Has your boiler's pilot light gone out? What are the main causes? Here we explain, along with solutions and costs.
Boilers have evolved over the years. One feature not seen on modern boilers is that of a pilot light.
However, if you have an older boiler that features a pilot light, you may be unsure what to do if it goes out.
So, what exactly is a boiler pilot light, why might it go out, and how can it be relit?
Let’s dive in!
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What is a Boiler Pilot Light?
As mentioned, boiler pilot lights are found in older boilers, although they can also be found inside older furnaces.
The purpose of a boiler pilot light is to act as the flame needed to light the gas coming from the main burner.
In this setup, a continuous flow of gas is released via the gas pipe.
As a result, the flame can light the gas and create a continuous burn.
But what if the pilot light goes out?
Why Pilot Lights Go Out
Note: If you smell gas, exit your property straightaway and then immediately contact the National Gas Emergencies on 0800 111 999.
Should a pilot light go out, gas will continue to release via the pipe leading to a very dangerous accumulation of gas.
Thankfully though, older boilers with pilot lights are designed to react in this situation.
This is because the pilot light tube features a sensor that can determine whether the pilot light is lit.
If the pilot light is out, this sensor will be able to send the signal needed to ensure the gas supply to the pilot light is halted. This would obviously be done for safety reasons.
Relighting a Boiler Pilot Light
A boiler pilot light can only be relit by a Gas Safe Register engineer. Trying to relight it yourself is not only dangerous but against the law.
Attempting to undertake this working DIY comes with a whole host of hazards, not least, that you could cause a gas explosion, which could easily prove lethal.
So, definitely hire a heating engineer for this task.
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Why Is My Boiler Pilot Light Continually Going Out?
If you find that your boiler pilot light keeps going out, there are several likely explanations.
Whatever the case, you’d need to hire a qualified heating engineer to diagnose the cause with certainty before they would also need to solve it.
The most common reasons for a boiler pilot light regularly going out:
The thermocouple is Broken/Faulty
Also known as the flame sensor, this copper rod is directly hit by the pilot flame. It acts as a safety mechanism that can turn off the gas if it notices that the pilot light has gone out. The purpose, therefore, of a thermocouple is to prevent a dangerous accumulation of gas. Of course, it’s possible that a thermocouple could end up misaligned, malfunctioned, broken, or it may even up dirty. If this happens, it will shut off the gas valve and your pilot light won’t be able to stay lit.Pilot Light Orifice is Dirty
Another possibility is that dirt has built up in your boiler's pilot orifice. If this has occurred, it may be stopping the flame enveloping the thermocouple as it should be. As a result, the gas would be shut off.Gas Regulator Is Not Functioning Right
Boiler pilot lights can also go out as a result of a problem with your gas regulator. If it is not working correctly, it’s possible that your boiler will not receive a sufficient quantity of gas needed for the boiler pilot light to stay lit. If other gas appliances are acting up, then the gas regulator may be to blame. So, if you find that several gas appliances are acting up around the same time, you should get in touch with your utility company regarding your concerns. Of course, if you have any other reason to suspect the gas regulator isn’t functioning right, you should contact them all the same.Strong Draught
Lastly, even a heavy draught could be the culprit. If you notice that your boiler’s pilot light tends to go out on days that are especially windy, then a strong draught may be to blame. Of course, coincidences do happen, but if you notice a trend, there’s a good chance that a draught is a problem. While draughts themselves can be addressed DIY, you should still hire a qualified heating engineer if your pilot light keeps going out, whatever the reason. After all, you can’t be sure that a draught is a cause until a professional look at your boiler. Moreover, the heating engineer will be able to solve this issue in the most optimal way and, if a draught is to blame, help you determine how to best deal with it.
Cost of Relighting a Boiler Pilot Light
Obviously, if you just need your pilot light relit, this won’t cost too much.
However, if there’s an underlying cause that needs to be addressed, you may need to pay a little more.
Again, you must hire a qualified heating engineer for any of these jobs.
On average, the potential tasks required would cost the following:
Relighting a Boiler Pilot Light
£30 to £120Fixing a Thermocouple
£30 to £120Replacing a Thermocouple
£120 to £180Cleaning Out a Pilot Light Orifice
£30 to £120Replacing a Pilot Light Orifice
£40 to £130
If the issue is with your gas regulator, this will likely be up to the utility company to deal with and is unlikely to involve a fee. However, this is not certain.
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Lastly, if a strong draught proves to be the issue, you’d probably just face a callout fee of £30 to £120 (which would also cover the engineer relighting the pilot light), while it will be up to you to fix the draughts yourself or with the help of other professionals.
You may find that a strong draught can be resolved by adding draught-proofing strips or draught excluders to doors or installing double-glazed windows among other potential solutions.
The steps needed will depend on where the draught is coming from and therefore pricing is going to vary too.
Some solutions will be DIY-friendly, whereas others will need the help of professionals.
Boiler Pilot Light Out Conclusion
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