what are some possible reasons for a wall furnace pilot not staying lit when trying to light?.?

Question

I have a Dayton wall furnace in my pool house-garage and it lights but goes out as soon as i let the pilot on /off button go. There is something called a generator that the flame burns around. Is this like a thermal couple and may need chaged

Answer 1

Have you changed a filter or vent setting lately? Inadequate ventilation can also cause the pilot to go out.

Answer 2

I'm not familiar with that particular brand, but this sounds more like a boiler unit, than a forced air furnace. By that, I mean that the unit heats water, which is circulated throughout the system to radiators. Two things come to mind, since the pilot light is functioning correctly - a switch, or a sensor (or possibly both) is malfunctioning. This could be a thermostat reading the temperature of the water in the system (not the thermostat on the wall), or a switch that tells either the pump to activate, or the gas valve that feeds the burners, etc. If this were a newer unit, I'd ask if it was a geothermal heat pump (where ground water is pumped out of a well, used to heat/cool, and dumped back into another well). First thing I would suggest, is to start searching for a Service or Owner's Manual for that particular model number you've got. Second suggestion would be to contact a plumber, or Heating Tech service that has worked on those types of units before - even if they are not local to you, they may be able to advise you on what to inspect, and parts to order. Good Luck

Answer 3

Never heard it called a generator before, but it does make a small amount of electrical current when heated, so I guess it's an appropriate alternative name. It's normal name is a thermocouple. When you push down the red button to light the pilot, you depress an arm that opens a little swinging door inside the valve to allow gas to pass to the pilot unit. The little gate that the button arm holds up is setting on a small electromagnet that is only activated if the thermocouple sends the correct amount of current to it after being heated by the pilot flame. That's why you have to hold the button down for 30-60 seconds, so the thermocouple can heat up to the temp. needed to let the electric current flow. Once the little magnet inside the valve is activated, it holds the gas door open so that when you turn the top knob to on, the gas can flow through to the burner. If the pilot goes out, the electric flow stops to the magnet and the valve closes so the burner can't lite. If you replace the thermocouple make sure you have it in a position to allow it to be IN the flame of the pilot when lit. If it doesn't stay lit then, you need a new gas valve.

Answer 4

You might check all of these answers then check you drought. I had trouble with mine on windy nights, there would be so much the light would go out all the time. I would have to toss a blanket around the vent then light the furnace and then take the blanket off.

Answer 5

Power pile generators (NOT the same thing as a thermocouple) are normally used on gravity-style furnaces or other type heating equipment that has no high voltage (120V) supplied to it. Normally, power-pile generators are used on equipment that does not have a blower motor.

Yes, a power pile generator can go bad just as thermocouples do on occasion. They are more expensive to replace but usually last longer than thermocouples.

The advantage to this type of heating equipment (no blower w/power pile) is that during power failures you'll have heat.

Answer 6

Hi, here is an interesting site on furnaces and furnace related items:

http://www.furnace-water-heaters.com/duct-cleaning.html

Answer 7

before you replace the generator take some fine sandpaper to it till its nice and shiny give it another try if that dosnt work then most likely the generator is not generating and it time for a new one

Answer 8

yep thermol coupler is bad, replace it,
[it generates a small amount of elect, to let the main valve know theres a flame ]