Can a pilot light be on with a bad thermocouple?

A thermocouple senses the heat of the pilot and allows gas to flow to the burner. A bad thermocouple will shut off gas to both the pilot and the burner so the pilot light won’t stay lit.

What causes the pilot light to go out?

Some of the possible serious reasons for pilot lights to go out include loose or broken gas valves, thermocouples or heat exchangers, faulty venting, low gas pressure, or high winds. If you believe there is a serious problem, don’t hesitate to contact a professional.

Why is my pilot light not staying lit on my furnace?

Some common causes include issues with the thermocouple and pilot tube. The thermocouple detects the pilot light via sensors. A dirty pilot tube can also prevent the pilot from staying lit. If the pilot tube is dirty, let the furnace cool down and turn off the gas.

How do you jump a thermocouple?

To bypass the thermocouple:

1. Move the tilts switch wire aside.
2. Remove your thermocouple from the heater using an 8mm wrench.
3. Pull the valve housing aside using your 13mm socket wrench.
4. Remove the valve using your pliers.
5. Put your thermocouple back into position.

What do you do if your pilot light won’t stay lit?

If your pilot light won’t stay alight, it might be the thermocouple. Sometimes dust buildup collects on the thermocouple and blocks the sensor. Try cleaning the thermocouple and then relighting the pilot light. If it continues to go out, the thermocouple might need to be replaced.

How can you tell if a thermocouple is bad?

Place one test lead on the side of the thermocouple and the other to the end that screws into the gas valve. If the thermocouple has proper continuity, a small resistance reading should be visible on the multimeter. Many multimeters also indicate continuity with an audio alert.

How do you fix a pilot light that keeps going out?

Luckily, this is an easy problem to solve. All you have to do is shut off the gas, wait for everything to cool down and bend the thermocouple back into place. Voila! If the flame is directed through a dirty pilot opening, it will become unstable and appear wavy.