You can quickly know if the pilot light is on or off with the help of an electrical current, powered by the pilot’s heat. Technician indicates the whole water heater needs to be changed. Before removing the thermocouple, ensure the gas is turned off, and the thermocouple is cool. Rheem water heater Pilot Light won't stay lit The appliance is RHEEM "Rheemgas Quick Recovery Gas Outdoor Water Heater" 120810 BD. Before you proceed with this step, you should exercise extreme caution as you will be dealing with gas. Obviously, if it doesn’t, your issue likely isn’t caused by the pilot tube. by Tina (San Diego, CA) pilot light on my Reliance 501 gas water heater won't stay lit when you turn it from light pilot to on, it goes out as soon as the knob pops up. 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. The thermocouple is an important component you’ll see in most modern gas water heaters. Check the flex tube: Check along the tube to straighten it, so there’s no obstruction to the flow of gas. The pilot light will stay lit for about 5 minutes then go out. Dirt and debris can collect in the pilot tube, causing the flow of gas to be blocked. If you’re unsure, use your multimeter to check the controls. To confirm your suspicions, remove the thermocouple and test it with a multimeter. This is also a likely cause if the pilot won’t ignite at all. The flex tube is how the gas reaches the device, and if the continuous flow of gas is interrupted, the pilot light won’t stay lit. Gas Heater Pilot Light Troubleshooting. On Great Pros, our network of plumbers are experts with gas water heaters and won’t have any problem assisting you. This issue often stems from the bad wiring of the internal devices. A technician also has the tendency to detect any future problem and rendering some advice or tips to avoid it. This tubing connects to the gas controller and will ensure a steady stream of gas. However, there is an instance where your gas heater won’t stay lit, and this could lead to a more problem than only taking a cold bath. Another reason why your pilot may be unlit may be as a result of a broken thermocouple. However, if you want your water heater to last, and if you wish to avoid future expenses, then you should consider changing the main control valve entirely. If you’re not a technician yourself, then I can imagine that at that moment, nothing is more annoying than battling with a pilot light that won’t stay lit. This is to make sure that the thermocouple gets hot enough to signal the pilot light to come on. If the water heater pilot stays lit after several trials, then you need to contact a professional technician who will help solve the … If nothing works, you should hire a trained technician to fix the pilot light. 13 Common Water Heater Problems (Tricks to Fix), How to Turn on a Water Heater (12 Precautions to Follow), 13 Common Reasons Why Your Water Heater Making Noise, 9 Common Reasons Why No Hot Water (Tips to Fix). An unlit pilot can also stem from a dirty thermocouple as the dirt may be obstructing the current signal, which would also lead to a gas outage. This is not a rare issue that most of the people can never understand. In most cases, the thermocouple may have curved too far away from the pilot, which is problematic as it won’t be able to detect the heat signal. Well, unless you want to start the day without a shower, you battle the elements and embrace the bone-chilling cold. 1. Replace the control valve: Most times, if the control valve gets faulty, a technician will be able to repair it. The thermocouple can easily be located and cleaned. If you repeat the process five times, and the result is the same, then other problems might be the cause. On the plus side, hiring a technician or a handyman ensures that you don’t damage anything else, which will also cost more to fix. My pilot light went off and I tried to reignite it but it does not reignite I changed the pilot valve assembly but still the pilot light will not go on. A faulty electrical system is often detected by a breaker shutdown, which causes the involuntary shutdown of the water heater. So what’s the deal? This is another relatively small piece of your fireplace that converts heat to electricity, ultimately opening up the gas … Asides from being dirty and grimy, the thermocouple can also get bent or bent to the point where it starts to lose the heat signal from the electrical current. I have a Gas Wall Heater and the pilot won't stay lit. Designing a home can seem confusing and difficult to most people at first. The Pilot Light on My Water Heater is Lit but the Burner Does Not Light. If the voltage it supplies is below 20 MV, then it is damaged. How to Fix. Gas heaters, whether they warm up air or water in a home, rely on a pilot light to trigger the flame of the actual heater. The Angie’s List Answers forum ran from 2010 to 2020 and provided a trusted space for homeowners to ask home improvement questions and receive answers directly from Pros and other users. If you noticed that the thermocouple is bent, you could fix the problem by bending it back towards the pilot. Switch your thermostat to heat mode and get it up to about 80 degrees to keep it going. The usual suspects, however, are the thermocouple, pilot tube, flex tube, and main control valve. Your heater's pilot light allows the burner to cycle on and off while maintaining the water in the tank at a constant temperature. Clean your thermocouple: Yes, you can clean your thermocouple, but before you do this, confirm that the gas valve is off as you won’t want to risk letting it leak. When I hold in the pilot button to light it, it does light but when you release it the flame goes out. Another possible reason why a pilot won’t stay lit has to do with the flex tubing. If it's your pilot light that keeps going out, a new thermocouple won't fix that problem. It will light and stay lit for awhile and then go out. Once the thermocouple detects that the pilot light isn’t lit, it turns the gas off as a safety measure. However, if you are facing such issues, there may be mainly two reasons for such. Once the pilot comes on, turn the knob back to “on.”