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Home > Troubleshooting Water Heaters > Pilot Light Goes Out

Why my Pilot Light Goes Out

Pilot outage due to improper venting on
gas water heaters. Other pilot light problems

When pilot light goes out you might experience the improper venting on your gas water heater. Pilot outage is one of the common problems when operating gas fired water heaters, and providing good conditions for its work is very important that helps in troubleshooting afterwards.

The main reasons why pilot light goes out

To avoid pilot light problems, sufficient air must be supplied to the combustion chamber, for both pilot light and the main burner and especially with a new FVIR technology that doesn't tolerate a dirty environment. Regular burner assembly maintenance, including flame arrestor cleaning from dirt, dust and lint is a must on gas water heaters. The area where the pilot light and gas control valve are and the opening for the air intake and venting must not be restricted.

Our focus here is to explain you how improper venting affects normal pilot light performance, about pilot light problems and why your water heater pilot light goes out. Properly dimensioned and run venting system is also a must for normal water heater performance and efficiency.

Find here several reasons why your water heater pilot light goes out and how venting, for example, can cause the improper water heating:

Capping

High ambient temperature

Decompression
Pilot lights, but goes out when button released

Pilot light goes out due to capping

Poorly designed and installed venting system and outside weather conditions can produce a "capping", and force the flue to stall. This is happening when the downward force from the air is equal or greater than the pilot draft in the vent, especially due to high wind conditions.

The natural draft inside the flue won't be enough to allow products of combustion coming from the pilot flame to rise up, it will be pushed down so all the oxygen needed for gas combustion will be used up.

This is why, to prevent pilot light to extinguish, a vent termination has to have at least two feet extension above the roof to provide a necessary difference in pressure and allow natural draft.

Pilot light goes out due to high ambient temperature

The most frequent scenario with the pilot outage is when the water heater is installed in the spaces like attic or garage and where the ventilation is the issue (insufficient amount of incoming fresh air).

Water heater installation in the attic is especially problematic, due to the high temperature of the surrounding air, poor ventilation and little to no traffic. Poor ventilation means lack of incoming fresh air for combustion, resulting in improper gas combustion.

How to recognize improper gas combustion?

Observe what is happening inside the combustion chamber of your water heater, using the sight window on the unit, if it is present. Flame on the main burner will change the color, from light blue to yellow and red. Such a condition will also result in the flame pattern change, first it will light smoothly, and then you will see luminous burner flame that will eventually flatten out.

If during the summer months the air that surrounds the water heater is higher than tank's set temperature, the thermostat won't open the gas valve to light the main burner. Heat produced by the pilot flame is not enough to make a condition for natural draft, so all the oxygen will burn up and pilot light will extinguish.

Also, if there is a poor ventilation, the hot air tends to rise up, and the combustion air from the attic doesn't come down to provide the oxygen to the burner, resulting in the pilot outage.

Pilot light goes out due to decompression

Decompression is happening when the inside air pressure drops below the outside pressure. Instead to have products of combustion going from the water heater out, the higher outside air pressure will push the flue gases down, causing the negative pressure, where the fresh air cannot find its way to the combustion chamber and pilot light.

Pilot light goes out as it runs out of oxygen as there is no natural draft in the flue pipe.

These three cases of the improper water heater installation or venting are good examples why to avoid installation in areas that are too small or closed rooms (attic, for example) where there is not enough air movement. Follow the codes for venting, see the requirements for air provisions and how to provide the sufficient amount of air, and what is needed when installing two or more gas appliances in the same room.

Insufficient air supply will cause recirculation of combustion products, which will contaminate the surrounding air and become hazardous to life. This will also cause an improper gas combustion that results in carboning or sooting combustion chamber, burners and flue tubes as well.

Pilot lights, but goes out when button released

Ensure that gas control button that lights the pilot is fully depressed and held down for at least 20 seconds.
Verify that gas type used is per specs found in manual or rating sticker on your water heater.
Check all connections of the pilot circuit.
Check thermocouple and is it in full contact with the pilot light.
If using power vent tankless models, check the sensors in the draft diverter.

Low or no gas pressure.
Dirt in gas lines.
Pilot line or orifice got clogged.

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