At Fixya.com, our trusted experts are meticulously vetted and possess extensive experience in their respective fields. Backed by a community of knowledgeable professionals, our platform ensures that the solutions provided are thoroughly researched and validated.
This is an older gas boiler, when it works it is great! The igniter lights the pilot and then shuts off and on 3 or 4 times. I have found just yesterday that when I blow at the pilot, like getting a gas range to light, the burners on the furnace fire up! ? Any ideas?
The burners and pilot need to be cleaned.
Turn off gas and power, remove the burners and pilot. Clean with a brass wire brush. (Steel wire can be used but very carefully) Remove all rust dirt etc. reinstall and it should fire right up.
- If you need clarification, ask it in the comment box above.
- Better answers use proper spelling and grammar.
- Provide details, support with references or personal experience.
Tell us some more! Your answer needs to include more details to help people.You can't post answers that contain an email address.Please enter a valid email address.The email address entered is already associated to an account.Login to postPlease use English characters only.
Tip: The max point reward for answering a question is 15.
On some gas-powered appliances -- such as gas ranges, water heaters, boilers and gas fireplaces -- the pilot light works to ignite the main flame when the gas is switched on to the burner by the regulating valve. If the pilot light is not lit, the gas burner will not ignite, which could cause a dangerous situation by letting highly flammable gas escape into the air. If the pilot light goes out, you can relight it after the gas is shut off using a match or the unit's electronic ignitor if it has one, following the proper safety precautions
Every boiler will have manufacturer lighting instructions on the unit, so be sure to read it thoroughly and turn off the gas for 5 min to make sure there is no gas build-up around the boiler. Some have electronic ignition and some require a manual lighting of the pilot. If the control knob has only ON-OFF, it has electronic ignition. Simply turn off the power (at the electric switch on the boiler or at the breaker box) and then turn it back on and it will relight itself when heat is needed) If it has ON-OFF-PILOT, you will have to light it manually. You will have to turn the gas valve knob so the arrow is pointing at the word "pilot" and depress the knob, while lighting the pilot with a lighter or match. Continue to hold the knob down after the pilot is lit for about 30-45 seconds to allow the thermocouple to heat up. If you release the pilot knob and the pilot stays lit, you can turn the knob to the "ON" position and the burner will light. Please be careful. if you are not sure what you are doing, call a professional.
Is it natural gas or propane? If propane, make sure you are not out of gas. Does it have electronic ignition or a manual pilot? if pilot, make sure the pilot flame is still lit and the control knob is turned to the "On" position. If it has electronic ignition, shut off the power to the furnace and then turn it back on and see if resets and lights.
Sounds like an old boiler. It is not on timer and has to be lit manually. Push in the gas button and hold and push the sprung ingnition button to greate spark. Continue to hold in gas button 1-2 mins and release. The pilot light should then stay on. The flame will have heated the sensor in the combustion chamber and the boiler thinks that there is a flame and will allow the main gas jets to light when demanded . If the flame does not stay on clean the sensor prongs with emery cloth but do wait until they are cooled. You have open up the combustion chamber for access
The 1-2 mins above varies
Joanne If there is a standing pilot on the boiler. Put the gas valve to the pilot setting and push in on the valve while holding a long match or BBQ lighter @ the pilot assembly that is behind the small access port at the top of the gas train assembly. Dont hold the pilot knob doun without having a flane @ the gas outlet of the pilot assembly or gas will build up and could blow out of the port and hold the gas valve in for about a minute or two and let it go it should stay light when you let it go .If it does not sta lit and it IS a standing pilot there- is a thermo-coupling that may be bad If the pilot does not stay lit.
If there is an electronic ignition rather than a standing pilot then you do not need to light it will light itself if the electronic ignition is bad or if the flame sensor is dirty. If you remove the pilot assembly from the gas train and clean the flame sensor rod with a piece of .0000 steel wool it could help. If not you may want to call a licensed pipe-pitter ( OR plumber depending where you live and the local codes).
If you don't thing you could do it yourself then call a licensed pipi-fitter or plumber. (Gas only has to leak once for there to be a problem so please do call someone licensed if you don't think you could do it your self.), http://www.weil-mclain.com/en/weil-mclain/products-services/
Here is a link to the manufacturer you should be ale to fing your equipment and the install instructions, if you look around .You can download a PDF and print it
Good luck and stay warm
Thermostat flame sensor. Do you see a little rod next to the pilot? That is what tells the main gas valve that the pilot is lit and it is safe to give gas. Easy swap, and you can usually just pick up a generic one.
Burners don't have anything to do with the problem of pilot not lighting. Is the problem that flame will not 'stay' lit? Or you can't even get a flame to ignite?
If former: possible bad pilot generator or bad gas valve. If latter, possible bad gas valve or no fuel to ignite.
The pilot flame must touch (burn) the tip
oqef the t-couple to hold the magnet in the gas value open.make sure the pilot orifice (hole) is clear.the pilot pressure (in the tube) is factory set full open & can only be adjusted down (less). Also check the gas **** didn't get closed or turned half way.? Assuming its not the t-couple. If all is good & it still won't stay on. Replace the gas value.!
×