How to Light the Pilot Light on Your Hot Water Heater

Waking up and finding out that you don’t have any hot water for your shower is one of the most disappointing feelings. Sometimes, the reason you don’t have hot water is that the pilot light on the gas water heater has gone out. If it does go out, though, you will need to relight it. Fortunately, it’s not too difficult to do.

Getting Started

Make sure you have a flashlight, as well as a wand lighter for easier reach. Some of the newer water heater models will even have a built-in electric lighter. Go to the water heater and smell and listen for leaks. If you hear a hissing sound or if you smell anything odd, don’t use the lighter. Instead, you will want to head outside and contact the professionals to come and look at your water heater.

The Basics

Today, there are many different types of water heaters, and the exact instructions can vary. Find the instructions for your specific model. The basics of how to relight the pilot light, which can work for many models, are below.

If you don’t hear or smell anything out of the ordinary, you can then proceed. You will want to open the access cover, turn the temperature down to low, and shut off the gas valve. Let it sit for a few minutes to clear out any gas that might still be present. Then, you can turn the gas valve to pilot.

Find the pilot. Depress the gas valve and then light the pilot using your wand lighter. Most of the time, it will light right up. You can hold the gas valve down for about 20 seconds to make sure it has started properly. If you notice that the flame goes out, do the same thing, but hold the gas valve down for up to one minute this time.

After the light stays lit, you can turn the valve from pilot to on, replace the access cover, and then set it to your preferred temperature.

Get Some Help

Overall, it’s easy to light your water heater’s pilot light. However, this might be a task that some people aren’t comfortable doing on their own. If that’s the case, you can always get in touch with the professionals at Elk Grove Village Sewer & Plumbing, who can handle it for you. They could even show you what you need to do if the light goes out again, so you are more comfortable.