Introduction
If you’ve ever wondered why your gas stove pilot light is always on, it’s for safety and convenience. The pilot light is what allows you to turn on the gas immediately instead of having to wait for the burner to heat up. The flame from this pilot light then heats up the burner when you turn it on.
Let’s take a look at how a gas stove works:
Pilot light safety tips
The pilot light is a safety feature of your stove, and it’s always on to prevent gas leaks. If you see that your pilot light is out, check the following:
- Check the gas supply. Make sure that your gas supply valve is turned on. If not, turn it on and then wait at least 20 minutes before trying to relight the pilot again. If this doesn’t work, contact an appliance repair service or plumbing company for help with fixing any problems with your supply line or regulator valves (which regulate how much pressure gets released into your home).
- Check that there isn’t any debris blocking airflow through vents in front of or behind stove burners where flames come out when cooking takes place–you might need someone else’s help here because these areas are hard for most people reach by themselves!
Why is a gas stove pilot always on?
- To ignite the gas. The pilot light is what lights up your burners, so you don’t have to use matches or a lighter to light them up. The pilot will stay on until you turn it off manually by pressing down on the knob at the back of your range hood.
- To maintain a constant flame. If you leave your stove unattended for too long, there’s a chance that all of its burners might go out because there isn’t enough heat being produced anymore–which could result in an explosion! So make sure that your stove is always lit when not in use by keeping its pilot light burning constantly (and safely!).
- To keep things safe while cooking: If something goes wrong while using an electric range or oven and catches fire, having this little flame nearby can help put out any flames before they spread further than necessary–saving lives and homes from destruction!
Why does the pilot light keep going out?
The pilot light is an electrical device, so it can be affected by power surges. If you have an older stove with a gas valve that has been in use for years, it’s possible that your thermocouple is faulty or has become worn out. A thermocouple is what allows the flame to stay lit when there’s no heat source present; when it gets too hot, it shuts off the gas flow and turns off the flame. If this happens often enough, then your pilot light may keep going out because its lifespan has come to an end.
If none of these reasons seem plausible for why your pilot keeps going out on you–or if they do but you’d like additional information about how they work–then please contact us at 1-800-GAS-STOVE (1-800-427-7893) or send us an email at info@gasstovesbywestinghouseusa.com
Replacing your pilot light
- Turn off the gas supply.
- Turn away from the stove and make sure it’s cool to touch.
- Remove the burner unit cover, if applicable. The cover is usually held on by screws or clips at top and bottom of each side (front), but there may be other methods depending on your specific model–check your owner’s manual for details!
- Remove any side or front burner assemblies (if present). These are often held in place with screws under a metal plate that covers part of the gas line; you’ll need to remove this first before removing any other parts!
A properly-working gas stove pilot light is essential for safe operation of your stove.
A properly-working gas stove pilot light is essential for safe operation of your stove. It’s a safety feature that helps prevent gas leaks, fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
If you have an older stove or if you’re not sure how well the pilot light has been working lately, turn off the power to the stovetop and check out these tips:
- If there is no flame coming from underneath the burner, open up its access panel (usually located at the back). Use a long screwdriver or similar tool to adjust its height until sparks appear around where they should be–this means they’re getting enough oxygen from outside air being sucked into through vents in front or bottom sides of burners’ casings.*
- If there still isn’t enough air flow coming through vents then try opening up windows nearby before trying again.*
Conclusion
As you can see, gas stoves are a great way to cook your food. They offer convenience and efficiency that other types of stoves cannot match. But with all of the benefits come some risks as well. It’s important that you know what these risks are so that you can take steps to avoid them happening in your home!
