Clicking noise at the gas valve/pilot light unit

If you have a gas or fuel oil furnace, that is your igniter trying to light the fuel. If it does it for a few seconds and quits without lighting the furnace, there may be no fuel getting to the burner. Check for fuel supply - oil tank empty? gas line turned off? etc

The clicking you are hearing is the gas valve trying to open but because the pilot light is out the valve shut back off. Sounds like the thermocouple is bad on the unit. The thermocouple sits net to the pilot light and allows the gas valve to open. Hope this helps.

I would suspect that it is not the valve making the noise. I would bet it is the thermal expansion of the metal that you are hearing. Other than that, I have seen cases where there is a flow control valve, and depending on its operation, when it opens or closes on spring power it will over shoot and make a loud clicking noise as the clutch overshoots. This will usually only be about 2-4 clicks though, and around pool equipment I doubt you would hear much of it. I would bet more on the thermal expansion. Kind of like the clicking noise you will hear after you have parked your car and the engine is cooling down.

I don't know if there is a pilot light, spark ignitor or thermal ignitor. I would determine by inspection what kind it has. If you open the front cover you will find a gas valve. It can be identified by following the gas pipe that enters the side of the heater and attaches to the gas valve. If the valve has a control knob on it that has an off, on and pilot position then it is a pilot type. If this control is not on the valve then the unit includes an automatic ignitor.

To light a pilot equipped system place the knob in the pilot position, push it down, and use a flame to light the pilot. If you hear gas flowing from the pilot but it won't light then there is air in the line and it needs to be purged. Holding the pilot lighting valve down long enough will purge it but may take a long time. Periodically you can check it by trying to light it. If it lights watch it for a while before trying to turn the heater on to make sure it is fully purged. Once the pilot is stable and the thermocouple is heated the pilot valve can be released and it should stay lit. If not, try again.

Don't get down and look into the burners while you are trying to start the system because it could flame out and burn your face. If you turn on the heater again then the gas valve should come on and the burner should light. You can usually hear a loud snap when the gas valve come on. You should then hear the gas flow to the burner. If the burner doesn't light you should be able to smell the gas. If it lights exhaust will be coming out of the vents in the top of the heater.

I am sure you will have more questions so please respond with them. I hope this helps.

Hello. you need to replace the thermocouple which is a safety device that turns the gas on and off. Joe

please rate my answer as very helpful. Thanks.

HI; I need more info. How old is the equipment. name brand of equipment. Also to answer Your question ...Yes the tstat wire goes into the furnace to make several connections then a seperate cable(brown) will follow Your freon lines out to the condensor.Also try removing the cover and have a good light. Get someone to turn on heat at tstat and watch for clicking sound.Sounds like You have a spark assist pilot system. When the sparking starts the pilot light should come on. Then once the pilot sensor feels the heat comming from pilot light it will allow the gas valve to come on...BE CAREFULL...I ASSUME NO RESPONSABILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS...alpharome416 PS.usually there is nothing to worry about just keep Your space to begin with ok.

check power pile conections on gas control valve.it is the 2 wires that come from pilot asembly.if they are loose or have rust or oxidation this can affect pilot and cause intermittent outage. let me know

make sure knob on gas valve(inside heater)is turned to on position.3/4" should be fine as long as heater is not larger than than 175,000 btu