When you have a gas stove that’s always warm to touch when you attempt to clean it, you may find yourself checking and double-checking to be sure it is turned off. Many people wonder why their gas stoves are always hot, even when they are turned off.
Gas stoves are always hot because they have a standing pilot light, which is the source of its ignition. This pilot light is a small burning gas flame that normally stays on all the time, and the heat it generates warms the stove.
The pilot light continually burns, and it makes the gas stoves stay hot, but you may want be asking, “What exactly is this pilot light?” “What is the usefulness of the pilot light?” “Why must it always be on?” These are valid questions that will be answered in a short while.
Is it Normal for a Gas Stove to Always Be Hot?
Gas stoves have knobs, which, when are turned, will open the gas line, then gas begins to flow and gets ignited. These knobs allow you to control the flame whereby you can turn the flame high or low, depending on how much you want it to burn. Gas stoves have two types of ignition sources. They are:
- Standing pilot (Pilot light)
- Electric (Automatic) ignition
A standing pilot has a small, continuously burning gas flame, which is called a pilot light. The pilot light is used on many appliances that use natural gas or propane such as:
- Cloth dryers,
- Water heaters,
- Fireplaces,
- Gas stoves, etc.
In the gas stove, it is normally located under the stovetop. The pilot light is a small flame that is meant to stay on all the time, and this is why your gas stove feels hot. The standing pilot is installed in the gas stove, not just as a source of ignition but for other important reasons, some of which are:
- They provide a ready source of ignition when the gas burner is turned off. So, you don’t need to have an external source when you want to light the gas stove.
- It also prevents uncombusted gas from leaking out of the system.
The electronic ignition system, unlike the standing pilot ignitor system, uses a small electronic spark to ignite the pilot flame when the gas stove is turned on. When the pilot flame is ignited in the electric system, the heat is detected by the heat sensor, which results in the gas flow to the burner. But as soon as the main burner is ignited, the pilot flame goes off.
You might be wondering if the standing pilot system is safe. Below are some of the safety tips you may want to follow if your gas stove has a pilot light.
Safety tips for Gas Stoves with Pilot Light System
So many people have had injuries from making mistakes that could have been avoided. The safety tips below are important if you have a gas stove with a pilot system to avoid these preventable injuries.
Do Not Re-Light the Gas Stove Immediately It Doesn’t Come On
If the pilot light goes out, turn off the gas stove for several minutes before you try to light it again. You can know if the pilot light is out when your burners do not ignite.
There are different reasons why the pilot light may not come on, but this will be discussed later on.
Ensure the Pilot Light Has a Blue Flame
Pilot lights and the main burners of your gas stove should produce a blue flame with touches of yellow and red. A blue flame means that your stove gas is using the least amount of gas to produce heat. If the flame is yellow or red, it means that the pilot light needs attention.
Control the Flame with the Knobs
Make sure that you control the flame from the gas stove by appropriately turning the knob between low, medium, and high. To prevent burns the flame should not come out from under the cookware.
Leave the Burners On Only When in Use
Ensure that you turn the burners on only when you’re cooking—leaving the burners on when not in use can lead to accidents.
Put Flammable Liquids Away from Your Gas Stove
Do not store flammable liquids in the same room as your gas stove. Flammable liquids include:
- Cleaning flame,
- Gasoline,
- Paint, etc.
Keep Flammable Objects Away from Adjacent Burners
Ensure you keep flammable objects away from your gas stove. A lot of mistakes that people make is that they place things on adjacent burners that are not in use. It is best to keep nothing on the burners.
The only things that should be kept close are utensils and cookware that is safe to use on the gas stove.
Reasons Why a Pilot Light Goes Out
There are times when a pilot light goes out and attempts to re-light the pilot light are futile, no matter how many times you try. Sometimes, it stays on for a while, and then it goes off again. What is wrong? What do you do when it happens? Below are the reasons why a pilot light might refuse to ignite.
The Thermocouple is Faulty
The thermocouple is sometimes called the “flame sensor.” It normally prevents a build-up of gas when the pilot flame goes out. If it fails to shut off the gas, the gas flow can leak into your home. So when the thermocouple is bad, it cannot detect the flame, thereby preventing the pilot light from igniting.
The thermocouple might be faulty because it is;
- Broken or burned out,
- Dirty, due to soot build-up or a residue, or
- Not well aligned with the pilot flame.
The Gas Regulator is Bad
When the gas regulator is bad, your gas stove might not be getting enough gas that can keep the pilot light on.
The Pilot Orifice is Dirty
Normally, the pilot flame should be blue, but when it brings out a weak yellow flame, it implies that the orifice is dirty and needs to be cleaned.
Improper Airflow Can Put the Pilot Light Out
The pilot light can go out due to air or wind blowing it out, and this happens more on days or nights when there is excessive wind. When the wind blows in a specific direction, it can enter the flue and blow the pilot light out. Also, strong winds can come down the chimney and blow the pilot light out.
There’s Low Gas Supply or Fluctuation in Gas Supply
The pilot light can go out when the gas supply has run low. When there’s a fluctuation in the gas supply or the demand for the gas in your area has peaked, it can cause the pilot light to go out due to lower gas pressure. If this persists, reach out to the utility company.
The Gas Stove is Old
Most gas stoves that use the standing pilot system are old, so it might just be worn out from all those years of consistent use. The wear out can lead to the pilot light going out.
A Gas Stove With a Standing Pilot Ignition
The standing pilot ignition system, as the name implies, will always have its pilot light on. The pilot light is a continually burning flame that produces heat, and this is why a gas stove that uses a standing pilot will always feel hot.