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Is there a pilot light on a gas water heater?

Author

John Castro

Published Feb 14, 2026

Is there a pilot light on a gas water heater?

Tank-type gas water heaters use a pilot light to ignite the gas burner when the water in the tank needs to be heated. Usually, the first warning that your pilot light has gone out is the cold water coming from the hot water tap. If your heater's pilot goes out, you can relight it yourself.

Considering this, is it dangerous if the pilot light goes out on water heater?

Not enough combustible air.

If your water heater is located in a utility closet or anywhere it is starved for combustible air, the pilot light may go out. This situation could also lead to a build-up of Carbon Monoxide, which can be life threatening.

Also Know, do all gas water heaters have a pilot light? If you're water won't heat up, the pilot light on your water heater may have blown out. Lighting a water heater is simple, no matter what type you have. Most newer models of gas water heaters have a simple ignition switch. In just a few steps the water heater is lit, no problem.

Likewise, people ask, how do you light a pilot light on a gas water heater?

How to Light a Water Heater Pilot Light

  1. Open the door/cover over the pilot light access.
  2. Use a flashlight or a headlamp to find the burner inside.
  3. Turn the gas knob to “Pilot,” press and hold it down.
  4. While still holding the gas down, light that pilot.
  5. When the flame ignites, continue to hold the gas knob or button down for a full minute.

How do I know if the pilot light is out on my water heater?

Depending upon your water heater, you'll need to either remove the door or open it in order to view the burner chamber and the pilot light tube. If you see a flame, the problem isn't with the pilot light. However, if you don't, then the pilot light has gone out.

What would cause the pilot light to go out on a gas water heater?

The most common reason that your pilot light on your water heater keeps going out is a damaged, bent or dirty thermocouple.

Should pilot light always be on water heater?

The pilot should always be burning on your water heater. Sometimes the pilot flame is hard to see through the viewing window. To be sure if the pilot is on or off, you need to remove the access door and shield and look at the burner and pilot through the opening.

Can a pilot light relight itself?

Since automatic pilot lights cannot be lit by hand, the procedure for lighting them is entirely different. In fact, it is really not a matter of "relighting" the pilot, but rather of resetting the pilot light. To do this, you must shut off the gas supply, effectively resetting the system and resetting the pilot.

How do you know if you have a bad thermocouple?

If you can't get the flame to light at all, and you're sure the gas is on, there's probably an obstruction in the pilot tube. If the flame lights and goes out when you release the gas control knob after holding it in for the recommended 20 to 30 seconds, that's the sign of a thermocouple malfunction.

How long should gas water heater last?

about eight to 12 years

How much does it cost to replace a thermocouple?

Thermocouple – $20 to $150

The thermocouple is an apparatus that senses whether the pilot light is lit and triggers the gas control valve. Repairs typically cost about $150 to have it done professionally, though a new thermocouple itself only costs about $20 on average.

Do you smell gas when pilot light goes?

Note that it is totally normal on automatic pilots (pilots that do NOT stay lit all the time) to smell a little natural gas when the are first turned on. A little gas will escape as the pilot and burners light on your heat or appliance.

Can I leave my hot water tank on pilot?

Yes, setting the thermostat to “pilot” will save energy, and no, heating the tank full of water upon your return does not negate those savings. If you leave it on “pilot” and set the temperature when you return, the burner will run for about an hour one time to bring the tank back up to temperature.

Is lighting a pilot light dangerous?

If this leak continues, its concentration may reach a point where a spark – such as that from a cigarette lighter, static electricity, or even the pilot light itself as it is re-lit – will cause a fire or even an explosion.

Where is the pilot light on my water heater?

It is located on the outside of the water heater where the gas pipe enters the unit and has have a knob on it. The valve regulates gas flow to the pilot burner beneath the hot water tank. Turn the valve knob to the “Off” position. Wait five minutes.

Will gas leak if pilot light is off?

If the pilot light goes out on a storage or instantaneous hot water heater, space heater or a ducted heater, you will not have a gas leak. This is because all modern gas appliances with pilot lights have a fail-safe device that closes off the gas to the appliance in the case when the pilot may go out.

How do you relight a pilot light?

How to Relight a Pilot Light: 5 Steps
  1. Find the pilot light assembly and its reset switch. The furnace's pilot light is usually positioned at the bottom of the unit by a knob.
  2. Set the reset switch to off. Turn the knob to the “Off” setting.
  3. Wait a moment.
  4. Relight the pilot light.
  5. Observe the furnace.

What is a standing pilot light?

The standing pilot light is the traditional ignition source for most natural gas-fueled combustion heating systems. It is comprised of a small burner, a gas valve to supply the burner, and a thermocouple. When the flame goes out, the current stops and the gas valve closes.

What happens if the pilot light goes out?

Can a Pilot Light Outage Be Dangerous? The worry here is that when a pilot goes out, the gas valve that supplies the fuel for the pilot flame could still be pumping gas. This can mean a buildup of gas, and when the pilot is relit or relights itself it could result in a very serious explosion.

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