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#1
06-27-2007, 03:59 PM
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How much gas does a furnace pilot light burn?
I was down in the basement throwing some stuff out and it dawned on me that, duh, the pilot light on the furnace was on (obviously since I never shut the gas off in the 10 years we've been here). The furnace hasn't gone on in a month and probably won't for another three months.
Does it use an appreciable amount of gas? Is it worthwhile to shut the gas off to the furnace for the warm months? I never thought about it before.
__________________
 1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15 '06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod) 
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#2
06-27-2007, 04:03 PM
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Most if not all of the newer gas furnaces and water heaters have electronic ignition, I believe. Mine do, just like the stove. Thus there is no pilot light.
__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century  OBK #55 1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles 2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles 2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles
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#3
06-27-2007, 04:07 PM
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Define "new"...
...our units were "new" in '97. Ours have pilot lights and are always on. We also have one gas fireplace, and the pilot light is always on there too. I should shut them off for a month to see what it does to our gas bill...
__________________
2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle 2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car 2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver 2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car
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#4
06-27-2007, 05:03 PM
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We had electronic ignition. When it failed, the plumber replaced it with one with a continuous pilot light. In his opinion, the continuous pilot was more reliable.
I think the amount of gas consumed must be negligable, or else Al Gore would have insisted that they all get changed. On the other hand, I'm sure pilot lights are a major contributor to global warming, which I think we should discuss again. 
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#5
06-27-2007, 06:22 PM
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It must be a fair amount given my experience lighting farts. I don't think one fart would keep a pilot operating for more than a second or two.
I know a landlady who doesn't like pilots on her gas stoves because they heat the kitchen up too much. If she can tell the difference, I guess it must be significant.
__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08 1985 300TD 185k+ 1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03 1985 409d 65k--sold 06 1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car 1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11 1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper 1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4 1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13
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#7
06-27-2007, 07:23 PM
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Quote:
Also its not a bad idea to tun them off in the event they are not ignited and cause a gas hazard.
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#8
06-27-2007, 07:56 PM
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Do you have floor drains with your propane?
__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08 1985 300TD 185k+ 1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03 1985 409d 65k--sold 06 1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car 1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11 1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper 1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4 1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13
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#10
06-27-2007, 08:47 PM
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Unlike natural gas, propane is heavier than air and will collect at the floor level and not dissipate. Some municipalities require floor drains (I think) which drain the propane out of the building if a leak develops.
I remember watching a sailor use a bail bucket to dump something over the side of his boat. Upon closer inspection, I could see no liquid pouring out. Turns out he was bailing the propane which had collected in his bilges as a result of a leak. This feature of propane can be quite dangerous.
__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08 1985 300TD 185k+ 1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03 1985 409d 65k--sold 06 1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car 1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11 1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper 1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4 1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13
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#11
06-27-2007, 08:54 PM
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Quote:
It makes sense though. What was coming out of the bucket?
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#12
06-27-2007, 09:14 PM
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The other factor though is that if you shut it off, you may not be able to light it again without replacing the thermocouple.
I have renovated a few rentals and I shut off the gas for a few months and I never could get them to relight without replacing them.
__________________
1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12 1982 380SL 1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing 1987 300 D 2005 CDI European Delivery 2006 CDI Handed down to daughter 2007 GL CDI. Wifes 
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#13
06-27-2007, 09:15 PM
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Kerry,
I had never thought about propane being heavier than air, while natural gas is lighter before about 2 weeks ago. I have been training with Baltimore Gas electric ( BGE) company to be permitted to do some work for them. My supervisor made exactly the same point.
__________________
1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags 
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#14
06-27-2007, 09:40 PM
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Quote:
This makes me wonder if it is possible to siphon propane. Anyone know?
__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08 1985 300TD 185k+ 1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03 1985 409d 65k--sold 06 1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car 1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11 1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper 1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4 1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13
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#15
06-27-2007, 09:41 PM
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Quote:
__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08 1985 300TD 185k+ 1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03 1985 409d 65k--sold 06 1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car 1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11 1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper 1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4 1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13
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