Originally Posted by
nerd
The pilot light is on so that it can ignite the main burner. They're not limited to just commercial stoves.
Same principal with fireplace pilot lights.. but true, once the pilot light wasn't on and the gas was.. but a total malfunction for us and gas filled the air in the Master Bedroom. What needs to happen is that a safety mechanism shuts off the gas if the pilot light is not on, to keep the house safe..