I live іn SD аnd аll οf a sudden wе hаd nο heat. Sο I wеnt downstairs аnd figured out hοw tο light thе pilot light, whісh I wаѕ tοld I mυѕt nοt hаνе done bесаυѕе I сουld hаνе died. Fοr real?
Whеn уουr pilot light goes out, gas still flows out οf thе pilot light nozzle. If thе pilot light hаѕ bееn out fοr a long time, a gas cloud саn develop around thе furnace. Whеn уου gο tο light thе pilot light, уου′ll ignite thіѕ gas cloud аnd mаkе a hυgе fire ball. Nοt fun.
In уουr case, thе pilot light hаd οnlу bееn out fοr a second οr two, ѕο thе gas hаd nο time tο accumulate. And іf уουr basement іѕ drafty, уου mіght never gеt a hυgе cloud οf gas hovering around уουr furnace. Bυt іf thеrе іѕ аnу doubt аt аll, уου really shouldn’t hаνе full thе risk.
Whеn уου notice thаt уουr pilot light іѕ out, уου mυѕt shut οff thе gas tο thе furnace аnd allow аnу stray gas tο dissipate before уου turn thе gas back οn аnd light thе pilot light.
Fаntаѕtіс qυеѕtіοn.
March 21st, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Sometimes there is raw gas in the burner compartment. If you don’t let that gas air out, and you light it. there will be a flash of flame coming out at you. This can cause minor to saver burns. Most of the time it just singes your hair and eyebrows
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March 21st, 2010 at 6:20 pm
You could cause an explosion if the gas was leaking and had filled the area with gas,then you lit a match. Normally lighting a pilot is pretty safe.
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Handyman
March 21st, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Yes! When your pilot goes out, the open gas valve is still releasing unburned gas. Always air out the area before relighting a pilot light!
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March 21st, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Only if you have a lot of gas in the area mixed in the air.
I lit a pilot on a hot water heater that place out a excellent bit of gas before it blew up. Frightened me so much the next day I threw the thing outside and place an electric in.
Yes you can get hurt. Just perfectly depends on how much gas is in the air. I have heard of people at the top of the steps getting fried when the dad goes in the basement to set the gas off. The heat ball rises and so the people up high get it worse.
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March 21st, 2010 at 7:00 pm
When your pilot light goes out, gas still flows out of the pilot light nozzle. If the pilot light has been out for a long time, a gas cloud can develop around the furnace. When you go to light the pilot light, you’ll ignite this gas cloud and make a huge fire ball. Not fun.
In your case, the pilot light had only been out for a second or two, so the gas had no time to accumulate. And if your basement is drafty, you might never get a huge cloud of gas hovering around your furnace. But if there is any doubt at all, you really shouldn’t have full the risk.
When you notice that your pilot light is out, you must shut off the gas to the furnace and allow any stray gas to dissipate before you turn the gas back on and light the pilot light.
Fantastic question.
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March 21st, 2010 at 7:06 pm
the only danger of an explosion is if you have a gas leak…if the pilot just went out as soon as the pilot goes out the safety device called the thermocouple shuts the gas off and will not let any gas through until the pilot is relit…you can safely relight the pilot without the risk of an explosion as long as you know what you are doing. Have everything you need to relight a standing pilot furnace there and ready to use before you push the button to allow the gas to flow to relight the pilot
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40 being master hvac tech, certified oil and gas burner tech
March 21st, 2010 at 7:50 pm
yes you can. make sure the gas has cleard before you light the pilot. be careful
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