Why an older furnace's standing pilot light keeps going out in a Port Coquitlam home, and what a repeated relight usually means.
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Quick answer
A pilot light that keeps going out is usually caused by a weak or failing thermocouple, a draft reaching the pilot assembly, or a dirty pilot orifice restricting gas flow. Most newer furnaces don't use a standing pilot at all, so this issue mostly comes up on older units, and repeated relighting without finding the cause isn't a long-term fix.
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Most furnaces installed in the last fifteen to twenty years use electronic ignition rather than a continuously burning standing pilot, so if your furnace still has a visible pilot flame you're maintaining, it's likely an older unit. That's common enough in Port Coquitlam's more established neighbourhoods near downtown and Leigh Square, where original furnaces from decades ago are sometimes still in service.
| Cause | Notes |
|---|---|
| Weak or failing thermocouple | The thermocouple senses the pilot flame and keeps gas flowing to it; if it's worn, it can shut gas off even with a lit pilot |
| Draft near the furnace | Air movement from a nearby vent, door, or gap can blow out a standing pilot |
| Dirty or partially blocked pilot orifice | Restricts gas flow enough that the flame is too weak to keep the thermocouple satisfied |
| Low gas pressure | Uncommon, but can contribute to an unstable pilot flame |
A thermocouple is the most common cause by a wide margin. It's a relatively simple, inexpensive part, but it needs to be replaced by a technician who can confirm it's actually the fault rather than something further upstream.
Check whether there's an obvious draft near the pilot assembly, an open register, a gap around the furnace access panel, or airflow from nearby ductwork, and address that if you can. Beyond that, relighting a standing pilot following the instructions printed on the furnace is generally fine to attempt once. If it goes out again shortly after, stop attempting to relight it repeatedly and call a technician instead.
A thermocouple replacement, cleaning a pilot orifice, or checking gas pressure all need a licensed gas fitter. Repeated relighting without addressing the underlying cause risks gas being present without a reliable flame to burn it, which is a genuine safety concern, not just an inconvenience.
A thermocouple is a relatively minor repair in terms of parts, though labour and access to the unit factor into the total. CANRO diagnoses the actual cause first and confirms pricing before doing any repair.
If your furnace still has a standing pilot, it's likely old enough that a broader conversation about its remaining service life is worth having alongside the pilot repair itself. A technician can give you an honest read on whether a thermocouple replacement makes sense on its own, or whether it's a good moment to start planning for a full furnace replacement instead.
Safety note
Do not repeatedly attempt to relight a pilot that keeps going out; have the cause diagnosed by a Technical Safety BC licensed gas fitter. If you smell gas at any time, leave the home immediately and call FortisBC's emergency line at 1-800-663-9911 from a safe location.
The most common cause is a weak or failing thermocouple, though a draft near the pilot or a dirty pilot orifice can also cause it.
Relighting it once following the furnace's instructions is generally fine. If it goes out again soon after, stop and have a technician diagnose the cause instead of repeating the process.
No, most furnaces installed in the last fifteen to twenty years use electronic ignition instead. A standing pilot usually means an older furnace.
It's a small safety component that senses whether the pilot flame is lit and controls gas flow accordingly. A worn thermocouple can shut off gas even when the pilot appears to be burning.
It's generally a modest repair in terms of parts, with labour depending on access to the unit. CANRO confirms pricing after diagnosing the cause.
Not necessarily, but if your furnace still has a standing pilot it's likely older, so it's worth asking a technician for an honest read on its remaining service life while they're there.
Yes, air movement near the pilot assembly, including from a nearby drafty window or vent, can blow out a standing pilot flame even when the thermocouple itself is fine.
A healthy pilot flame is typically a steady blue. A yellow, flickering, or unstable flame is worth mentioning to a technician along with the repeated outages.
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