2007-10-11 15:21:25 · 9 answers · asked by JAMES R A 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Bad thermo coupling....it needs replaced. You can buy them at Lowe's...they are easy to change out. Or sometimes your pilot light may have changed...check to make sure your pilot flame is good and is right below the thermo coupling bulb. You'll have to hold the knob or button to keep the flame going while you look at it. Sometimes carbon builds up around it and doesn't allow the flame to heat up the thermocoupling.
Also I had a brand new Whirlpool Flame Lock water heater that kept going out.....found out later it had a defective thermo coupling...in fact...there is a class action law suit on this unit because of the defective thermo coupling. They will send you a free part if this is the brand you have.
2007-10-11 15:24:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The pilot light will only stay on if your thermocouple and gas valve are working correctly. The thermocouple is that little metal rod - usually about 1/8" thick, that sits in the flame. It is made of two dis-similar metals that, when heated, generate 24-volts. The 24-volts then goes back to the gas valve and keeps the valve open. This is a fail-safe safety device. The good news is that 9 times out of 10, it is the thermocouple that is the problem. These are available at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. They simply screw in to the gas valve - and the threads are all standard. You need to only get one the proper length - most are 18 or 24 inches. They cost less than $10. If this doesn't do it - call a plumber or HVAC company.
2007-10-11 22:30:06 · answer #2 · answered by A. O 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Somewhat similar to the answer about a heating vent nearby, but my suggestion relates to the vent going out thru the roof, if it's vented that way. Sometimes in on a windy day or successive windy days, if the vent isn't quite high enough up in the air, the wind came come down the pipe and blow out the pilot. I've had to install a good vent cap on several homes in my area to stop this from happening. It took care of the problem immediately. If the gas valve itself isn't keeping the main valve open when there is flame present at the pilot then the internal one-time fuse has blown and it will never stay on.
2007-10-11 22:39:48 · answer #3 · answered by Corky R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thermocouple seems to be the popular answer but check to see if the pilot light flame is hitting the TC properly first. There is an adjustment for the pilot light level on the controller.
2007-10-12 11:05:29 · answer #4 · answered by len b 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It just happened to me a couple of months back. Our water heater was about 8-10 years old and had just given out.
If yours is fairly new, it could be something else. They expect them to last about 10 years (is what various plumbers told me).
2007-10-11 22:27:32 · answer #5 · answered by booboo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is a newer heater with a sealed combustion chamber, the flame arrestor could be clogged. It should be cleaned every six months.
We are all guessing since your question is so vague.
2007-10-11 22:45:32 · answer #6 · answered by I am, I said 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the pilot light wires need to be change.
2007-10-11 22:38:13 · answer #7 · answered by mad_1240 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Is there a heating or air vent close by that is blowing in that direction? I had the same problem with a gas stove once.
2007-10-11 22:26:41 · answer #8 · answered by dotell 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
bad thermocouple just go to Lowe's, they are about $15 and have detailed instructions on how to replace them.
2007-10-11 23:05:14 · answer #9 · answered by cronos51101 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