Thread: Pilot lights

Hello everyone:

Just started doing home inspections as of July 01, 2010. I am looking for feedback on lighting or not lighting "pilot lights" What is the standard procedure in most cases? If the gas is off does anyone turn it on? What about utilities? Obviously, you can't make a complete inspection without light, gas or water.

Replys welcome.

Thanks

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Gary - Welcome to the asylum.

This has been discussed quite a few times in the past, and the general consensus seems to come down on the side of NOT lighting pilots or turning on water services, main breakers or branch circuit breakers for that matter, etc.

Welcome to the fray Gary.

Regarding utilities and pilot lights being off, they should be on for the inspection. If they are off, there may be a reason they are off such as leaks or existing damage to a system that might be made worse by turning things back on.

Gary,
I'm on the other side of the fence. I'll light pilots if the valves are on. If the valves are off I'll turn them on once someone from the seller's side says it's OK. I will also do this for the electric and plumbing systems.You're not required to turn on a system or component that has been shut down. There's no right or wrong on this, it's just a matter of opinion.

Hello Gary. Be sure to state clearly if you do or do not test a gas appliance, such as, Gas was off, not tested or inspected. Have owner verify operation.

If you choose to turn something on, don't leave the house till you've turned those items off again.

Watch for this one - the water heater has the water supply turned off to save money, but they left the power to the tank on. That goes in my report, possible burn out of element.

Sometimes the shutoff taps to the sink or toilet start leaking as soon as you touch them, gotta love the HI biz.

While I used to light pilots as a routine practice, after a water heater malfunctioned and burned me, I made a new policy.
I DO NOT LIGHT PILOTS. Period.