Cost GuideUpdated July 5, 2026
No hot water often comes down to a pilot light that won't stay lit. In Cicero, where many homes are fifty years old or older, aging water heaters are common, and pilot light issues are something our crew handles all the time. With Lake Michigan water running moderately hard and winters pushing heaters to work overtime, pilot light failure can show up at any point in the year.
Why Pilot Lights on Water Heaters Fail in Cicero
Older furnaces and water heaters across Cicero tend to rely on standing pilot lights. Age, drafts, sediment buildup, and worn-out parts all contribute to the problem. A lot of local basements have clay or loam floors and can be drafty during Chicago winters, which can blow out a flame. Hard water can leave scale buildup at the bottom of the tank, causing the burner area to overheat, which sometimes knocks out the pilot.
We also see thermocouples and pilot assemblies go bad from decades of use. On models from the 1990s or earlier, these parts often get caked with dust or start to fail. Sometimes it's something as basic as a kinked flex gas line, or blockage in the air intake.
Steps Cicero Homeowners Can Take First
Relighting a pilot light is usually safe if you follow directions, but some warning signs mean you should wait and call us. Here's a practical checklist before you try:
- Check that the gas shutoff valve to the heater is in the ON position.
- Wait several minutes after a failed lighting attempt for any gas to dissipate.
- Read the relight instructions posted on the tank or in the owner's manual.
- Push and hold the pilot button, and use a long lighter if manual lighting is needed.
- If the pilot will not stay lit after a couple of tries, stop. Continuous attempts risk flooding the area with gas.
If you smell gas for more than a moment or see any charring or melting near the burner area, leave the area and call for help. This can indicate a bigger safety issue with your gas lines or controls.
Common Causes When the Pilot Won't Stay Lit
In our experience, these are the most frequent culprits in Cicero:
- Bad thermocouple: The thermocouple shuts off gas if the pilot goes out. After years of heat, it can fail or get coated with soot.
- Clogged pilot orifice: Dust, lint, or spiderwebs can clog the tiny hole where gas feeds the pilot flame, especially in old basements common to local homes.
- Faulty gas control valve: If the entire control assembly is shot, no amount of cleaning will keep the pilot lit.
- Drafts or backdrafting: Cold snaps and loose foundation walls in older Cicero houses can push air through gaps, blowing out the pilot flame.
- Sediment buildup: Hard Lake Michigan water leads to sediment layering at the tank bottom, causing the burner to overheat and sometimes shut off fuel flow.
If you notice constant clicking or a faint popping sound when the burner kicks on, that can also point toward sediment buildup. Flushing the tank usually solves this, but if your water heater hasn't been serviced in years, parts may need to be replaced.
When It's Time to Call a Licensed Plumber
While relighting is often simple, there are times you should bring in professionals. Repeated pilot outages, visible corrosion on fittings, or a pilot that won't stay lit even after cleaning all point to deeper issues. If your heater is more than fifteen years old, the odds of replacement parts being available drop. Cicero's mix of older single-family homes means we frequently see original heaters and pipes still in use. Sometimes, it's safer and smarter to consider a new unit rather than keep pouring money into repairs.
Gas supply issues shouldn't be ignored, either. If you ever smell gas, call a pro. We handle full heater replacements, gas line checks and repairs, and can advise on whether your system meets modern safety codes.
Cost Guide for Pilot Light Troubles in Cicero
The cost to fix a pilot issue depends on root causes and the age of the heater. For a basic relight, especially if the gas supply and controls are in good shape, costs stay low. Replacing a thermocouple or cleaning the assembly is still a small job for most standard heaters. If the gas control valve is bad, or the entire burner assembly needs swapping, costs go up.
On some especially old heaters, we run into situations where parts aren't available, and replacement is the only reliable option. When sediment or scale has caked up inside, a flush or a full unit swap could also be needed. Cicero's water is moderately hard, so tank buildup is common in homes where heaters haven't been serviced or flushed regularly. If your pilot won't relight and your tank is 15 or more years old, it's smart to consider the cost of a new, energy-efficient model versus continued repairs. Our water heater service team can walk you through options based on the exact model you have.
Preventing Water Heater Problems
Once your pilot is burning steady again, regular maintenance helps keep it that way. We recommend these steps for Cicero homeowners, especially in homes with older plumbing:
- Flush your tank annually to clear out sediment.
- Have your anode rod checked every two to three years to slow tank corrosion.
- Ensure air vents and the burner area stay clear of dust and lint.
- Keep the area around the heater free of storage boxes or combustible items.
- Schedule a professional inspection if you ever notice odd noises, leaks, or new gas smells (find more info on leak detection and drain cleaning if other symptoms show up).
If your basement is damp or you've ever had seepage, consider pairing water heater maintenance with a quick check of your sump pump system as well, since local soils and water tables can stress plumbing in older Cicero homes.
If your water heater keeps giving you trouble or you need help relighting the pilot safely, our team is here for Cicero homeowners. Call us at 708-726-5506 and get professional help so you can enjoy reliable hot water again, no guesswork, just honest plumbing done right.