1st Time Homeowners Dumb Question Thread

I know I'm not the only first time home owner on here, but I really have no experience in anything home related, home repair, etc, which I don't know if that's the case for everyone. I figured we could consolidate questions into one thread, seeing that I will probably asking a lot of questions. I know there are a lot of you here that are versed well in home repair.

So my question is:

How do you light the pilot light on a furnace? I have a newer furnace that the previous owner shut off in the beginning of summer. The recent drop in temperature it's been in the lower 60's in my house in the morning, which is too cold for me and my wife.

Is lighting the pilot light something that I can do without blowing up the house or dying from CO2 poisoning in the night? Or is it something I need to call somebody about?

Depending on the age of the furnace, it may be nearly as easy as starting a propane BBQ.

Pop the cover off and take a look inside the cover, there are likely directions printed there.

If not, google the make/model of the furnace and you should be able to figure it out.

It isn't a bad idea, as a new home owner, to have the furnace checked out by a pro, but it probably isn't critical at this point.

It may be an auto one. Mine is about 12 years old and the pilot light is automatic.

In reply to Rusted_Busted_Spit:

I was told by previous owner it needed to be lit.

There is a gas valve with three positions, generally off/on/pilot. Find a barbecue lighter, or tape a wooden match to a coat hanger, or something- the pilot will be in under the burner, 8-12 inches from the back of the furnace. Oh yeah- there is a steel cover over the back of the furnace that should lift off to access all this stuff. Lots of furnaces won't run the fan or light the burner until that cover is back in place. There should be a small steel tube running from the gas valve to the pilot light. Turn the knob to pilot, and push it in. Stick your fire into the pilot area, and it should light. You now have to hold the knob down until the heat from the pilot has got the thermocouple hot enough to maintain pressure to the pilot. It usually takes a minute or more. If the pilot won't stay lit, the thermocouple is probably shot. They are universal, or close to it, and cost about 10 bucks at the local hardware store. I always have a spare hanging on the wall near the furnace, since they last 3-4 years, and always fail when its coldest. After the pilot is burning happily, rotate the knob back to "on" and you are good to go....as long as the power isn't shut off to the motor- there will be a light switch someplace that controls power to the furnace.

In reply to Streetwiseguy:

Ok great. I will look into this right now, I would like to have it on.

turboswede wrote: It isn't a bad idea, as a new home owner, to have the furnace checked out by a pro, but it probably isn't critical at this point.

we've been in this house since it was built in '63 (it's on it's second furnace) and we get it checked/cleaned by a pro each fall

it's a bit different from most .. oil fired, hot water (not pressurized steam ... pumped hot water)

You should be able to find a manual for it online to tell you exactly where it is.

If its a newer furnace it should have an automatic ignition. Before the furnace comes on, it runs through some checks to make sure its all working. I've had to replace my ignitor and flame sensor. I keep spares b/c they only go bad on weekends and holidays.

If you have a bad ignitor, you can probably trick it with a grill lighter and some good timing. Some furnaces will let you short the flame sensor (mine won't).

All of that said, the easiest thing to do is call an HVAC guy. The installer probably put a sticker on the furnace or ducts and should have the part in stock. Buy spares from him, and then get another set from Amazon and you'll be good for several years to come.