A pilot light is always burning while using a small amount of gas either a water heater is running or not.
Heater in attic pilot light.
I am not sure why these builders put it in the attic on the first place.
The thermocouple is triggered by an electric current produced by the pilot light.
So if you have no circulation in a hot attic you can definitely snuff out the pilot flame.
If the pilot doesn t relight if it goes out right after lighting or if the pilot light keeps going out by far the most common.
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.
If this pilot light ever goes out.
The thermocouple is the brain of your water heater.
If your heat is on but the furnace is only blowing cool air there is a good chance you have a pilot light that is out.
If it gets hot enough it can increase high enough that it can suffocate the pilot flame.
This is a safety feature because older central gas heaters used a constantly lit pilot light to engage.
Gas heater pilot light troubleshooting.
Improving the ventilation where your water heater is located will help resolve pilot light and improper gas combustion problems.
You may also want to consider insulating your attic to reduce the amount of hot air entering the attic from your living.
Once there is a need for heating or call from a thermostat a gas control valve releases the gas into the main burner and the pilot light ignites the gas.
All new central gas heaters use an electronic igniter for lighting the heater s burners.
This could mean adding a fan or vents for better air circulation if your heater is in your attic.
The water heater pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas burner on your water heater.
Replacing the water heater may not fix the problem.
When the water heater pilot light goes out first try relighting it following the directions on the water heater label.
It s responsible for closing the gas valve when it senses the pilot light is off.
Once you re done put it back and light your water heater.
The flame should be blue and steady.
Whether you have a water leak a gas leak or the pilot light goes out it is a good idea to be aware of how to turn off your water heater safely.
Gas heaters whether they warm up air or water in a home rely on a pilot light to trigger the flame of the actual heater.
Turning off the water heater is crucial before beginning any type of maintenance.
