A Real Mess

[days_unfolding]

The pilot light on my furnace (I think) has gone out again, tonight of all nights. I've called the maintenance people, but they said that the city has stopped plowing, so they're going to have a hard time getting to me. Right now, the indoor temperature has dropped from 72 to 64, which is okay so far, but tonight, it's supposed to drop to -20 outside. Why does the freaking pilot light go out? This is the second time that this has happened.

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Comments

[bandicoot.livejournal.com]

There's usually something called a thermocouple that's heated by the pilot light. It generates enough electricity to keep the gas turned on. If the pilot light goes out, the gas gets shut off. The problem comes when the thermocouple goes bad - it won't generate enough electricity to keep the whole thing going even with the pilot light on, so the pilot light quits. The thermocouple probably needs replacing.

[days-unfolding.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he showed me where the thermocouple is and how it needs to be heated by the pilot light. He said that when it's windy, the winds blow down the chimney and blow out the pilot light, but you might be right that it's a bad thermocouple because the pilot light went out again a little while ago. I re-lit it. (Go me.) Now I'm wondering if I need to stay up all night to ensure that the pilot light stays lit.

[bandicoot.livejournal.com]

It's such a cheap part he should have replaced it if there was any question at all.

[days-unfolding.livejournal.com]

He didn't bring any parts with him. It went out again and I re-lit it again. I'm going to sleep and set my alarm for 5 (which my neighbors will love because I'm sure that most of them are off of work) to check on it. If it keeps going out, I definitely will call them tomorrow morning to fix it properly. What a PITA.

[ravengirl.livejournal.com]

Man, I'm sorry to hear this! I hope they got to ya, or you have a little heater to use in a small space (while you're home, at least.) I know the cats will find cozy enough spots, but it's dang cold for all.

[days-unfolding.livejournal.com]

He did finally make it over to me and lit the pilot light. However, it went out again, but I re-lit it. (Go me.) Now I'm wondering if I need to stay up all night to ensure that the pilot light stays lit.

I gave away my space heater, which is looking like an mistake....