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Gas water heater question

papajimpapajim Member Posts: 158 ✭✭✭
edited November 2009 in General Discussion
The pilot light went out and would not stay lit. I changed the thermocouple. No change, the pilot will light but will not stay on after the burner goes off. I decided the thermocouple is a bad one so bought another. Still having the same problem. The pilot will light the first time but when the burner goes out so does the pilot and the pilot will not relight until the whole thing cools down. Has any one ever had to replace the thermostat/control unit? The water heater is not really old enough to need replacing so I need to repair this one.
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    fishkiller41fishkiller41 Member Posts: 50,608
    edited November -1
    Yes Tommy a true pet peeve of mine as well. Like those who type 7:30 AM in the morning!![:(!] DAMMIT MAN, AM MEANS MORNING!!
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    SperrySperry Member Posts: 5,006 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'd call the manufacturer. Pretty rare for the gas valve to fail, but it does happen.
    If the valve is under warranty, they might recommend replacing the whole tank.
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    wild cat manwild cat man Member Posts: 524 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    agree call manufacture see if the have had any recall or recomendations
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    AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,064 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It would not be the thermocouple, it has nothing to do with the pilot.

    Bad gas valve. You can replace just the gas valve.
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
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    kyplumberkyplumber Member Posts: 11,111
    edited November -1
    been there done that... while it would be nice to replace a ten dollar thermocouple, it never works out that way.

    www.lowes.com , you need a new hot water heater :( replacing the gas valve is quite expensive and usually isn't worth it. I am gonna guess that your hot water heater is ten years old or older, just replace it. When you install your new one set bricks inside the liner pan and set it on the bricks.
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    kyplumberkyplumber Member Posts: 11,111
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Alpine
    It would not be the thermocouple, it has nothing to do with the pilot.

    Bad gas valve. You can replace just the gas valve.


    if your thermocouple goes it, it does not send the millivolts required to keep the valve open, so in short you are wrong. Also replacing the gas valve is usually expensive and not worth it.
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    SperrySperry Member Posts: 5,006 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Alpine
    It would not be the thermocouple, it has nothing to do with the pilot.

    Bad gas valve. You can replace just the gas valve.


    A very true statement. Except that the thermocouple has everything to do with the pilot.
    However, in this case, gas valve is most likely.

    If it will not relight until the tank cools down, it's just a matter of time before complete failure.
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    interlockingfieldsoffireinterlockingfieldsoffire Member Posts: 76 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Before investing in a new gas valve, try taking the old one off after draining. look inside the heater tank and see how much calcium is built up. If there is enough calcium to reach the gas valve it could be causing your problem. You can turn the water back on with the gas valve off, take a good solid rifle rod with a 12 gauge brush and run it through the gas valve hole and begin mucking out the calcium. Get out as much as you can, if it is solidly built up in the heater tank you can either pour some vinegar in and wait a few days for it to break down the calcium. Or you can do it the red-neck way by running an auger bit on a long drill shaft connected to your de-walt and break up the area around and below the valve hole. Put your gas valve back on and give it a try. If it still does not work after replacing the thermocoupler and removing some of the calcium then it truly is a bad valve.
    Good luck
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    n2gasmann2gasman Member Posts: 69 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    i had 2 like that in 8 months, canned it and bought a tankless noritz and have been happy for a year+
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    CaptFunCaptFun Member Posts: 16,678 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by interlockingfieldsoffire
    Before investing in a new gas valve, try taking the old one off after draining. look inside the heater tank and see how much calcium is built up. If there is enough calcium to reach the gas valve it could be causing your problem. You can turn the water back on with the gas valve off, take a good solid rifle rod with a 12 gauge brush and run it through the gas valve hole and begin mucking out the calcium. Get out as much as you can, if it is solidly built up in the heater tank you can either pour some vinegar in and wait a few days for it to break down the calcium. Or you can do it the red-neck way by running an auger bit on a long drill shaft connected to your de-walt and break up the area around and below the valve hole. Put your gas valve back on and give it a try. If it still does not work after replacing the thermocoupler and removing some of the calcium then it truly is a bad valve.
    Good luck


