How to Light a Boiler Pilot Light in 4 Simple Steps

The humble boiler pilot light is the difference between a brutally cold winter and a nice comfortable time curled up with your favorite book and a cup of tea. If the pilot light isn’t lit, the boiler won’t be able to heat water for the purposes of temperature-regulation and good, old-fashioned baths, showers and dishwashing. Don’t worry. Lighting a boiler is a simple process, even for newbies. Keep reading and we'll walk you through it. 

Preparing to Light a Boiler 

First things first, you have to find the boiler, so head down to the basement or boiler room and take a look around. Boilers resemble hot water tanks, with obvious attachments to pipes, drains, shut-off valves, relief valves, and other plumbing fixtures. 

It is crucial to know what type of boiler you have before you begin: a manual boiler or an automatic ignition boiler. Look for a safety label on the front, indicating an automatic ignition type boiler. Barring that, look for a control knob on the top with two settings, on and off, as this also suggests an automatic ignition unit. If you don’t find either of these features, you have a manual boiler. Safety Note: Automatic ignition mechanisms are complex and should never be lit manually, though there is an electrical method to reset one outlined below.

How to Ignite a Manual Ignition Boiler 

Once you’re sure you’re looking at a manual boiler, relight the pilot light in these 4 steps.

How to Ignite a Manual Ignition Boiler 

Once you’re sure you’re looking at a manual boiler, relight the pilot light in these 4 steps. 

1. Turn the Boiler Off

Your first step is to turn the boiler off and lower the thermostat to its lowest possible setting. Look for the gas control knob, likely attached to a gray box on the floor at the front of the boiler, and set it to the “off” position. If you smell gas, let the odor dissipate for 15 to 30 minutes before moving on—it’s important to be patient here because lighting the boiler can be dangerous if you don't wait. If you can smell gas, keep waiting. You can open windows to help ventilate at this stage. 

2. Remove the Access Panel and Take a Peek 

Next, remove the access panel, which leads to the pilot light. In the vast majority of cases, this panel is right next to the gas control knob box. Some are held with gravity clips, while others with finger screws, so remove the fasteners by your preferred method. This will reveal an access hole that you can peer into with a flashlight, or by using ambient light. Look for the pilot light orifice inside of this access hole, which looks like an upturned piece of metal tubing. 

3. Turn the Gas Control Knob 

Now it’s time to turn the gas control knob from the “off” position to the “pilot” position, which should be clearly labeled. Press down on the knob once you have it set to the pilot position, which will release gas into the orifice. 

4. Light the Pilot 

Grab your long candle lighter or fireplace match and insert it into the access hole to light the pilot light. Keep your other hand pressed down on the gas control knob as you do this, to allow the gas to grab ahold of that flame. Look for a blue flame, which lets you know the pilot light is sufficiently lit. Remove the lighter but keep your hand on the gas knob button for a few moments, to ensure it stays lit. 

How to Reset an Automatic Ignition Boiler 

Remember, you’re not lighting an automatic ignition boiler—you need a certified expert to do that. Here are 4 steps to reset your system so it lights itself.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Relighting a manual boiler is a DIY-friendly job and one that some homeowners have to do once or twice a season, depending on how old their boiler is. There are some caveats, however, when going the DIY route. First of all, you cannot light an automatic ignition system by yourself—that’s definitely a job for local boiler contractors. So you want to double-check, and even triple-check, to ensure you have a manual system. Also, if the light won’t start even when following the above steps, you likely won’t have the experience to dive too deep into troubleshooting. Having a pro on hand can speed up the diagnostic and repair process.