Worn thermocouple
The thermocouple tells the gas valve the pilot is lit. When it wears out, the valve shuts and the pilot goes out. It’s the most common cause, and we carry them on the van. The photo above is one we fitted.
Dirty or partly blocked pilot
Grease and carbon can make the pilot flame small or lazy, so it doesn’t heat the thermocouple properly.
Draughts
A door, fan or extraction draught blowing across the pilot can knock it out.
Gas valve or pressure
Less often, the gas valve or supply pressure is at fault. This needs testing by a gas engineer.
Stay safe
If you smell gas, turn the gas off at the isolation valve, open windows and call the National Gas Emergency line on 0800 111 999. Don’t keep trying to relight a pilot that won’t stay lit.
Need it fixed? See our fryers repairs page.