Once the thermocouple detects that the pilot light isn t lit it turns the gas off as a safety measure.
Water heater pilot light keeps going out not thermocouple.
A faulty thermocouple should be replaced.
You can usually replace a thermocouple for minimal cost and in less than an hour.
You ll get your hot water going without waiting for a pro to show up and save the cost of a service call for a gas water heater repair.
Again you ll have to do some cleaning.
Obstruction in the thermocouple thermocouple problems can be fairly common and this component is often the culprit when the water heater pilot keeps going out.
No hot water on a cold monday morning.
Inspect the thermocouple to determine if it is dirty.
Read on to learn how to light a pilot light.
I have seen people try 4 thermocouples and the fifth one worked then they claimed the other four were bad.
If their is a good flame on the thermocouple then it is a bad gas valve.
As a result the gas supply will be cut off and the pilot light will go out.
This equipment is the core reason why your water heater functions it also knows if the pilot light is on or off through an electric current that draws power from the pilot s heat.
It shuts the gas off if the pilot light goes out.
Either the thermocouple is going bad or it is dirty and needs to be cleaned.
A layer of dirt and grime can hinder the electric current from reaching the thermocouple.
Sometimes if the gas valve is just barely bad a hotter thermocouple will work for a short time but finding a hotter thermocouple is just hit and miss.
The pilot light is a small open flame that is fed by a steady flow of gas.
One of them is a dirty thermocouple.
If the pilot doesn t relight if it goes out right after lighting or if the pilot light keeps going out by far the most common cause is a bad thermocouple.
The number one reason why the pilot light keeps going out is the thermocouple.
When you have a problem with your water heater not lighting look at your water heater pilot light.
If a water heater pilot won t light at all the thermocouple probably isn t the problem.
The pilot light is supposed to be a strong blue cone not a weak yellow flame.
Older gas appliances may have pilot lights that provide instant ignition when the gas is turned on.
If you can light your pilot light but the water heater pilot keeps going out there are many possible causes.
Cleaning out the pilot orifice means disassembling the pilot and clearing out the debris using a needle or compressed air.
First turn off the main gas supply valve and wait for the thermocouple to cool.
Thermocouples work by producing a small amount of voltage when it is heated.
The thermocouple is a safety device.
Therefore a dirty thermocouple might be the reason why your water pilot keeps going out.
This is the pilot flame that provides the heat.
A weaker flame won t envelop the thermocouple properly.