A look at antique gas appliance pilot safety switches

This one shows what the separate pilot safety switches look like. Also, a brief description of how they work. This video is part of the heating and cooling series of training videos made to accompany my websites: www.graycoolingman.com and www.grayfurnaceman.com to pass on what I have learned in many years of service and repair. If you have suggestions or comments they are welcome.
If you are a homeowner looking to repair your own appliance, understand that the voltages can be lethal, the fuels are highly flammable and high pressures are used. Know your limits.

[@brentaudi9354]

I have seen the first two in your video on very old Unit Heaters. It would be interesting to see a history of who's company started the first "Safety Valves" and those that were so good became a safety standard. I have seen some crazy "shut off" stuff through the years. The early Coleman Floor furnaces had some crazy safety valves. They seemed to work though. Great Subject!

[@grayfurnaceman]

I will look into it. GFM

[@JakeStreisand]

Crazy. I had to work on a dinosaur from the late 60s and i literally couldn't figure out how to shut off the pilot without breaking those fragile brass gas vavles to clean the thermocouple. I ended up just servicing the blower and doing what i can.

[@grayfurnaceman]

The valves are generally taper fit units. They used a specific valve grease which required disassembly of the valve with cleaning and reapplying grease. The best choice is to replace the entire flame safety system. GFM

[@TheGhettoLobster]

How about the old gas valves that had a manual bypass? Those were scary. Old company I worked at a tech re lit the pilot after a maintenance and unknowingly put the gas valve on manual so the boiler was on run away. House got up to 95 degrees before they called us out. Scary stuff.

[@grayfurnaceman]

These systems were scary. The control should be replaced with a proper flame safety control. GFM

[@kirkbarley4999]

I rely on my propane fireplace for heat should I lose power during the winter. Thermocouple or other parts fail every 3-5 years, takes months to get repaired. How can I learn to do some of the basic, but emergency repairs?

[@grayfurnaceman]

I have over 1200 videos. Start with the gas furnace playlist. GFM

[@tedlahm5740]

My 1961 gas valve has no BUTTON to hold while lighting the pilot. However, the boiler does have two(2) sources of gas AT THE THERMOPILE. One is the pilot, naturally and the other is a SOURCE of heat to HEAT the thermopile.

[@grayfurnaceman]

It could be a non 100% shutdown system. Very dangerous. GFM

[@tedlahm5740]

@@grayfurnaceman The second source of gas at the thermopile is used TO HEAT the thermopile. Naturally, once heated the regular pilot light will stay on.

[@DonnaLeeOneal-kd8rt]

Yay me ❤😊 I'm Comment Number 5

[@TheTarrMan]

So the second one you showed, if the pilot went out it would keep venting gas?

[@grayfurnaceman]

It would. It is a non 100% shutdown system. The pilot would continue to receive gas. Main gas will be shut down. GFM