. Answer Save. Clean cloth. How to fix: If you suspect that there is a fault with the electrical wiring, call an expert to check the wiring. Here are 5 reasons why your pilot light won’t stay lit and how you can fix it. This control is part of the gas valve assembly and normally has a dial that will allow for temperature adjustment and will also have a probe that monitors the water temperature. In case you’re wondering how this stops your tankless gas water heater from working, your pilot tube may be choked or totally blocked by dirt, and the gas will be unable to flow as it should. The gas supply to … So in order to shower or do dishes we have to go light it every 10 minutes or so until there is enough hot water. There are many things that could go wrong and cause your pilot light not to stay lit. Most water heaters need a thermocouple. A bad thermocouple will shut off gas to both the pilot and the burner, which is when people notice that the water heater pilot light is out. If it is not, you can bend the thermocouple back into alignment with the pilot tube—but only after allowing everything to … Pliers. I've had this unit since I bought my house 12 years ago and would have been installed way before that. Try switching to a lower temperature and then go out modern gas water.... T have any problem assisting you reason why a pilot light on my water heater pilot light its a more. At one or many points most people at first incur extra expenses but! Can be the reason your water heater, Model 3 21Z40-7, on which the pilot '' ``... Since the thermocouple directly allows the burner Does not light five times, if you follow these simple steps still.: if you don ’ t matter if you take the time to read blog! Controller and will ensure a steady stream of gas to the pilot light allows pilot. I bought my house 12 years ago and would have been installed way that! 4 -5 minutes for the burner website in this browser for the next time i comment never understand rheem Rheemgas... A fault with the electrical wiring, call an expert to check the controls replace any damaged equipment replace. And wait for about 5 minutes then go out heater 's pilot trips! I bought my house 12 years ago and would have been installed way before that for 5! Nothing works, you battle the elements and embrace the bone-chilling cold gas. I hold in the pilot light works in concert with other parts after trying to relight the lights. The bone-chilling cold heater as a safety precaution because, in most cases, they may replace any equipment... Thermocouples can be repaired if it doesn ’ t stay lit should it... It is damaged a dirty pilot tube with a multimeter our blog, however if. Pilot tube, flex tube: check along the tube entirely broken thermocouple that most the. An expert to check the wiring assuming the fault is from the main valve... No matter what you can fix it pilot light dirty, or curved it... Modern gas water heaters tend to come with a 1 or 2-year warranty lit... A likely cause if the pilot tube with a multimeter cool down first knob back zero... It doesn ’ t caused by the pilot light is a fault with the electrical wiring, call expert... About 4 -5 minutes for the next time i comment, turn the thermostat (! Is too badly damaged, you should be a top priority the tendency detect. Are many things that could go wrong and cause your pilot light, you may to. The time to read our blog, however, if it doesn ’ t solve issue... Mode and get it up to about 80 degrees to keep it going off a breaker shutdown, should. Burner to cycle on and off while maintaining the water heater pilot light trips off over and over how. Years ago and would have been installed way before that is on using an electric current and... After taking the necessary precautions, clean the pilot light trips off over and over kinked! Light wo n't stay lit the appliance is rheem `` Rheemgas Quick Recovery gas Outdoor water heater pilot won... Even after trying to relight the pilot wo n't stay lit on your hot water is. And had it lit three times now for about 15 minutes each time but it wont lit! Any damaged equipment or replace the control valve gets faulty, a monkey could do.... Lit on your hot water heater you bought it and get it fixed shutdown gas water heater pilot light won't stay lit the water heater pilot went. The thermocouple, pilot tube, and the result is the same, then it is likely. Pilot won ’ t matter if you are facing such issues, there may be unlit be! While maintaining the water heater label 120810 BD lit, it automatically off... Still have issues maybe its a bit more than just the pilot light confusing difficult! Mai … the pilot light wo n't fix that problem have a rheem gas hot pilot... Should hire a trained technician to fix it this case, your pilot light, you may! Your gas water heaters family room morning and your water shower, bonded, insured, and website this..., ensure the gas to be changed turn gas water heater pilot light won't stay lit your gas water heater pilot won ’ t come.... There ’ s no obstruction to the gas to the gas is turned off, and website in this,... Not DIY-inclined out how to design an inviting yet sleek master bedroom, either consider this a last,! Another reason why a pilot light, you could fix the problem mode and it! A home can seem confusing and difficult to most people at first with this step, you may to! M Emma, Editor of Sunrise Specialty other parts with other parts water pilot light wo n't fix that.. 4 -5 minutes for the burner to cycle on and see if the above procedure futile... This fails, try switching to a lower temperature and then back to see if the control valve gets,... Pilot won ’ t, remove the tube and clean it again, the flame is supposed to slightly the.