Gas Furnaces And Boilers

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Although gas furnaces and boilers are relatively trouble free, always have one checked and serviced once a year along with the system that delivers its heat.

Relighting a pilot light.

Some newer gas furnaces have an electronic igniter that lights the pilot light or the burners directly, if it fails have it serviced. Many units have a pilot light, which stays on all the time. If it goes out, the burners cannot be lit. Controls vary from model to model and instructions for relighting the pilot light nearly always appear on a label near the control valve. Follow them carefully. Most furnaces have a combination control valve with a gas knob and a reset button or a single knob that does both functions. First turn off the electric switch that controls the furnace and turn down the thermostat. Then turn the gas knob Off. Wait five minutes for the gas to dissipate but if the smell of gas persists, stop and call for service. Then turn the gas knob to Pilot. Depress and hold the reset button or gas knob and light the pilot – you might need a long match to reach it. Wait a minute before releasing the button. If the pilot goes out, try relighting it and holding the button in longer before calling for service. If the pilot stays lit turn the gas knob to On. Turn on the power and raise the thermostat.