How To Light A Gas Water Heater Pilot Light

If you have questions about your home improvement or maintenance projects, stop by the forum on our website, where Shannon will answer your questions in detail for free.

[janettelindsey]

Thank you! I’m a single mom of 4 kids and last nights blizzard took out our water heater. I was so scared to do this on my own but man you are amazing! It was easy to follow and the pilot light went on real easily.
Before watching this video I couldn’t get anyone to help including the gas company. God bless you truly your a real life saver!

[The_Xorcerer]

August 2024, and this is still the best video I've found regarding lighting a pilot light. Most videos show the easier lighting with the electric button, but I am living in my late grandparents house and still have an older water heater. Works great, but first time in 8 years the pilot light has gone out on me. Thank you for this because the 2nd half of the video is exactly what I needed. Looks simple enough, but someone never doing this and knowing the dangers if done incorrectly, I wanted to make sure I was doing this right. Just got it going with this video.

[crpl]

I've been a homeowner for 5 years and the first time I've ever had to restart my pilot light. Very helpful.

[cdr]

I truly want to thank you so much for providing your God gift talent. You don’t realize what you have shared on YouTube about dealing with a hot water heater that is gas. I watched one video and I still couldn’t understand it but when I came across yours, I followed you to the tea, and now my hot water heater is working, thank you so much. You are truly a blessing. Keep doing what you’re doing to bless many people.

[PlanetLinuxChannel]

Still incredibly helpful in 2023, over 7 years later! Thank you so much for this!

[tuelie]

I am a first time home buyer and this helped us avoid a repair bill and waiting three days for a serviceman to come out. Thank you!

[heatherscanlan]

Just to add same as everyone else here is saying, this worked for me, it was daunting at first but your very clear instructions and confident manner loaned me the courage to do it. Thank you so much

[jtgirl]

Thank you for your help, I’m getting married this coming weekend and we have guests staying at our house, we have a tight budget and a whole bunch of other personal issues going on and having our hot water out almost sent us to the mental hospital. What may sounds trivial to others, is my deepest gratitude and appreciation for you and this free video. I hope you know what good you are doing in this world and how many people this has helped. It certainly helped me

[Danielle-jgqn]

2024 and I just used this. Thanks as a single mom I needed help and found this.

[SurfingOnWheels]

Thanks Sir, I had to turn off the heater since I was doing some work in the kitchen … after 1 day family started complaining about the cold water. Seems I never knew about the pilot light concept and your video was a life saver, very detailed and informative video, thanks 🙏🏼

[joshlawrence]

Thank you so much for getting right to the point and avoiding the time fillers so many videos do these days. Straight and to the point!

[luisalopez]

I am a young woman who has no sense in mechanics tools or being handy and you made this so simple for me to understand and follow thank you so much. This is a great video!

[peggyspiers]

Thank you so much. I am recently single, on a farm, and you made this so simple. Had to change out propane tanks, which meant I lost pilot. This video got me right back in business without having to call someone to come help. Thank you!

[amyliu]

1. Turn the top knob off and wait for a couple of minutes
2. Lower the heat as much as possible
3. Turn the knob to pilot and push down, simultaneously pushing the green button
4. Check if the flame was ignited and continue pushing the knob for 30 seconds
5. Release the knob and turn it to the on position
6. Turn the heat to your desired level

[ClippedPipe]

Thank you Shannon... my parents divorced when I was little and so mom raised me... She did a really job by herself, but there wasn't ever a man/father-type to teach me  things such as this (I'm embarrassed to say). I appreciate that you shared your expertise on YouTube! I was really nervous about doing this. At first I tried the instructions on the hot-water-heater with no luck. I watched your video, and got that bad-boy lit in under 30 seconds!!!! THANK YOU!

[lutzysoto]

Thank you so much for your time and teachings, sir. I was home alone is cold and had no water heater because the gas had been disconnected in my property but thanks to your video now that the gas was back on I was able to turn it on and take a good hour shower. Many blessings to you and yours.

[kathrynhannon]

Thanks so much Shannon, you helped two women light their pilot and saved us from a plumbers fee. Girl power!!

[graciemaehollowbone]

Thank you for this video, I am 76 years old and I could not figure out why the pilot would not light. I will try again after watching.

[DiscoSafariExplosion]

Shannon, somehow every time I need to look up a repair, I always end up skipping through a number of videos before finding yours, which shows me exactly what I need. Thank you for all the work you put into making these videos, you're a life saver.

[shannoncalixte]

From a Shannon to a Shannon THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!! I am a single mother and I've learned how to do many things on my own.... now I can add lighting my old school water heater to my list of things I can do.