Do Gas Water Heaters Need to Be Relit After a Power Outage?
Losing power can be a frustrating experience, especially when it affects necessities like your hot water supply. If you have a gas water heater, you may be wondering if you need to relight it after the power comes back on. Here is a comprehensive guide on what to do when your gas water heater stops working after a power outage.
How Gas Water Heaters Work
Gas water heaters rely on a pilot light to ignite the main burner when hot water is needed. The pilot light provides a small, constant flame that sits near a thermocouple. When the water temperature drops, the thermocouple triggers the gas valve to open, allowing gas to flow to the main burner.
The pilot light itself runs solely on gas and does not require electricity. However, the thermocouple, gas valve, and main burner do need power to operate properly.
Why Your Water Heater Stops Working During an Outage
When the power goes out, any electrical components in your gas water heater will stop working. This includes the thermocouple, gas valve, and main burner.
The pilot light may stay lit initially, but without power it cannot trigger the gas valve to open and allow gas to flow to the main burner. So even though you have a constant flame from the pilot light, no hot water can be created without electricity.
Do You Need to Relight the Pilot?
In most cases, yes – you will need to relight the pilot on your gas water heater after a power outage.
When the thermocouple stops receiving power, it automatically shuts off the gas supply as a safety precaution. This causes the pilot light to go out as well.
Once power is restored, the pilot will need to be manually relit in order to restart normal operation. The steps for this process are outlined below.
How to Safely Relight Your Water Heater Pilot Light
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Locate the pilot light. This is typically found near the bottom of the water heater. Refer to your manual for exact placement.
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Turn the gas control knob to "Off." Make sure no gas is flowing to the water heater.
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Turn off the gas supply. Shut off the gas supply at the manual shut-off valve.
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Remove the outer door. Take off the outer door so you can access the pilot assembly.
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Wait 5-10 minutes for any residual gas to dissipate. This is an important safety step.
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Relight the pilot. Press and hold the reset button while holding a lit match or lighter to the pilot light opening. Continue holding the button down for 30-60 seconds after the pilot is lit.
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Turn the gas back on. Slowly turn on the gas supply and check for leaks. Repair any leaks before moving forward.
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Replace the outer door. Put the outer door back in place.
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Set gas control knob to "On." This will restart the water heater.
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Check that the pilot stays lit. Monitor the pilot flame. If it goes out, repeat steps 2-9.
If you are ever unsure about safely relighting your water heater, call a professional for assistance. While not overly difficult, working with gas appliances can be dangerous if not done properly.
Signs You Need Pilot Light Repairs
If you repeatedly need to relight your pilot light, it likely indicates an underlying issue such as:
- Dirty thermocouple
- Weak pilot flame
- Faulty thermopile
- Damaged pilot assembly
- Gas control valve issue
Schedule annual water heater maintenance checks to identify and correct any pilot light problems before they become serious.
When to Call for Help
In some circumstances, you may not actually need to relight the pilot:
- If you have a tankless gas water heater, it does not use a pilot light. Simply turn the power back on.
- If you have an electrically-ignited unit, the pilot may relight itself when power is restored.
- If your pilot uses batteries for the ignitor, it does not require electricity.
Check your owner‘s manual or call the manufacturer if you are unsure whether the pilot needs to be manually relit.
And as mentioned above, call in a professional anytime you do not feel fully comfortable relighting the pilot yourself. Your safety should always come first.
Maintaining Your Gas Water Heater
To minimize pilot light issues in the future:
- Annually inspect the thermocouple, burner, and pilot assembly.
- Keep the area around the water heater clean and free of debris.
- Ensure proper venting to avoid buildup of combustion gases.
- Replace the anode rod as recommended.
Performing regular maintenance will help keep your gas water heater running safely and efficiently. Knowing how to properly relight the pilot is also key to restoring hot water quickly when the power returns.