We've got a small boiler (furnace) in a small apartment bldg. The pilot light went out. I re-lit it. I observed the burners have cycled successfully several times with no further problem in the last 12 hrs. Just an unusual occurence? Or is it symptomatic of something. If it was a bad or dirty thermocouple I would expect it to have gone out again shortly. Although the room gets fresh air from outside, it was not a breezy night, so I don't suspect it was blown out. I've always wondered if the natural turbulence caused when a row of burners shut off can accidentally blow out a pilot light. Ideas?
Single pilot light outage. Reason?
Feb 15, 2004
2 Replies
Sometimes it is an isolated case, most times it is the beginning of a series of problems. Often it will be cold nights that set it off.
The usual problems are dirty jet, thermocouple or a dying thermocouple.
i dont have a burner, but when i have trouble with pilot lights i make sure there is no flame and then go to the pilot with a brush, either a refrigerator type cleaning brush or a tooth brush tapped to a long wooden stick(like a wooden yard stick) and give the pilot area a good brushing... that will remove the dirt/dust that falls on the pilot stopping if from producing a bigger flame..... works for me...
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