this post was submitted on 26 Jun 2026
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It's a failsafe system. Gas fireplaces have something similar. Prior to being lit, the pilot/valve has to be held open manually. While holding it open, the ignitor can be used to light the gas. Sometimes this is simultaneous (opening & lighting), while other times it's two separate mechanisms. In either case, when the gas is lit, a device known as a thermocouple keeps the gas valve held open as long as there is heat. There are electrical and mechanical varieties. If at any time no heat is detected (or the thermocouple fails), then the valve is closed.
Fireplaces need regular maintenance and sometimes a thermocouple fails because it's dirty.
I guess my oven was too old for that tech
If it’s a gas oven, then probably. I remember people having gas ovens when I was a kid in the early 1980’s, but I haven’t actually seen a non-electric oven since then. It must be at least 40 years old by now.