Some older boilers have a pilot light that is kept burning through a slow but continuous flow of gas. Given that this light is essential for igniting the main burner when heating and hot water is required, you may wonder what to do if it goes out. In the vast majority of cases, it’s generally wise to consult a qualified engineer.
First of all, modern condensing boilers do not have a pilot light but instead use an electric ignition system to light the burner when needed. By law, all boilers installed from April 1, 2005 had to be condensing, so you won’t have a pilot light unless you have a very old boiler. If you have a condensing boiler and it isn’t working, you will need a Gas Safe Registered engineer to diagnose and fix the problem
Second, even before this, many boilers moved over to automatic pilot lights to avoid the need for manual intervention. These are not designed to be lit manually and attempting to do so can be very dangerous. You should instead get the services of a qualified boiler engineer to ascertain why the automatic ignition isn’t working and correct the issue.
While very old boilers with a manual pilot light were designed to be relit manually, there are many reasons for seeking professional help instead. First, working with gas is inherently risky and can lead to leaks and possibly explosions, which is why modern systems moved to closed electric ignition systems. Second, there may be a mechanical issue causing the pilot light to go out. This could be a failed component like a thermocouple, a blocked vent, and so on. Only Gas Safe Registered boiler engineers are allowed by law to work on these problems. Given the advanced age of such boilers, it may be worth replacing it with a much more efficient modern boiler.
Rather than jeopardise your safety, call Xgas for a Gas Safe Registered heating engineer to safely diagnose any issues and fix them where possible. Should a new boiler be recommended, you can potentially spread the cost through a range of financing plans.