My son has a hot water heater that doesn't like to work.
When it comes on , it heats the water nicely and turns off....but many times it won't come on again and my son had to re-light the pilot light for it to work. It might cycle correctly for a few days and then not work again.
There is a copper tube that runs from the gas valve to the area in which the pilot light is located. This device when heated by the pilot light creates a small electrical current that is fed to the gas valve that keeps it turned on and ready to run when the need for hot water is determined by the thermostat within the heater. When this device begins to fail the pilot light goes off. This device is defective and should be replaced. You will need to go to a plumbing supply store with this device once removed as they come in diffent sizes and lengths. They will match a new one up for you and its quite easy to replace. It is common for this thermocouple to fail. Its cost is only about 20 dollars. Also you may want to check the flame on the pilot itself. It should be blue, and fairly strong. The flame should be going around the entire bulb of the thermocouple in order for it to work properly. If the pilot light flame is weak, yellow and does not appear to be covering the entire thermocouple bulb or you see a lot of carbon build up around the pilot light. Get the heater serviced by a plumber or the local gas company. They can clean and service this for you. Do not attempt to clean or adjust the pilot light yourself.
While homebuild has some other great ideas, these issues, such as spill switchs,quite often when tripped will not allow the pilot light to be lit without resetting the safety switch they are connected to. Replace the thermocouple and you should fine. But if you find your resetting a switch elsewhere other then on the gas valve itself call the gas company.
Posts: 1436 | Location: New Jersey | Registered: 31 January 2006
