| I went to a Heating and Air Conditioning | | | | burners will not light so the furnace will not heat |
| customer's home the other day. They had called | | | | the house. You can visually check the |
| me to tell me that their heater was not coming | | | | thermocouple as well as the pilot flame. Look at |
| on. It is December and getting colder in northern | | | | the pilot flame while holding the knob in the start |
| California. I am a compassionate guy so I headed | | | | position. |
| over there after I finished with my regular job. | | | | 1. Is the pilot flame floating (if it is have a Heating |
| I arrived at the home and went to where the | | | | serviceperson check the gas valve) |
| heater is located in a closet in the home. (yours | | | | 2. Is the copper lead bent or kinked |
| maybe in the attic, basement, or garage) I | | | | 3. Is the thermocouple insulation damaged |
| removed the door and found a 30 year old | | | | 4. Is the thermocouple tip dirty |
| Heating unit. This unit has a standing pilot light, a | | | | You can clean the tip by lightly sanding it. Also |
| flame that burns continuously, and it was not lit. | | | | make sure it has not slid down out of the flame. |
| After trying to light the pilot light unsuccessfully I | | | | If you feel the flame is aimed properly and the |
| determined that pilot light would not stay lit. | | | | thermocouple is clean and there are no visible |
| The older Heating furnaces with standing pilot | | | | signs of damage then damage is on the inside, |
| lights have a thermocouple, that is designed to | | | | remove it. You can take it to an appliance parts |
| sense the pilot light flame. That is how the pilot | | | | and service dealer where they will sell you the |
| stays lit when you remove your hand from the | | | | correct part or you can call a heating service |
| dial, while trying to relight the pilot. If the | | | | person to come replace it for you. |
| thermocouple fails the pilot will not stay lit and the | | | | |