Lighting the pilot light yourself

Most gas stoves let you light the pilot light by hand without calling a technician. The process takes a few minutes and requires only a long lighter or long match — the kind you use for candles, not regular matches. If your stove has been off for a while or the pilot went out during a storm, this is usually the fix.

Before you start, make sure the kitchen is well-ventilated. Open a window or turn on the exhaust fan. Gas should not smell strong in your home; if it does, leave the house and call your gas company's emergency line instead of attempting to light the pilot yourself.

Key Takeaways

  • Most pilot lights can be lit by hand using a long lighter or long match held to the pilot opening while you turn the control knob to the pilot position.
  • The pilot opening is usually a small brass or steel tube near the burner, often marked with a label or arrow showing where to hold the flame.
  • If the pilot light goes out repeatedly after you light it, the thermocouple (a safety sensor) may be worn and need replacement by a technician.
  • If you smell strong gas or the pilot will not stay lit after three attempts, stop and call your gas company or a licensed technician.

Locating the pilot light opening

Open the oven door or remove the stovetop grates to see inside the stove. Look for a small brass or steel tube near the burner — this is the pilot opening. Many stoves have a label, arrow, or diagram printed on the inside of the door or on the stove itself showing exactly where the pilot is and how to light it. Read this label first; it will tell you the exact steps for your model.

If you cannot find the label, the pilot opening is usually located at the base of the burner assembly, closest to where the burner sits. It is much smaller than the main burner opening and often has a small hole or slot where the flame sits.

The step-by-step lighting process

Turn the control knob to the Pilot position. This is usually marked on the knob itself. Hold the knob in this position — you may need to press it down slightly while turning, depending on your stove model. Keep holding it down.

While holding the knob in the Pilot position, bring a long lighter or long match to the pilot opening. Light the flame and hold it directly over or into the opening. You should see a small blue flame ignite at the pilot. Keep the lighter or match there for 10 to 15 seconds after the flame appears.

After 10 to 15 seconds, slowly release the knob. The pilot flame should stay lit. If it goes out when ready, wait 30 seconds and try again. Most pilots light on the second or third attempt.

What to do if the pilot stays lit

Once the pilot flame is burning steadily, turn the control knob from Pilot to the On position. The main burner should ignite. If it does not, turn the knob back to Off, wait a minute, and try again.

If the main burner lights and stays on, your stove is working normally. You can now use it as usual. The pilot light will stay on continuously, even when you are not cooking, and will ignite the main burner each time you turn the knob to On.

When the pilot light will not stay lit

If the pilot light goes out within a few seconds of releasing the knob, or if it goes out repeatedly after you light it, the thermocouple is likely worn. The thermocouple is a safety sensor that tells the stove whether the pilot is burning. If it cannot sense the flame, the stove shuts off the gas automatically to prevent a leak.

A worn thermocouple cannot be fixed by lighting the pilot again — it must be replaced. This is a job for a licensed technician or appliance repair person. The part itself is inexpensive, but you should not attempt to replace it yourself unless you have experience working with gas appliances.

In the meantime, if you need to use the stove, some models allow you to hold the knob in the Pilot position continuously while cooking, which keeps the pilot lit and the main burner on. Check your stove's manual or the label inside the door to see if your model supports this. Do not leave the stove unattended while doing this.

Safety checks before and after lighting

Before you light the pilot, smell around the stove and stovetop. You should not detect a strong gas odor. If you do, turn off the control knob, leave the kitchen, and call your gas company's emergency line. Do not light anything.

After the pilot is lit and the main burner is on, check that the flame is blue, not yellow or orange. A yellow or orange flame means incomplete combustion and usually indicates a clogged burner or pilot opening. Turn off the stove and clean the opening with a thin wire or needle if you are comfortable doing so, or call a technician.

When to call a professional

Call a licensed technician or your gas company if the pilot light will not light after three attempts, if it lights but goes out within seconds, if you smell gas during or after lighting, or if the flame is yellow instead of blue. You should also call if the main burner does not ignite after the pilot is lit, or if the pilot light goes out frequently even after you have just lit it.

Many gas companies offer free or low-cost pilot light relighting as part of their service. Before you pay a private technician, ask your gas company whether they can help. If you rent, contact your landlord or building maintenance — they are usually responsible for stove repairs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I light the pilot with a regular match instead of a long lighter?

Regular matches are too short and will burn your fingers before you reach the pilot opening. Use a long lighter or long fireplace matches. If you do not have either, a thin stick or rolled paper lit at the stove's main burner and held to the pilot opening will work in a pinch.

How long should I hold the lighter to the pilot before releasing the knob?

Hold the flame at the pilot opening for 10 to 15 seconds after you see the pilot light ignite. This gives the thermocouple time to heat up and sense the flame. If you release too quickly, the thermocouple may not register the heat and the gas will shut off.

Why does my pilot light keep going out even though I just lit it?

A pilot that goes out repeatedly is usually a sign that the thermocouple is failing and needs replacement. It could also mean the pilot opening is clogged with dust or debris. If cleaning the opening does not help, the thermocouple must be replaced by a technician.

Is it safe to leave the pilot light on all the time?

Yes, pilot lights are designed to burn continuously. They use a small amount of gas and are part of normal stove operation. The pilot stays on even when you are not cooking, so the burner can ignite when ready when you turn the knob.

What should I do if I smell gas while lighting the pilot?

Stop when ready, turn off the control knob, and leave the kitchen. Open windows and doors to ventilate. Call your gas company's emergency line from outside the house. Do not light anything, use electrical switches, or create any spark. A gas leak is a serious safety issue.