Without a pilot light, your furnace can leave you cold and desperate for a solution. If it stays on for a little while before going out, you may be wondering the possible causes could be. Is it an easy fix, or should you call a furnace repair technician? Here’s a closer look at the most common culprits.

Why Your Furnace Pilot Light Keeps Going Out

1. Faulty Flame Sensor

One of the most common causes of a faulty pilot light is a bad thermocouple, which is also known as a flame sensor. A thermocouple is a copper rod that’s installed next to the burner. Its purpose is to detect whether or not the pilot light is on by sensing its flame.

If the pilot light is off and not emitting flame, the thermocouple automatically shuts off the gas flow to the furnace by preventing the gas valve from opening. This prevents excess gas from leaking into your home. However, if your thermocouple is misaligned, damaged, or dirty, it may stop allowing gas altogether, even when your pilot light is on. This may prevent your pilot light from staying on altogether. 

2. Dirty Pilot Light Orifice

Since the thermocouple’s function is to detect the pilot light flame, a problem with the pilot orifice, which controls the gas flow to your pilot light, can cause it to malfunction. In other words, if the orifice isn’t sending enough gas to the pilot light, the thermocouple won’t sense it.

A properly functioning orifice will help produce a steady blue flame; if it’s malfunctioning, the flame will be yellow and weak. This can happen if the orifice is dirty. To remedy the problem, it’s recommended that you contact a furnace repair technician because getting to the orifice requires removing your furnace’s burner assembly. 

3. Insufficient Gas

If you notice that other gas-utilizing appliances in your home are experiencing problems, then the culprit is likely your gas regulator and not something in your furnace. A gas regulator’s function is to decrease the pressure of gas before it enters your appliances. If the gas regulator is broken or too old, however, it may be decreasing the pressure of gas too much, which will cause your gas appliances, including the furnace, to malfunction. 

If your heat isn’t working and you’re looking for a reliable furnace repair technician in Cincinnati, OH, contact Anderson Automatic Heating & Cooling today. Since opening in 1929, this licensed contractor has nearly 100 years of experience in providing its clients with a wide array of services, ranging from air quality inspections to heating and cooling repairs and installations. To schedule a service call, call them at (513) 574-0005 today. Visit them online to learn more about the team.