new rheem water heater pilot light wont light

Troubleshooting a new Rheem water heater pilot light can be a frustrating task, but it is one that can be accomplished with a little patience and the right tools․ I recently had to troubleshoot the pilot light on my new Rheem water heater, and I was able to get it working again in just a few minutes․ Here are the steps that I took⁚

Check the Gas Supply

The first step in troubleshooting a new Rheem water heater pilot light is to check the gas supply․ Make sure that the gas valve is turned on and that there is no obstruction in the gas line․ You can check the gas supply by lighting a match or lighter near the burner․ If the flame is strong and steady, then the gas supply is working properly․

If the flame is weak or flickering, then there may be a problem with the gas supply․ Check the gas valve to make sure that it is fully open․ If the gas valve is open and the flame is still weak or flickering, then there may be a blockage in the gas line․ You can try to clear the blockage by blowing compressed air into the gas line․ If you are unable to clear the blockage, then you will need to call a qualified technician․

Here are some additional tips for checking the gas supply⁚

• Make sure that the gas meter is turned on․
• Check the gas line for any leaks․
• If you have a natural gas water heater, make sure that the pilot light is lit․
• If you have a propane water heater, make sure that the propane tank is full․

If you have checked the gas supply and it is working properly, then the problem may be with the pilot light itself․ Continue to the next step to troubleshoot the pilot light․

Clean the Pilot Assembly

If the gas supply is working properly, then the next step is to clean the pilot assembly․ The pilot assembly is located at the bottom of the water heater and consists of the pilot burner, the pilot tube, and the thermocouple․

To clean the pilot assembly, you will need a wire brush and a vacuum cleaner․

Turn off the gas supply to the water heater․
Remove the pilot assembly from the water heater․
Use the wire brush to clean the pilot burner and the pilot tube․
Use the vacuum cleaner to remove any dirt or debris from the pilot assembly․
Reassemble the pilot assembly and reconnect it to the water heater․
Turn on the gas supply to the water heater․

Once you have cleaned the pilot assembly, try to light the pilot light again․ If the pilot light still does not light, then the problem may be with the thermocouple․

The thermocouple is a safety device that shuts off the gas supply to the water heater if the pilot light goes out․ To test the thermocouple, you will need a multimeter․

Set the multimeter to the millivolt scale․
Touch one probe of the multimeter to the thermocouple terminal on the water heater․
Touch the other probe of the multimeter to the ground terminal on the water heater․
The multimeter should read between 20 and 30 millivolts․

If the multimeter does not read between 20 and 30 millivolts, then the thermocouple is faulty and will need to be replaced․

Light the Pilot Light

Once you have cleaned the pilot assembly and checked the thermocouple, you can try to light the pilot light․

To light the pilot light, you will need a long lighter or a match․

Turn the gas control knob to the “Pilot” setting․
Push in the gas control knob and hold it in for 30 seconds․
While holding in the gas control knob, use the lighter or match to light the pilot light․
Once the pilot light is lit, continue to hold in the gas control knob for another 30 seconds․
Release the gas control knob and turn it to the “On” setting․

If the pilot light does not stay lit, then there may be a problem with the gas supply or the pilot assembly․ Check the gas supply to make sure that it is turned on and that there are no leaks․ If the gas supply is working properly, then you may need to clean the pilot assembly again․

Once you have lit the pilot light, you can turn on the water heater and check to see if it is working properly․

Troubleshoot Ignition Problems

If you are having trouble lighting the pilot light on your new Rheem water heater, there are a few things that you can check⁚

• Make sure that the gas supply is turned on․ You can check this by turning on a gas stove or oven․ If the gas is not turned on, the pilot light will not be able to light․
• Check the thermocouple․ The thermocouple is a small metal rod that is located near the pilot light․ It generates a small electrical current when it is heated by the pilot light․ This current is used to open the gas valve and allow gas to flow to the pilot light․ If the thermocouple is not working properly, the pilot light will not be able to stay lit․
• Check the pilot light assembly․ The pilot light assembly is the part of the water heater that holds the pilot light and the thermocouple․ If the pilot light assembly is not working properly, the pilot light will not be able to light․

If you have checked all of these things and the pilot light still will not light, then you may need to call a qualified technician to help you troubleshoot the problem․
Here are some additional tips for troubleshooting ignition problems⁚

• If the pilot light lights but then goes out, it may be because the thermocouple is not generating enough current․ You can try cleaning the thermocouple with a wire brush․
• If the pilot light lights but then goes out when you release the gas control knob, it may be because the gas valve is not opening all the way․ You can try turning the gas control knob back and forth a few times to see if this helps․
• If you are still having trouble lighting the pilot light, you may need to call a qualified technician to help you troubleshoot the problem․