QUICK TECH TIP
Furnace Roof Jacks

If your furnace has a standing pilot light, you may experience some frustration with it blowing out on windy days. The best cure is electronic ignition. However, electronic ignition is not feasible nor cost-effective for most standing pilot furnaces. The next best solution is to check the crown assembly.

These days roof jacks are sold with an all-weather roof cap. The difference is the slots just under the cap (left picture). These slots help wind blow through the cap and not down it, helping to minimize blow-outs. If your old crown assembly does not contain this all-weather roof cap, then changing it may be beneficial

The next cure you can try is to raise the crown assembly up using an exterior extension (right picture). When the wind blows, it may have a pattern of blowing across your roof and down your roof jack. Raising the crown assembly may get it out of the wind's path. Nothing is guaranteed, but these two tips have helped a lot of people minimize the number of times they need to relight their furnace.

Keep in mind that when using interior or exterior extensions, it is a serious code violation to have a seam inside your roof. The seams of all extensions must be visible either above the roof or in the furnace closet.

If you find your furnace difficult to light because your match isn't long enough or blows out as you try to light it, then consider a professional lighter such as the one featured on this page.