Lighting a pilot light is a fairly standard practice that varies little from one gas appliance to another. If you have a new furnace, gas dryer, or water heater, they may be self-igniting, meaning you do not need to light a pilot light at all. On older appliances, be sure to turn the gas valve only to the pilot position and light the pilot at the same time. Once the pilot light is lit, turn the knob to “on.” If the pilot does not light right away, wait a few minutes before attempting to light again to avoid the possibility of injury.