Gas Water Heater Pilot Light Thermocouple Replacement

The flame should be blue and steady.

Gas water heater pilot light thermocouple replacement.

The water heater pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas burner on your water heater. If you have a gas water heater with a pilot light that won t stay lit it s probably due to a failed thermocouple. If the pilot doesn t relight if it goes out right after lighting or if it goes out repeatedly by far the most common cause is. The thermocouple is the brain of your water heater.

The thermocouple is triggered by an electric current produced by the pilot light. By james carey morris carey. When the water heater pilot light goes out first try relighting it following the directions on the water heater label. Since almost all major brands of atmospherically vented water heaters have switched from a thermocouple to a t.

It is a simple device that converts the heat from a burning flame into a small electrical current allowing it to work like a switch to control the flow of gas from the gas supply valve. Remove the burner assembly and detach the thermocouple. 1 cause of pilot lights that won t stay lit is a worn out. Smith and state branded tanks 4 6 out of 5 stars 105 68 10 68.

The thermocouple is a thermoelectric device that shuts off the gas if the pilot light goes out. Learn how to replace this inexpensive part and keep your hot water heater working for years to come. A hot water heater that doesn t heat might just need a new thermocouple. If the thermocouple is working you should be able to measure 30 to 40 millivolts of voltage at the connection end of the tube when the pilot flame is on.

The thermocouple is part of the pilot burner assembly and connects to the gas control valve on the outside of the water heater. If you are able to light the pilot on the gas fired appliance but when you release the gas control from it s light position the pilot immediately goes out if there was a good solid flame that was clearly touching and heating the thermocouple that is the thermocouple was properly positioned in the pilot flame and if you are sure that you. A gas water heater in boise baton rouge buffalo or boston uses a thermocouple that includes a probe attached to a copper tube that screws into a port on the gas valve. 1 16 of over 2 000 results for pilot light assembly amazon s choice for pilot light assembly 104 plumbing plus universal pilot burner for gas appliances multiuse for gas water heater space heater fireplace furnace easy mount heavy duty long lasting pilot assembly for thermocouple.

Once you re done put it back and light your water heater. It s responsible for closing the gas valve when it senses the pilot light is off.