Water Heater Pilot Wont Light

This can happen with age.

Water heater pilot wont light. Turn the thermostat on the water heater to the lowest setting. If the pilot does not light the water heater will not heat. Remove the pilot light access cover. Sometimes carbon deposits can build up on the pilot and eventually create a restriction.

The pilot light in your hot water heater does more than simply ignite the gas. If you smell gas do not attempt. This device is central to the operation and can tell if the pilot light is on or off by an electrical current that is powered by the pilot s heat. Open the valve on the gas line by turning the handle until it is parallel to the gas pipe.

When the water heater pilot light goes out first try relighting it following the directions on the water heater label. Turn the gas control. Turn the gas control valve. How to troubleshoot a hot water heater pilot light that won t relight step 1.

The water heater pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas burner on your water heater. My rheem hot water heater pilot light won t light step 1. If the pilot cannot be cleaned replace it. Otherwise if the pilot light is not functioning correctly the unit won t turn on and you won t have hot water.

Obstructed thermocouple most water heaters operate with a thermocouple. If your pilot doesn t re light won t stay lit or keeps going out after a short time you most likely have an issue with the hot water heater thermocouple. Whenever the thermocouple detects an unlit pilot it turns off the gas as a safety precaution. 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.

If the pilot is restricted try removing it and clearing it with a stiff brush and or compressed air. 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. Once the thermocouple detects that the pilot light isn t lit it turns the gas off as a safety measure. Pilot light issues are some of the most common problems experienced with gas water heaters.

This can happen with age. Without it the water heater won t be able to maintain internal temperatures allowing the water to cool off.