How to Light Your Water Heater

Most Vernon homeowners will have to re-light their pilot light on their water heater at some point, and many will find that this is a process that they complete numerous times over their time in the home. This is because a pilot light can go out seemingly “just because,” such as if there is a sudden and unexpected drop in the gas pressure, and it can also go out because of a mechanical issue with one of the components in the hot water heater.

In some instances, the homeowner will be able to re-light the pilot light again in a matter of minutes, but there are other times when professional repair work from a plumber is needed to fix the water heater so that it can function properly once again. By following the steps to re-light the pilot light, you will be able to determine if you need a plumber to come to your home to diagnose a more significant problem and to provide you with water heater repair work.

Preparing to Re-Light the Pilot Light

The first step to take when your pilot light goes out is to turn gas regulator valve to an “Off” position. You can usually find this valve located at the base of the hot water heater close to the gas line connection and the pilot light, and it may also have other words on it, such as “On” and “Ignite.” Once it is in the “Off” position, take note of any smells that you notice.

If the smell of gas is heavy in the air or if it lingers after you have turned the valve to the “Off” position, you may have a gas leak. This is an emergency situation, and you should leave the house as soon as possible. Then, call a plumber for assistance. If you do not notice an unusual smell, you can proceed with the re-lighting process.

Open the lid that covers the pilot light, and use a flashlight to peer into space. If you see any debris over the gas line area, clear it away so that the space is clean. Now, you are ready to re-light the pilot light.

Re-lighting the Pilot Light on Your Water Heater

It is best to use a long-handled lighter for this process for safety purposes, and this may be the same lighter you use when lighting your barbecue grill or fireplace. Some water heaters have an “Ignite” section on the valve knob, and others have an ignition button that you will need to hold down. Turn your valve knob to the “Ignite” position, or hold down the ignition button, and you should hear a clicking sound that indicates that the unit is read to be re-lit. You can use the long-handled lighter to re-light the pilot at this time.

The unit should light immediately, and you can take pressure off of the ignition button as soon as this happens. You can also turn the regulator valve knob to the “On” position after the light is lit. The light should remain lit at this time. If you have trouble with any aspect of this process, you should immediately contact a plumber for assistance, and you can turn the valve back to the “Off” position while you wait for help to arrive.

Completing the Process

The next step in the process is to close the cover to the pilot light and wait a few minutes. The light should remain lit. If it does, you simply have to wait for the water heater to heat up the water in the tank.

This can take several minutes or longer, depending on the size of the tank. However, if the water does not appear to be getting any warmer, this may indicate that there is a problem with the water heater that requires professional service. Otherwise, as soon as the hot water is accessible from your tap once again, you can rest assured that you have completed the process properly.

If You Need Repair Assistance

As you can see, there are several aspects of the process that you should pay attention to and that may indicate the need for repair work. There are several mechanical components involved in the pilot light and heating process that could be broken, so any deviation from the results that you should expect are signs that repair service is needed. In addition, if you do not feel comfortable lighting the pilot light on your own, rest assured that service is available to help you accomplish this task.

Re-lighting the pilot light is typically an easy enough task for Vernon homeowners to tackle, but there are instances when homeowners need assistance with this process. For example, if there is a strong smell of gas, when the light will not re-light or when there are other concerns with the process.

If you need help from a plumber in Vernon, you can contact Water Heater Medic at (860) 896-3342 today to schedule an appointment for your hot water heater repair needs.