How to Light the Pilot Light on a Gas Range
Gas ranges are easy to work with, you just turn the knob and they’re ready to be used. Sometimes, though, your gas range’s pilot light goes off, meaning you have to light it again. While this isn’t a very complicated task, it requires much caution, because gas is very flammable and dangerous. Here are some steps to follow when you’re faced with this task.
What You’ll Need:
Gas range
Straight pin
Fireplace match or ordinary match
Detergent
Brush
Procedure:
Before you begin, turn off all the burners on the stove. Make sure all the stove controls are shut off.
You’ll smell a slight gas odor form the stove. Don’t panic because this is normal, especially if the pilot light has just gone out. If the pilot light has been gone for quite some time already though, and you smell a really strong gas odor, call a local gas company to help you with your gas range.
Expose the pilot lights by lifting the range top off. If there’s a cap or cover on the pilot light, remove it too. Inspect the pilot light’s condition. Are there food bits and other burnt debris blocking the pilot light? If there are, you need to remove them.
Use a straight pin to clean the food from the pilot light. Make sure you remove as much as you can. Afterwards, use detergent and stiff brush to scrub the tubes that lead from the pilot light to the burner.
Get a fireplace match or regular match, then light it. Hold it near the port. With the debris gone, the pilot light should now relight, but if not, you need to try another way.
Go to the front of the stove and take off the vanity or broiler that covers it. Find the thermocouple inside the oven. Do the same procedure, hold a lit match over the thermocouple for 15 to 20 seconds. This will warm the thermocouple, causing the gas for the interior burners to be released.
Try to relight the pilot again. If you’ve done everything properly, then you’ll get the pilot light to light up this time.
A pilot light that needs relighting isn’t very hard to deal with, as long as you know the right procedures and safety reminders. If the light goes out too frequently, though, it’s best to contact a local gas company or the manufacturer, to help you solve the problem.