Summary:

• If your gas water heater isn’t heating correctly, your pilot light might be out. You may be able to relight it at home on your own by following the steps in this guide.
• Locate the pilot light panel at the bottom of your water heater and remove it. If you can’t see any way to remove it, stop and call a pro instead.
• Once the panel is open, turn the control knob to the “Off” position. Wait five or 10 minutes for any remaining fumes to dissipate before moving on.
• Next, set the knob to “Pilot,” then press and hold the “Pilot” or “Reset” button. If your unit has a built-in igniter, press it repeatedly until the flame ignites, and keep holding it for another 30 to 60 seconds.
• If you don’t have a built-in igniter, use a long lighter or long match to light the flame while holding in the button. Like before, you should keep holding the button for around 30 to 60 seconds.
• Once the pilot light stays lit steadily, put the panel back on. Wait around an hour to give the water time to heat up, then test it at a faucet or by running an appliance.

If your gas water heater suddenly stops giving you hot water, even though your gas bill is all paid up, there’s a good chance the issue is related to the unit’s pilot light. This is a small but essential flame that ignites the main burner when you need hot water. 

All you need to do is relight the flame to restore function. This is something you can sometimes handle on your own—but if the flame won’t stay lit, you notice a strong gas smell, or the water heater keeps shutting down, it’s time to call in a pro.

If you aren’t comfortable reigniting the pilot light on your own, don’t want to try, or your efforts don’t succeed, we’ve got your back! Just send Caccia Home Services a message, and we’ll get it up and running.

A Quick Primer on Your Water Heater’s Pilot Light

What the Pilot Light Does

Let’s talk a bit more about where the pilot is, what it does, and why it’s important for it to be lit at all times. Take a look at the diagram above—your gas heater might not be exactly the same, but the pilot light assembly itself is typically in the same general location.

That little flame has a big job: it ignites the burner in your water heater whenever the system needs to heat your water. No flame equals no heat!

How Your Pilot Light Works

Here’s how a pilot light works in your water heater:

• When you turn on a hot water tap or the tank cools down past a certain temperature, your water heater tells the burner to ignite.
• The burner cannot start without being kick-started by the pilot light, which is why it can’t function if it isn’t lit (or won’t stay lit).
• Every gas water heater has a safety device called a thermocouple or flame sensor near the flame. This sensor detects whether the flame is actually lit. 
• If the flame is out, your water heater will automatically interrupt the flow of gas. This is intentional and prevents unburned gas from leaking into your home.

So, why can’t the pilot light just re-ignite itself, sort of like a regular lighter? It’s designed that way to lower the risk of gas leaks and explosions. It may be annoying, but it’s really about safety.

Related: 5 Signs You May Have a Gas Leak

How to Check and Relight the Pilot Light

We’ll walk you through relighting your pilot light in the next few sections. Please be sure to read through the instructions completely before you start the process so you know what to expect in advance. 

Step 1: Get the Right Equipment

Depending on your unit, you may need a few simple tools:

• A screwdriver
• A flashlight
• A long lighter or match
• A buddy!

Don’t underestimate the value of having someone with you. It’s a whole lot easier to relight the flame when you aren’t trying to juggle a flashlight or the panel door at the same time!

Step 2: Locate the Pilot Light Assembly

The pilot light is located at the bottom of your water heater behind an access panel. You’ll need to open it to check the pilot light. Here’s how:

• Check on the panel itself for instructions. Some models have a sticker with instructions right on the access panel itself.
• Most panels can be opened by hand without any tools, but if you see screws along the edges of the access panel, you may need to remove them first.
• Once the panel is off, you should see the gas control valve (a box with a temperature dial) and the burner assembly underneath or just beyond it.

If your unit has a sealed panel or you can’t find any obvious way to remove it, stop there and give us a call. Some newer models, including Rheem’s Performance Platinum series, have a sealed combustion chamber that can look and work a little differently. We may be able to walk you through it over the phone.

