The usual suspects
A worn thermocouple (standing pilots)
The safety that holds the gas valve open weakens with age and drops the pilot — the classic old-furnace failure.
A cracked hot-surface igniter
Modern furnaces’ glowing igniters are brittle; a hairline crack means clicking or glowing without ignition.
A dirty flame sensor
Lights, then dies seconds later — the sensor can’t "see" the flame through its buildup.
Draft or gas-supply issues
A drafty utility room, a half-open valve, or venting problems can starve a pilot. Worth ruling out properly.
Lighting it the fourth time isn’t a plan.
Thermocouples, igniters and flame sensors are stock parts — one visit, priced before we start.
Book My Same-Day Visit60 seconds online · or call (206) 486-6373
Worth trying first (5 minutes, free)
- 1
Relight ONCE by the label instructions if you have a standing pilot and smell no gas.
- 2
Check the gas valve handle is fully parallel with the pipe.
- 3
It dies again? Stop relighting — that’s the thermocouple talking. Book it.
Still not working? Then it’s a technician job — and the sooner it’s booked, the sooner the house is comfortable again. Book the visit →
Stop and book a pro if…
- Any gas smell before relighting — do not light anything; leave and call PSE.
- A pilot flame that burns yellow and lazy instead of steady blue.
- Scorch marks or soot around the burner compartment.
- Repeated igniter clicking — stop cycling it; book instead.
Why homeowners hand it to us
- You approve the price first. Upfront quote before a single screw turns.
- Same-day service. Book in a minute, hear from a tech within 1 business hour.
- 500+ jobs done by 4.9★ rated, professional technicians.
- Fixed right, guaranteed. If it’s not right, we make it right.
Quick answers
Can I replace a thermocouple myself?
It’s one of the more DIY-able furnace parts, but it lives next to the gas valve — installed wrong, it defeats a safety. Most people are better off with our quick visit and upfront price.
Why did the pilot survive 20 years and quit now?
Thermocouples generate a tiny voltage from heat, and that output decays over years until one cold night it dips below the gas valve’s threshold. It’s age, not accident.
Is a pilot furnace worth fixing?
Usually yes for this repair — it’s inexpensive. If the same furnace also shows exchanger or venting issues, we’ll give you the honest repair-vs-replace math before you spend.
Done guessing?
Book it once and stop babysitting the furnace. Tech contact within 1 business hour.
Book My Same-Day Visit60 seconds online · or call (206) 486-6373
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