Pilot Light Won't Stay Lit? Here's Why (Albuquerque Edition)

Why ABQ pilots drop more often

At 5,300 feet, gas units run a leaner air-fuel mix than sea-level units. Any small issue — a dirty thermocouple, a tight utility closet, a partially clogged burner — drops the pilot. We see it constantly across older Heights and North Valley homes.

Cause #1: Bad thermocouple

The thermocouple senses the pilot flame. When it heats up, it tells the gas valve to stay open. When it weakens (corrosion, soot, age), it tells the valve to shut. Pilot drops. Cost to replace: $145 to $235. The most common cause by a wide margin.

Cause #2: Draft and combustion air

Albuquerque homes built tight after 2005 sometimes starve the water heater closet of air. The pilot can't pull oxygen and dies. Cracking the closet door or installing a louvered door fixes it. Long term, you may need a combustion-air vent.

Cause #3: Gas valve

If the thermocouple tests good and draft is fine, the gas valve itself has failed. $295 to $565 to replace. Less common than the thermocouple but worth checking second.

Cause #4: Clogged pilot tube or orifice

Spider webs, dust, or oxidation in the pilot tube starve the pilot of gas. We pull the burner assembly, blow out the tube, and clean the orifice. Often paired with a thermocouple swap.

What to try before calling

• Follow the lighting instructions on the side of the unit, exactly
• Hold the gas knob down for a full 60 seconds after the pilot lights
• If the pilot dies the second you let go of the knob, the thermocouple is bad
• If the pilot won't even light, check that the gas is on and the supply valve is open
• Don't keep relighting if you smell gas — get out and call us