An intermittent pilot is an electronic ignition system that lights the pilot flame only when the appliance calls for heat, rather than keeping a small flame burning around the clock.
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Quick answer
Intermittent pilot ignition is a control strategy where a gas boiler or water heater lights its pilot flame electronically, using a spark or hot-surface igniter, only at the moment heat is called for. Once the main burner shuts off, the pilot goes out too, instead of continuing to burn. This is different from a standing pilot, which stays lit constantly, and it's the more common ignition style on newer, higher-efficiency gas appliances found in Metro Vancouver homes.
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A standing pilot is the small flame that many people picture when they think of an older gas water heater: it burns continuously, day and night, ready to ignite the main burner the instant there's a call for heat. An intermittent pilot skips that continuous flame. Instead, the control board sends a signal to an igniter, which sparks or heats up, lights the pilot, proves that flame with a sensor, and only then opens the gas valve to the main burner. When the call for heat ends, both the pilot and burner shut off completely.
The practical difference is that an intermittent pilot doesn't waste gas keeping a flame lit when nothing is calling for heat. Over a heating season, that adds up, which is one reason most newer condensing boilers and higher-efficiency water heaters have moved to intermittent or fully electronic ignition rather than a standing pilot.
When your thermostat or a hot water sensor calls for heat, the appliance's control board runs a specific sequence: it may first purge the combustion chamber with a draft inducer fan, then energize the igniter, open the pilot gas valve briefly, confirm the pilot flame with a flame sensor, and only then open the main gas valve. Each step has to succeed before the next begins, and safety controls will halt the sequence, often going into lockout, if a step fails, such as no flame detected within a set window.
This multi-step process is more complex than a standing pilot's simple 'flame is already there' logic, which is part of why intermittent pilot systems have more electronic components that can eventually need service: igniters, flame sensors, and control boards.
If your gas boiler or water heater has never had a visible pilot light you could see burning, it very likely uses intermittent or direct electronic ignition rather than a standing pilot. That changes how you troubleshoot a no-heat or no-hot-water call: there's no pilot to relight yourself, and repeated ignition failures usually point to an igniter, flame sensor, gas valve, or control board issue that needs a licensed technician's diagnostic equipment.
Damp coastal air and older venting in some Metro Vancouver homes can occasionally affect ignition components over time, so a system that used to light reliably and now struggles is worth having checked before it fails completely on a cold night.
Safety note
Any work on the gas piping, burner, venting, or pressure components of a boiler or gas water heater must be done by a Technical Safety BC licensed gas fitter. CANRO holds gas licence LGA0043870 and boiler licence LBP0046450. If you ever smell gas, hear hissing near a gas line, or suspect a carbon monoxide problem, leave the home immediately and call FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911 from outside before doing anything else.
No. Intermittent pilot systems are lit automatically by the control board and igniter. There's no manual pilot to relight, and repeated failed ignition attempts should be diagnosed by a licensed gas fitter rather than repeatedly reset.
A few ignition attempts before the flame catches can be normal, especially after the pilot circuit purges air from the gas line. Frequent or repeated clicking with no ignition points to an igniter or gas valve issue worth having checked.
Generally yes, since it doesn't burn gas continuously between heat calls. The exact efficiency gain depends on the specific appliance and how often it cycles.
Lockout usually follows repeated failed ignition attempts or a flame sensor that doesn't detect the pilot flame within the required time window. Common causes include a faulty igniter, blocked venting, or gas supply issues, and diagnosis should be left to a licensed technician.
Many do, though some use fully electronic direct ignition with no pilot flame step at all. Both are different from the older standing pilot design, and a technician can identify which ignition type your specific unit has.
The control system is designed to stop attempting ignition and lock out rather than allow unburned gas to accumulate, which is a safety feature. If ignition repeatedly fails, don't keep resetting it; call a licensed gas fitter to diagnose the cause.
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