove from the pilot it immediately closes stoping all gas. It can than only be lit by the ignither. or by hand. The fact that the pilot has to be continously heated is a safety precaution. turn it off or remove the heat and the pilot goes off. because not gas is moving thought the unheated thermocoupla. or in some cases an electrical solnoid.
2006-11-26 17:01:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pilot lights have a safety feature where if it goes out, the gas is shut off, so it will not blow up the house if it ges out. It stays where it is because that is where the fuel is, and unless you stick flamable objects in there, it will not go anywhere than where it is.
You can tell her there are hundreds of millions of pilot lights around and no fires.
2006-11-26 16:45:42 · answer #3 · answered by michael p 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we are having the same or similar problem hence no heating and no hot water for 2 wks!! Fr hot water i can heat by electricity. I lighted the pilot light but it does not seem to last five minutes -now await the plumber to come and sort it out!! I rather not meddle with these things as i do not know much about how these things work.
2016-05-23 07:47:53 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when the pilot light goes out, the gas valve CANNOT open .
2006-11-26 19:00:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
WE OWEN ANDERSON ELECTRIC IN LIVERMORE CA AND WE DO NATURAL GAS INSTALLATION ALSO WE WILL TELL YOU THIS ABOUT FUEL THAT ONLY THE GAS IS FLAMMABLE AND ONLY WHIR THE GAS IS IS WHIR THE FIRE WILL BE NO GAS NO FIRE SO PLEAS IF YOU HAVE ENE QUESTIONS FELL FREE TO CALL US AT 415 748 0410,JC AND TIMMY.
2006-11-26 16:57:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