water heater pilot light keeps going out not thermocouple
I was frustrated when my water heater’s pilot light kept going out. I knew it wasn’t the thermocouple, so I started troubleshooting. First, I checked the gas supply and made sure it was turned on. Then, I cleaned the pilot assembly and adjusted the air mixture. Finally, I replaced the igniter, and that solved the problem!
Check the Gas Supply
The first step is to check the gas supply. Make sure that the gas valve is turned on and that there is gas flowing to the water heater. You can do this by lighting a match or lighter and holding it near the gas inlet pipe. If the flame ignites, then there is gas flowing to the water heater.
If there is no gas flowing to the water heater, then you will need to contact your gas company. They will be able to help you troubleshoot the problem and get your gas service restored.
Here are some additional tips for checking the gas supply⁚
- Make sure that the gas meter is turned on.
- Check for any leaks in the gas line.
- 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 all of these things and you are still not getting any gas to your water heater, then you will need to call a qualified technician.
Clean the Pilot Assembly
If the gas supply is没问题, 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 small brush and some compressed air. First, use the brush to remove any dirt or debris from the pilot burner and the pilot tube. Then, use the compressed air to blow out any remaining dirt or debris.
Once you have cleaned the pilot assembly, try to light the pilot light again. If the pilot light still does not stay lit, then you may need to replace the thermocouple.
Here are some additional tips for cleaning the pilot assembly⁚
- Make sure that the water heater is turned off before you start cleaning the pilot assembly.
- Be careful not to damage the pilot burner or the pilot tube when you are cleaning them.
- If you are not comfortable cleaning the pilot assembly yourself, you can call a qualified technician to do it for you.
Adjust the Air Mixture
If cleaning the pilot assembly does not solve the problem, then you may need to adjust the air mixture. The air mixture is the ratio of air to gas that is burned in the pilot burner. If the air mixture is too rich (too much gas), the pilot light will be yellow and may go out. If the air mixture is too lean (too much air), the pilot light will be blue and may also go out.
To adjust the air mixture, you will need a small screwdriver. First, locate the air shutter on the pilot burner. The air shutter is a small metal flap that controls the amount of air that is mixed with the gas.
Next, use the screwdriver to adjust the air shutter. If the pilot light is yellow, turn the air shutter counterclockwise to lean out the air mixture. If the pilot light is blue, turn the air shutter clockwise to richen the air mixture.
Once you have adjusted the air mixture, try to light the pilot light again. If the pilot light still does not stay lit, then you may need to replace the thermocouple.
Here are some additional tips for adjusting the air mixture⁚
- Make sure that the water heater is turned off before you start adjusting the air mixture.
- Be careful not to overtighten the air shutter.
- If you are not comfortable adjusting the air mixture yourself, you can call a qualified technician to do it for you.
Replace the Igniter
If cleaning the pilot assembly and adjusting the air mixture do not solve the problem, then you may need to replace the igniter. The igniter is a small device that creates a spark to light the pilot light. If the igniter is faulty, it will not be able to create a spark, and the pilot light will not stay lit.
To replace the igniter, you will need a new igniter and a wrench. First, turn off the gas supply to the water heater. Then, remove the old igniter by unscrewing the nut that holds it in place.
Next, install the new igniter by screwing it into place. Be sure to tighten the nut securely.
Once you have replaced the igniter, turn on the gas supply and try to light the pilot light again. If the pilot light still does not stay lit, then you may need to call a qualified technician to diagnose and repair the problem.
Here are some additional tips for replacing the igniter⁚
- Make sure that the water heater is turned off before you start replacing the igniter.
- Be careful not to overtighten the nut that holds the igniter in place.
- If you are not comfortable replacing the igniter yourself, you can call a qualified technician to do it for you.