The basic steps to light a Bradford White pilot
To light a Bradford White water heater pilot, turn the gas control knob to the Pilot position, hold down the ignition button while holding a lit match or lighter to the pilot burner opening for 30 to 60 seconds, then release the button. Once the pilot flame appears steady and blue, turn the gas control knob to the On position. The whole process takes about two minutes and requires no tools.
Bradford White heaters have the gas control valve and pilot assembly on the front of the tank, usually behind a removable access panel. The pilot burner itself is a small opening with a thin tube running to it — this is where you direct the flame. You will see the thermocouple (a thin metal rod) near the pilot opening; the flame needs to touch this rod to keep the pilot lit once you release the ignition button.
Key Takeaways
- Turn the gas control knob to Pilot, press and hold the ignition button, and light the pilot burner opening with a match or lighter while holding the button down for 30 to 60 seconds.
- The pilot flame must be blue and steady, and it must touch the thermocouple rod to stay lit after you release the button.
- Once the pilot is lit, turn the gas control knob from Pilot to On to restore heat to the tank.
- If the pilot will not stay lit after you release the button, the thermocouple may be dirty or failing and will need cleaning or replacement.
- If you smell gas but see no flame after several attempts, turn the knob to Off, wait five minutes for gas to clear, and call a service technician.
Locating the pilot assembly on your Bradford White
The pilot control is mounted on the front of the water heater tank, usually in a metal box or housing at the base. On most Bradford White models, you will see a round knob labeled with settings like Pilot, On, and Off. Below or beside this knob is a red ignition button that you press to spark the pilot.
Remove the access panel or cover if your heater has one — this is often held on with a single screw or clip and slides off easily. Once you can see the burner assembly, locate the small pilot burner opening. It is typically a brass or steel tube about the size of a pencil tip, positioned near a thin metal rod (the thermocouple). Some models have a small window or opening in the housing so you can see the flame once it lights.
Preparing the heater before lighting
Before you attempt to light the pilot, make sure the gas supply to the heater is on. Check that the main gas shutoff valve (usually a lever handle on the gas line leading to the heater) is turned parallel to the pipe, which means the gas is flowing. If the valve is perpendicular to the pipe, the gas is off and you will need to turn it on first.
Wait at least five minutes after turning on the gas before you try to light the pilot. This allows any air in the gas line to escape. If you smell a strong rotten-egg odor (the smell added to natural gas for safety), do not attempt to light the pilot — open windows, leave the house, and call your gas company or a service technician when ready.
The step-by-step lighting process
Start by turning the gas control knob all the way to the Pilot position. You will usually see this labeled on the knob itself. Hold the knob in this position — do not release it yet.
While holding the knob in the Pilot position, press and hold the red ignition button on the front of the control box. You should hear a clicking sound as the igniter sparks. Keep the button pressed down.
While still holding the ignition button, bring a lit match or lighter to the pilot burner opening. Position the flame so it enters the small opening and touches the pilot burner inside. Hold it there for 30 to 60 seconds. You should see a small blue flame appear at the opening.
Once the blue flame is visible and steady, release the ignition button. The flame should continue to burn. If it does, you can now release the gas control knob. Turn the knob from Pilot to the On position. The main burner should ignite within a few seconds, and you will hear a whoosh as the larger flame starts.
What to do if the pilot will not light
If you do not see a flame after 60 seconds of holding the match to the opening, release the ignition button and wait two minutes. Try again, making sure the match or lighter flame is actually entering the pilot opening and not just near it. Sometimes the opening is smaller than it appears, and you need to angle the flame more precisely.
If the pilot lights but goes out when ready when you release the ignition button, the thermocouple is not sensing the heat. This usually means the thermocouple is dirty or positioned incorrectly. Turn the gas control knob to Off, wait five minutes, and then try to clean the thermocouple with a soft cloth or fine steel wool. Gently wipe the tip of the rod where the flame touches it, then try lighting again.
If the pilot still will not stay lit after cleaning, or if you cannot get a spark from the ignition button, the thermocouple or igniter may be failing. At this point, you will need to contact a Bradford White service technician or a licensed plumber who services water heaters. Do not attempt to replace these parts yourself unless you have experience with gas appliances.
Safety checks after the pilot is lit
Once the main burner is on and the water heater is running, check that the flame is blue and steady. A yellow or orange flame means incomplete combustion and usually indicates a problem with the burner or air intake. Turn the gas control knob to Off when ready and call a service technician.
Make sure the access panel is closed or replaced once you confirm the heater is running normally. Check around the base of the heater for any smell of gas. If you detect gas odor after lighting, turn the gas control knob to Off, open windows, and call your gas company or a technician.
When to call a professional instead
If you smell gas before you even attempt to light the pilot, do not light it. Turn the gas control knob to Off, leave the area, and call your gas company's emergency line or a licensed technician. A gas leak is a serious safety hazard.
If the ignition button does not click or spark when you press it, the igniter is not working. This is not something you can fix by lighting the pilot manually — the igniter will need to be replaced by a technician. You can light the pilot with a match as a temporary measure, but the igniter should be repaired soon.
If you have lit the pilot successfully multiple times but it keeps going out on its own after a few hours or days, the thermocouple is likely failing. This is a common wear item on water heaters and a technician can replace it in about 30 minutes. Do not ignore this problem, as a failing thermocouple can eventually prevent the heater from working at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I hold the ignition button down?
Hold the button for 30 to 60 seconds while the match or lighter flame is at the pilot opening. You can release it once you see a steady blue flame. If the flame goes out when you release the button, the thermocouple is not hot enough yet — try again and hold the button for the full 60 seconds next time.
What if I cannot see the pilot flame even though I smell gas?
Turn the gas control knob to Off when ready and wait five minutes. The pilot opening may be blocked by dust or debris. Once the gas clears, try cleaning the pilot burner opening with a thin wire or compressed air, then attempt to light it again. If you still cannot see a flame after several tries, call a technician.
Can I light the pilot if the power is out?
Yes. Bradford White heaters use a battery-powered igniter, so a brief power outage will not stop you from lighting the pilot manually with a match or lighter. If the power has been out for more than a few days, the battery in the igniter may be dead, but you can still use a match to light the pilot.
Is it normal for the pilot to go out sometimes?
No. A healthy pilot should stay lit continuously. If it goes out regularly, the thermocouple is likely failing or the pilot opening is blocked by debris. Clean the opening first, and if the problem continues, have a technician inspect the thermocouple and replace it if needed.
What does a healthy pilot flame look like?
A healthy pilot flame is blue with a small yellow tip, about half an inch to one inch tall, and steady without flickering. The flame should touch the thermocouple rod. If the flame is mostly yellow or orange, or if it is very small and hard to see, the burner may need cleaning or adjustment by a technician.