• Long flame on pilot light

    Nov.28.2010

    Just recently I noticed the flame on my gas wall heater has become really long, about 3 inches. When operating it sounds like strong wind gusts are blowing through. Often, when I just have the pilot light on, the pilot light blows out when I walk by but I can still hear gas coming through. Do I need to clean something? I can detect no other color on the flame except blue.

    C, Asheville, NC

    Any time unusual behavior or operation is noticed with a gas or oil burning appliance, I recommend that a technician be called to inspect the appliance in question right away. I would not run the heater again until it is inspected for safe operation, especially in cases where there is an overfire condition on the pilot light like you have described. There are a number of configurations of wall heaters. That’s why it is necessary for a qualified professional to look at your heater in order to determine the characteristics of that particular heater and analyze the operation. Heaters can appear simple in operation, but there are potential hazards that only a trained and experienced technician will be aware of and qualified to address. A professional HVAC contractor, such as ARS/Rescue Rooter, can perform an annual inspection, which is recommended by manufacturers’ guidelines and prevailing Fuel Gas Code guidelines, as well as a tune-up.

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