pilot won’t go down

[micah]

Hi, when I light my gas heater the pilot light won’t go back down to normal size after it has lit the elements. How can I fix this?

[PLUMBILLParticipant]

Check for right size orifice or relocate pilot, the flame could be to close to the thermocuple and deflecting in away to make it look larger.

Most pilot flames are not adjustable.

[SelgasParticipant]

Interesting statement “your pilot light will not go back to normal after it has lit the main burner” . Do you think the pilot flame should go out once the main burner has been lit?? if so that is NOT the case it should always burn and keep the flame failure device (thermocouple) tip hot enough to keep the gas valve open. The pilot flame is adjustable in length but only through a mechanical adjustment of the valve itself which is something that the consumer must not play with for obvious reasons. It is possible that the pilot jet locking nut on the pipe where it attaches to the pilot burner has become loose and alowing a small amount of gas to escape prior to the main burner lighting up which would give a relatively small looking pilot flame but the draught caused by the main burner when lit would draw the pilot gas through the burner making it apear to be bigger than normal. Unless you have played about with the pilot burner or jet there should be no difference bewteen standing pilot and when main burner is functioning. Let me know what you find – cheers.

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Selgas Services Ltd
Craftsman Gasfitters, Plumbers, Electrical Service Technicians

[cooperjaiParticipant]

This is what happens. I press the button to lite the heater, the pilot light is automatically lit then the elements are lit up. I have to leave my finger on the button until it is lit. While it is being lit the pilot light is about 3 in. high and when I take my finger off the button and it is all lit, the pilot flame used to go down to about 1in. but it isnt anymore. I haven’t adjusted anything, it just decided to do this one day.

[SelgasParticipant]

a 3inch pilot light flame is way too big you may have a faulty valve that is allowing more gas than it should to pass – I would suggest you contact a qualified gas serviceperson to check it out for you – personally in over 35 years of gas business I have never seen this happen – just shows ya ya learns sumthin new every day huh.

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Selgas Services Ltd
Craftsman Gasfitters, Plumbers, Electrical Service Technicians

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