Water Heater Pilot Light Keeps Going Out & What Is the Pilot Light?

August 19, 2023
Author Picture
Written By
the-water-heater-pilot-light-keeps-going-out

The pilot light is a small flame that burns continuously in gas-powered appliances, including gas water heaters, furnaces, and stoves. It is used to ignite the main burner when the thermostat calls for heat. The pilot light is typically located at the bottom of the water heater tank or near the burner assembly.

If the pilot light is not lit, the main burner will not ignite, and there will be no hot water. In this case, you will need to relight the pilot light to restore hot water. The process of relighting the
pilot light varies depending on the make and model of your water heater, so be sure to consult the owner's manual or call a professional plumber for guidance. It is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully to ensure your safety and avoid damaging the water heater.

How To Tell If The Pilot Light Is Out

If the pilot light is out, you may notice one or more of the following signs:

  • No hot water: The most obvious sign that the pilot light is out is that your water heater will not produce hot water.
  • Cold water coming from the hot water faucet: If the pilot light is out, you may still get cold water coming from the hot water faucet.
  • The smell of gas: If you smell gas near the water heater, it could be a sign that the pilot light is out. In this case, you should turn off the gas supply to the water heater and call a professional plumber for assistance.
  • Pilot light won't stay lit: If you try to relight the pilot light and it won't stay lit, it could be a sign of a more serious problem with the water heater, such as a faulty thermocouple or gas valve.

If you suspect that the pilot light is out, you can visually inspect the water heater to see if the flame is on. Look for a small blue flame burning near the bottom of the water heater tank or
near the burner assembly. If the flame is out, follow the instructions in your owner's manual to relight the pilot light. If you are uncomfortable doing this, or if the pilot light won't stay lit, call a professional plumber at Red One Plumbing for assistance.

testimonials

Real Customer Testimonials

Google G letterFive stars

Roberto was fantastic! Not only was his customer service on point, he literally showed up less than 30 minutes after I called. He was polite, thorough and spent time explaining what he was doing. I would highly recommend this company to anyone needing plumbing service!

Google G letterFive stars

John did the pipe replacement for our backed-up sink. Super polite, did great work, and got the job done super quickly!

Google G letterFive stars

Red One responded quickly. David was very friendly, honest and communicated everything clearly to us.  He also had faucets we could purchase saving me a trip to the store.  I would recommend them to anyone.

Google G letterFive stars

Arrived when he said he would and even gave an en route eta! Roberto helped us and he is very friendly and respectful of your time and home. Excellent work and fixed our issues no problem!

Google G letterFive stars

Excellent customer service and overall experience with Roberto. It was a custom job installing a toilet in an RV with small access. Honest and efficient in the estimate, execution, and communication. Would recommend him to anyone with their plumbing needs.

Google G letterFive stars

Roberto did an absolutely phenomenal job! He was friendly, considerate, knowledgable, and explained everything he was doing in a way that was easy to understand. Would highly recommend to anyone with plumbing issues.

Google G letterFive stars

Roberto did a phenomenal job.  He really went above and beyond to get the job done as soon as possible!!

Google G letterFive stars

Roberto did an amazing job replacing my exterior gas line. He was open and honest about the entire situation and very friendly. He did an excellent job and it passed city inspection in minutes. I highly recommend Roberto. He makes you feel like a friend and not just another customer. 5 star service and attitude.

Google G letterFive stars

Roberto is excellent. He is always on time, very thorough and explains everything before service is done. I highly recommend him and Red One!

Google G letterFive stars

Roberto was fantastic! Not only was his customer service on point, he literally showed up less than 30 minutes after I called. He was polite, thorough and spent time explaining what he was doing. I would highly recommend this company to anyone needing plumbing service!

Google G letterFive stars

John did the pipe replacement for our backed-up sink. Super polite, did great work, and got the job done super quickly!

Google G letterFive stars

Red One responded quickly. David was very friendly, honest and communicated everything clearly to us.  He also had faucets we could purchase saving me a trip to the store.  I would recommend them to anyone.

Google G letterFive stars

Arrived when he said he would and even gave an en route eta! Roberto helped us and he is very friendly and respectful of your time and home. Excellent work and fixed our issues no problem!

Google G letterFive stars

Excellent customer service and overall experience with Roberto. It was a custom job installing a toilet in an RV with small access. Honest and efficient in the estimate, execution, and communication. Would recommend him to anyone with their plumbing needs.

Google G letterFive stars

Roberto did an absolutely phenomenal job! He was friendly, considerate, knowledgable, and explained everything he was doing in a way that was easy to understand. Would highly recommend to anyone with plumbing issues.

Google iconFive stars

Roberto with Red One plumbing was fantastic! He was very personable and professional. You can tell he really knew his job well and he takes great pride in the quality of his work. He hooked up our standby generator and was very informative on the whole process. He made sure we knew what to expect and what each step entailed. If I need a plumber again in the future, he will be my go to guy. Highly recommended.

Mia
Five stars

I'm so glad we reached out to Red One Plumbing. We were able to get a same-day appointment, and not only was Robert able to come sooner than expected, but he was truly professional, communicative, and service-oriented. He was very thorough in identifying our issue, and he communicated with me every step of the way. I can't recommend this business enough. They were terrific!

Haley Chance
Google icon
Five stars

Red One Plumbing and Roberto are the best! I needed immediate service on faucet installation/drain cleaning and Roberto showed up quickly and was very professional. I will continue using them for all my plumbing needs. Very reliable and affordable.

Cynthia A.
Google icon
Five stars

Robert runs an amazing business. He is truly one of a kind. Red One Plumbing was there for my family during the freeze with a frozen pipe. They has serviced and replaced several of our appliances. He goes above and beyond for his customers.

Brandi Whaley
Google icon
Five stars

I had the company replaced a garbage disposal. The pricing was good. No shady haggling. The tech arrived promptly the next day and completed the job very fast. Communication with the company was good .I would use this company again for my other houses.

Thach Huynh
Google icon
Five stars

We had a fantastic experience with Red One. Great response times, very professional and friendly both on dispatch and on the plumber side. Robert was amazing and helped above and beyond the job description. I will absolutely be using them again! I normally DIY but they made it so easy to work with them that I think I’ll be retiring from plumbing DIY!

Jake Miley
Google icon
Five stars

Roberto with Red One plumbing was fantastic! He was very personable and professional. You can tell he really knew his job well and he takes great pride in the quality of his work. He hooked up our standby generator and was very informative on the whole process. He made sure we knew what to expect and what each step entailed. If I need a plumber again in the future, he will be my go to guy. Highly recommended.

Mia
Google icon
Five stars

Robert runs an amazing business. He is truly one of a kind. Red One Plumbing was there for my family during the freeze with a frozen pipe. They has serviced and replaced several of our appliances. He goes above and beyond for his customers.

Brandi Whaley
Google icon
Five stars

Red One Plumbing and Roberto are the best! I needed immediate service on faucet installation/drain cleaning and Roberto showed up quickly and was very professional. I will continue using them for all my plumbing needs. Very reliable and affordable.

Cynthia A.

reasons to work with us

Price book icon

Flat-Rate & Upfront Pricing

We believe in transparency and honesty, offering flat-rate pricing with no hidden fees

Service truck icon

Same-Day Services Available

Ready to serve your urgent needs with prompt, efficient service solutions.

Shake hand icon

Customer-Centric Service

We prioritize your satisfaction, aiming to exceed expectations with attentive, personalized service.

Ribbon Icon

Women-Owned Family Business

A family-run business championing equality and empowerment in the community.

© 2024 red one plumbing & drains | all rights reserved