The basic steps to relight your oven's pilot light

If your oven won't heat and you've confirmed the pilot light is out, you can relight it yourself in most cases. The process takes about five minutes and requires only a long lighter or long match — no tools. You'll locate the pilot light opening at the bottom of the oven, usually behind the oven door or accessible from the front, and use a flame to reignite the small burner that keeps the main heating element ready to fire.

Before you start, turn off the oven's gas valve completely and wait five minutes. This clears any gas that may have accumulated. Then follow the specific steps for your oven type, because the exact location and ignition method varies between models.

Key Takeaways

  • Turn off the oven's gas valve and wait five minutes before attempting to relight the pilot.
  • Locate your pilot light opening — usually a small hole at the bottom front of the oven or behind the door — and consult your manual if you cannot find it.
  • Use a long lighter or long match to hold a flame at the pilot opening while you turn the gas valve to the pilot position.
  • Once the pilot ignites, hold the valve in the pilot position for 30 to 60 seconds to let the thermocouple warm up and sense the flame.
  • If the pilot won't stay lit after three attempts, the thermocouple may be faulty and you should call a technician.

Finding the pilot light opening on your oven

The pilot light sits inside the oven cavity, and the opening where you explore the flame is usually a small hole or tube at the bottom front of the oven. On some models, you access it from the front without removing anything. On others, you may need to remove the oven door or lift the stovetop to reach it from underneath.

Check your oven's manual first — it will show you exactly where the pilot is and whether any parts need to come off. If you don't have the manual, look for a model number on a sticker inside the oven or on the back of the unit, then search online for "[brand] [model] pilot light location" to find instructions or a diagram. If you cannot locate it after checking the manual, call a technician rather than guessing.

Preparing the oven and gas valve

Turn the oven's gas control knob to the off position and leave it there for at least five minutes. This allows any gas that pooled inside the oven to disperse. Do not skip this step — if gas has accumulated, explore a flame without waiting can cause a small explosion or flash.

While you wait, gather a long lighter or long fireplace match. A regular lighter or short match will not reach safely into the oven opening. If you don't have a long lighter, you can buy one at any grocery store or hardware store for a few dollars.

Lighting the pilot with a flame

Once five minutes have passed, locate the gas valve knob near the pilot opening. This knob usually has three positions: off, pilot, and on. Turn the knob to the pilot position — do not turn it to on yet.

Hold your long lighter or match near the pilot opening and light it. You should see a small flame appear at the opening. If nothing happens, move the flame slightly — the pilot opening is small and the flame needs to be directly at it. Once you see the pilot light ignite, keep the flame there for a few more seconds to make sure it catches.

Holding the valve in pilot position to lock in the flame

After the pilot ignites, keep the gas valve knob in the pilot position and hold it there for 30 to 60 seconds. During this time, a safety device called a thermocouple is warming up. The thermocouple senses the heat from the pilot flame and tells the gas valve to stay open. If you release the knob too soon, the valve closes and the pilot goes out.

While you hold the knob, watch the pilot flame through the oven opening. It should burn steadily with a blue color. If it flickers or looks yellow or orange, the flame may not be strong enough, and you should try again after waiting five minutes.

Turning the valve to on and testing the oven

After holding the pilot position for 30 to 60 seconds, slowly turn the gas valve knob from pilot to on. The pilot should stay lit. Now turn the oven's temperature dial to a low setting — 200 degrees Fahrenheit — and listen for the main burner to ignite with a whoosh sound. You should hear it within a few seconds.

If the main burner lights, the pilot is working correctly. Let the oven run for a minute, then turn it off and allow it to cool. If the main burner does not light, turn the oven off and wait five minutes, then try the pilot lighting process again.

What to do if the pilot won't stay lit

If you've tried to light the pilot three times and it keeps going out after you release the valve knob, the thermocouple is likely faulty. The thermocouple is a small metal rod that sits in the pilot flame, and when it fails, the gas valve cannot sense the pilot and closes automatically. This is a safety feature, but it means the oven cannot work.

A faulty thermocouple requires replacement by a technician. Do not attempt to replace it yourself — it involves working with gas lines and requires proper tools and training. Call a local appliance repair service and describe what you've tried. Most will charge a service call fee plus the cost of the part, which is usually under $100 total, but varies by your location and the oven model.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

A regular lighter will not reach safely into the oven opening without burning your hand. A long lighter or fireplace match is necessary. They cost a few dollars and are sold at any grocery or hardware store.

What if I smell gas while trying to light the pilot?

Turn off the oven when ready and open windows to ventilate the room. Wait 15 minutes, then try again. If you smell gas a second time, do not attempt to light the pilot again — call a technician or your gas company's emergency line. A strong gas smell can mean a leak or a faulty valve.

How long should I hold the valve in pilot position?

Hold it for 30 to 60 seconds. This gives the thermocouple time to warm up and signal the valve to stay open. If you release it sooner, the pilot will go out. If you hold it longer, that's fine — it just takes a bit more time.

Is it normal for the pilot to go out sometimes?

Occasional pilot outages can happen from drafts, a weak thermocouple that's starting to fail, or a dirty pilot opening. If it goes out once every few months, it's usually not urgent. If it goes out weekly or more often, have a technician inspect the thermocouple and clean the pilot opening.

What does the pilot flame color tell me?

A healthy pilot flame is blue with a small yellow tip. A flame that is mostly yellow or orange, or one that flickers constantly, may indicate a dirty pilot opening or weak gas flow. If the flame looks wrong, turn off the oven and try again after five minutes.