Thermocouples by Treat’s Heating & Cooling 

The thermocouple is the pilot lights partner.  It is the electronic device that senses if the pilot flame is hot enough to ignite natural gas or propane to fuel the burner. 

A thermocouple is made up of two wires that are welded together and covered in housing.  This housing is placed in the hottest part of the pilot light with the other end attached to the main gas valve.  The thermocouple acts as a sensor.  It sense when the pilot light is burning hot enough to light the gas from the main gas valve.  .  If the thermocouple thinks it is safe then it keeps the main gas valve open in the pilot assembly. 

As long as the coupler stays hot it will keep the gas valve open allowing the gas to burn as requested using a thermostat control.  So you are actually controlling this thermostat.  If the pilot light goes out or gets cool the thermocouple will stop ending the signal and the main gas valve will close stopping the flow of gas into the furnace and causing the furnace to shut off.

If your pilot light won’t stay lit, there is a possibility that the thermocouple needs to be adjusted or replaced.  Call Treat’s Heating & Cooling at 360.825.0800 for a service appointment with a technician if you are experiencing problems.  We have been in business for over 40 years and make customer service our priority.

The Maple Valley, WA thermocouple experts at Treat’s Heating & Cooling offer high quality installation, repair, maintenance, and other heating and air conditioning services throughout Western Washington including Enumclaw, Buckley, Bonney Lake, Sumner, Puyallup, Tacoma, Auburn, Black Diamond, Covington, Maple Valley, Federal Way, Kent, & Seattle WA.