For many older boilers, the pilot light is absolutely essential. If it goes out, your boiler will not work, meaning you will have no heating or hot water until the problem is resolved. Modern boilers do not rely on pilot lights as they make use of electronic ignition, so if your boiler is from 2005 or later, you are unlikely to have this worry.
If you do have an older boiler and your pilot light has gone out, there are several steps you can take to remedy the situation.
How to relight your boiler’s pilot light
Before attempting to relight your pilot light, it is vital to read the manufacturer’s instructions. If you do not have these, contact your manufacturer, being sure to tell them the model of your boiler, or contact a boiler engineer.
If you are going to attempt to relight the pilot light, make sure to turn the gas control off first. Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to relight your pilot light without doing this. After turning off the gas, wait at least 10 minutes for any residual gas to dissipate, then remove the boiler cover to access the pilot light. Light a match and hold this near to the pilot light, then turn the gas control nob to ‘pilot’ and press the reset switch.
If this fails to relight the pilot light, you will need to contact an engineer.
Call in an expert
If your boiler is experiencing any kind fault you should really consult an experienced, Gas Safe-registered engineer as soon as possible. A faulty boiler may not be safe and the fault is only likely to get worse, meaning the sooner you get it checked, the less any repairs are likely to cost you.
The best way to make sure your boiler is in peak condition is to have it serviced regulary by a qualified, experienced engineer. They will be able to check that every part of your boiler is working correctly and carry out any maintenance or repairs that might be needed.
Consider upgrading to a newer model
If your pilot light keeps going out, there is likely an underlying fault that needs to be repaired. This can be quite expensive, meaning it is often more cost-effective to simply replace your old boiler with a modern, super-efficient combi boiler. A modern A-rated boiler is likely to save you as much as £300 a year on your energy bills compared to an older G-rated model (which includes most boilers using a pilot light). This saving can quickly off-set the cost of buying a new boiler, meaning you end up spending less for much more reliable central heating.
Why choose DHS?
If you’re looking for boiler servicing and boiler repairs in Bristol, DHS can help. We are one of Bristol’s most trusted firms, having worked on the city’s boilers for over 40 years. All our engineers are Gas Safe-registered, so you can have complete confidence that all our work is carried out to the very highest standards to keep you warm and safe all year round.
Call DHS today on 0117 924 7200, email us, or request a call back.
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