Step 3: Turn the Control to “Off”

If you made it past the panel, it’s time to turn the control to off. This is really important and can affect your safety, so follow these instructions carefully:

• Use the control knob to turn off the gas completely. 
• Once the gas is off, wait at least 5 to 10 minutes to let any fumes dissipate.

This step prevents any lingering gas from igniting inadvertently, which is why it’s so important to wait before moving on. Rushing the process can put your home and loved ones at risk.

Step 4: Set to “Pilot” & Ignite

Once the allotted time has passed, go ahead and look at the control knob again. This time, you want to turn the dial to “Pilot” instead. Then:

• Press and hold the “Pilot” or “Reset” button. This releases gas to the pilot light. You’ll need to keep holding it while you ignite the flame.
• If your unit has a built-in igniter (look for a lightning-shaped label), press the ignition button repeatedly until the flame lights.
• If there’s no igniter, use a long lighter or match to ignite the pilot manually while holding the button down.
• Keep holding the button down for 30 to 60 seconds after the flame catches. This gives the thermocouple in your water heater time to detect the flame.

Release the button slowly afterward. If the flame stays lit, turn the dial to “On” and move on to the next step. If it repeatedly dies despite your efforts, give us a call for more help.

Step 5: Replace Access Panel & Observe

Watch the flame for a minute or two longer to verify if it’s steady. Then, replace the panel and give the water heater at least an hour to heat up again. 

Last but not least, run the hot water heater somewhere in your home. Take a shower, do a load of dishes, or run a washer cycle—anything will get the job done. Check the temperature of the water at a faucet or tub to see if it feels like it’s warming appropriately.

Related: The Best Water Heater Temperature Setting for You

Common Problems with Pilot Lights

If the troubleshooting steps above didn’t work for you, there may be something else going on with your gas water heater. These are the most common issues our technicians see here in San Mateo and the Bay Area:

• Thermocouple issues. A faulty thermocouple can prevent the unit from detecting when the flame is lit. For safety reasons, it will automatically cut the gas off over and over again until the faulty thermocouple is replaced.
• Drafts and airflow issues. If you’ve ever tried to light a candle outside, you’ve experienced this one. Nearby windows, fans, and even vents can blow the flame out or prevent it from lighting.
• Dirty components. Dust, debris, and carbon buildup can sometimes block the burner, the pilot light, or the flow of gas. Call us for help, then schedule yearly maintenance going forward to avoid it happening again.

Just because these are common problems doesn’t mean they’re the only issues that can arise.Gas water heaters are complex systems, and there’s a lot that can go wrong—but most of it can be fixed with the right tools and expertise.

Related: California Is Combating Climate Change—One Water Heater at a Time!

When to Call a Professional

As with all gas-related issues, if you smell a strong odor of gas, start to feel dizzy or weak without explanation, or have any other reason to believe you have a gas leak, leave the building right away. Call for help only once your family is in a safe location.

You should also call us if you:

• Aren’t comfortable handling the task yourself for any reason.
• Keep experiencing pilot light outages over and over again.
• See clear signs of damage to the burner, control valve, or thermocouple.
• Can’t apply the troubleshooting steps because you have a different unit.
• Aren’t 100% sure you’re looking at the right components.

Your safety is always our number one priority, so please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time. In some cases, we may even be able to provide more guidance over the phone or even save you the cost of a service call. We’re here to help!

Get Fast Answers to Your Gas Water Heater Woes 

At Caccia Home Services, our licensed technicians have years of experience handling issues with gas water heaters and gas line connections. From helping you respond to serious issues like a potential gas leak to getting your pilot light working again, we take a customer-first approach to every service call. No matter how big or small the job, we’re happy to help.

For fast, reliable service backed by decades of expertise, trust Caccia Home Services for all your water heater, plumbing, and electrical needs. Send us a message if you have any questions—or dial (650) 294-8598 for faster service any time of the day or night!