Pilot Light Out? What to Do When Your Gas Appliance Won't Ignite

When your pilot light, a small, continuous flame that ignites gas in appliances like water heaters, furnaces, and stoves. Also known as standing pilot, it’s a simple but vital part of older gas systems. goes out, your appliance stops working—no hot water, no heat, no cooking. It’s not always a sign of a broken unit. More often, it’s a simple fix you can handle yourself. But if you’ve tried relighting it and it keeps going out, something deeper is wrong.

A gas appliance, any device that uses natural gas or propane for heating or cooking, including water heaters, furnaces, ovens, and boilers. relies on that tiny flame to trigger the main burner. If the pilot light goes out, the gas valve shuts off as a safety feature. Common reasons it goes out? Drafts from open windows or vents, dust buildup around the pilot tube, a weak thermocouple, or a dirty gas jet. You might notice a faint gas smell before it happens, or hear a soft click when the flame dies. If your pilot light won’t stay lit after relighting it, the thermocouple, a safety sensor that detects whether the pilot flame is burning and signals the gas valve to stay open. is likely faulty. It’s not expensive to replace, but it needs the right tools and a steady hand.

Relighting a pilot light isn’t hard—but safety comes first. Turn off the gas valve, wait five minutes to let any gas clear, then follow the instructions on the appliance label. Use a long lighter if the button doesn’t work. If you smell gas strongly, leave the house and call a professional. Don’t keep trying to light it if it won’t stay on. That’s not a DIY fix—it’s a warning sign. Many people think a pilot light out means they need a new water heater or furnace. But in most cases, it’s just a worn-out part. Replacing a thermocouple or cleaning the pilot tube can save you hundreds.

What you’ll find below are real, tested guides from homeowners and technicians who’ve dealt with this exact problem. From how to test a thermocouple with a multimeter to why your oven pilot keeps blowing out in winter, these posts cut through the noise. No fluff. No guesswork. Just clear steps for when your gas appliance stops working—and what to do next.