Most newer furnaces don't have a standing pilot at all, which is exactly why this still comes up on West Vancouver's older character homes.
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Quick answer
A standing pilot light that keeps going out is usually caused by a weak or failing thermocouple, the small safety sensor that confirms the pilot flame is lit and keeps the gas valve open, or by a draft reaching the pilot flame and physically blowing it out. This specific issue only affects older furnaces with a continuously burning pilot flame; most furnaces installed in the last couple of decades use electronic ignition instead and do not have a standing pilot at all.
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A standing pilot light is a small flame that burns continuously, waiting to light the main burner when the thermostat calls for heat. Most furnaces manufactured in the last fifteen to twenty years use electronic ignition instead, either a hot surface igniter or an electronic spark, and do not have this component at all. If your furnace has a visible pilot flame you can see burning when the main burner is off, it is likely an older unit, which is common in some of West Vancouver's character homes that have not had their furnace replaced in decades.
| Cause | What is happening |
|---|---|
| Weak or failing thermocouple | The sensor that confirms the pilot is lit loses its signal even though the flame is present, and the safety valve shuts the gas off |
| Draft reaching the pilot | Air movement in the mechanical space physically blows out the small flame |
Older mechanical closets and basement utility rooms in some West Vancouver character homes were not always built with the same attention to sealing and airflow control as a modern mechanical room, and a gap around a door, an old vent, or a nearby window can let enough draft through to disturb a standing pilot flame, particularly during a windy coastal storm. If the pilot only goes out during specific weather, that pattern is worth mentioning, since it points toward draft rather than the thermocouple.
Most furnaces with a standing pilot have a printed relighting procedure on a label near the gas valve, and following those exact steps is generally safe for a homeowner. If the pilot will not stay lit after a couple of careful attempts following that label, or if you smell gas at any point during the process, stop and call a technician rather than continuing to try.
We test the thermocouple's actual output and check for draft sources near the pilot assembly. If the thermocouple is weak, replacing it is usually a straightforward repair. If draft is the cause, addressing the source, sealing a gap or adjusting nearby ventilation, resolves it more reliably than repeatedly relighting the pilot.
Let us know roughly how old your furnace is and whether the pilot goes out at random times or seems tied to windy weather. If you have already tried the relighting procedure on the label and it did not hold, mention that too.
Safety note
Follow the printed relighting label exactly if you attempt to relight a pilot yourself, and stop immediately if you smell gas at any point. If you ever smell gas near the furnace, leave the home and call FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911 from outside before doing anything else. Thermocouple replacement and gas valve work must be carried out by a Technical Safety BC licensed gas fitter.
Only if it is an older model. Most furnaces installed in the last fifteen to twenty years use electronic ignition instead and do not have a continuously burning pilot flame.
Following the printed procedure on the label near the gas valve is generally safe. Stop and call a technician if it will not stay lit after a couple of attempts, or if you smell gas.
Draft can enter through gaps around doors, old vents, or windows in an older mechanical room, and even indoor air movement is sometimes enough to disturb a small standing pilot flame.
If the pilot goes out at seemingly random times regardless of weather, a thermocouple is more likely; if it consistently happens during windy conditions, draft is the more likely cause.
It is a relatively straightforward, commonly performed repair; our technician confirms pricing once they have diagnosed the actual cause during your visit.
That depends on the furnace's overall age and condition beyond just the pilot issue, which is a conversation worth having with your technician during the visit.
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