Geyser pilot goes out in wind: how to protect a rooftop geyser

How wind reaches the pilot

• Down the flue: a missing, bent or loose flue cap lets gusts blow straight down to the burner.
• Through the burner opening: an open or missing access cover exposes the pilot.
• Across the base: geysers on open roofs catch wind from every side.

Safe ways to reduce it

• Fit a proper flue cap (rain and wind cowl) and make sure the flue pipe is straight and secure.
• Keep the burner access cover closed after relighting.
• Build or fit a ventilated enclosure that blocks direct wind but leaves plenty of air below and around the geyser.
• Point the flue away from the prevailing wind if it is being refitted.
• Clean the pilot jet: a strong, blue pilot resists draughts far better than a weak one.

What not to do

• Do not wrap the geyser in plastic sheets or seal it in a box: the burner needs air and the flue must vent freely.
• Do not tape over the burner opening.
• Do not move a gas geyser into a closed bathroom to protect it from wind; without proper venting it can produce deadly carbon monoxide.

Windy nights and auto ignition

Even a well-protected rooftop geyser can lose its pilot in a storm. With the Autopilot kit, the burner is lit again automatically by its own spark, so you are not climbing onto a roof in the cold and dark to relight it.