    Ain't never seen a water heater where the gas went into the water. That must be a fancy one.
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    NEIAPredatorNEIAPredator Member Posts: 1,443 ✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by CaptFun
    quote:Originally posted by interlockingfieldsoffire
    Before investing in a new gas valve, try taking the old one off after draining. look inside the heater tank and see how much calcium is built up. If there is enough calcium to reach the gas valve it could be causing your problem. You can turn the water back on with the gas valve off, take a good solid rifle rod with a 12 gauge brush and run it through the gas valve hole and begin mucking out the calcium. Get out as much as you can, if it is solidly built up in the heater tank you can either pour some vinegar in and wait a few days for it to break down the calcium. Or you can do it the red-neck way by running an auger bit on a long drill shaft connected to your de-walt and break up the area around and below the valve hole. Put your gas valve back on and give it a try. If it still does not work after replacing the thermocoupler and removing some of the calcium then it truly is a bad valve.
    Good luck


    Ain't never seen a water heater where the gas went into the water. That must be a fancy one.


    You beat me to it.
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    reloader44magreloader44mag Member Posts: 18,783 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hope your house don't blow up with all this great advise[;)]...man I love this place
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    GRIZZLY17GRIZZLY17 Member Posts: 1,676 ✭
    edited November -1
    A new gas valve is only 50-75 bucks. I just replaced mine after a thermo didn't fix the prob. Interlocking is right, part of the valve extends through the tank and gets covered with calcium crap. Mine was pretty nasty, but screwed a new one in and off she went. My WH was only about 6-7 years old maybe.
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    CaptFunCaptFun Member Posts: 16,678 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The thermocouple holds open the pilot portion of the valve. The piece that penetrates the tank is only the thermostat for the main gas valve. The thermocouple is interlocked with the main valve but not vice versa or the pilot would go off every time that the desired temp was reached which would not make for a every convenient water heater.

    /RNS Mechanical Engineer
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    searcher5searcher5 Member Posts: 13,511
    edited November -1
    A bad water heater is like a bomb waiting to go off. At best, it blows and runs enough water through it to pay for several new ones. At worst, it burns down your house and kills your family. Pony up the bucks to put a new one in. They aren't that expensive to be worth the chance you are taking.
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    slumlord44slumlord44 Member Posts: 3,702 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Try tightening the thermocouple as tight as you can get it. Instructions say tighten finger tight and another 3/4 turn with a wrench. This does not always work. Had smilar problem on a furnace recently. Technician tightened thermocouple and works fine. If this does not work, look at the gas valve replacement.
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    wirenutswirenuts Member Posts: 16 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    try cleaning the oriface on the line that goes to the pilot light. it can get plugged and not let the proper amount of gas through
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    Warpig883Warpig883 Member Posts: 6,459
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Alpine
    It would not be the thermocouple, it has nothing to do with the pilot.


    I would be interested to hear your explanation of what the thermocouple does.
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    D1D1 Member Posts: 11,412
    edited November -1
    http://www.kenmore.com/shc/s/p_10154_12604_04233943000P?vName=Kenmore&cName=Water+Heaters&sName=Natural+Gas+Water+Heaters
    04233943000?hei=600&wid=600&op_sharpen=1&qlt=90,0&resMode=sharp&op_usm=0.9,0.5,0,0
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    LesWVaLesWVa Member Posts: 10,490 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by n2gasman
    i had 2 like that in 8 months, canned it and bought a tankless noritz and have been happy for a year+


    +1

    Never had a problem with my tankless water heater in 6 years..

    redneck-hot-tub.jpg
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    kyplumberkyplumber Member Posts: 11,111
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by kyplumber
    quote:Originally posted by Alpine
    It would not be the thermocouple, it has nothing to do with the pilot.

    Bad gas valve. You can replace just the gas valve.


    if your thermocouple goes it, it does not send the millivolts required to keep the valve open, so in short you are wrong. Also replacing the gas valve is usually expensive and not worth it.


    here's one duce1, you have to find the other two to collect your points!

    it should have been out..
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    AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,064 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by kyplumber
    quote:Originally posted by Alpine
    It would not be the thermocouple, it has nothing to do with the pilot.

    Bad gas valve. You can replace just the gas valve.


    if your thermocouple goes it, it does not send the millivolts required to keep the valve open, so in short you are wrong. Also replacing the gas valve is usually expensive and not worth it.


    Most gas valves use a bimetal to control gas flow. Depends on brand.

    Millivolt generators are very rare these days.

    I don't used any 85% efficient water heaters any more. I have all 96% efficient water heaters.
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
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