Hot water tank...again!!!?

Question

The pilot light went out for the third time in a week. I had the thermocouple was replaced last year at this time. It was great for a full year and now it went out three times in a week! Cold showers are not fun. This tank is about 8 years old..suggestions???

Answer 1

At eight years your tank has probably reached it's limit. You could probably swap it out yourself if your handy at all.

Answer 2

When your pilot light is lit the flame is suppose to impinge on the two inch section tip of the thermocouple to make it hot enough to generate Milli-volts that report back to the main gas valve and allow the pilot to stay on and the main gas to burn when the T-stat calls for heat of the water.  If Your pilot ports /o*****e is dirty with dust or spider web or such it will not produce a good firm blue flame. A lazy yellow poor flame in not enough to keep the pilot lit even with a good Thermocouple. turn the gas off at the hand valve at the water heater. remove and disassemble and clean the pilot. re assemble and re lite. Also if the pilot is good hard flame and it is positioned right on the thermocouple you my well have another bad thermocouple.

Answer 3

If you can access the pilot light without too much dismantling try cleaning it gently with an old, dry, toothbrush. Brush the end of the thermocouple at the same time to remove any soot that may be stopping it from heating up properly.

If you have a dust blower aerosol can, sold in photographic and electronic repair shops, this will finish the job even better.

If you have to remove a transparent window to get at the pilot light, be careful with the gasket and make sure it's replaced properly.

When the pilot light is lit, if you can see it, watch it for a few minutes. It should be steady with a regular shape and part of it should be close to the end of the thermocouple. If there are any bright, glowing spots visible they may indicate a build up of soot that is causing your problem. If the flame is bright yellow, check for dust and vacuum around the ventilation slots. If the flame is unsteady look for draughts.

I'm assuming that when your thermocouple was replaced last year the installation was checked by a competent gas fitter. If there is a problem with ventilation, either not enough air available for the appliance or partial blocking of the flue, carbon monoxide could be leaking into your home. If there is any doubt about this get it checked out immediately as carbon monoxide is deadly and has no smell.

I would suggest that you buy an electronic carbon monoxide monitor and fit it in your home anyway. They cost about £25 and look like a smoke alarm. If it saves your life, it is a very good investment.

Answer 4

Rangefinder is right.

Most likely you have a week pilot flame and not hitting the thermocouple properly.

I would look at the pilot now to see if it's the problem, and also tun the thermostat up and down to see how the main burner coming on or shutting off has an effect on the pilot flame.

When shutting down it could be popping out the pilot flame or when it comes on it could be lowering the flame of the pilot and dropping the thermocouple out.

Pilot assemblies must be disassembled to clean properly.

Due to the many different variety of orifices and hoods it's hard to get in detail of the removal and cleaning but basically you want to get to the o*****e itself and make sure it's clean and the hood is clean.

Do not alter the o*****e or hood in any way.

Enlarging an o*****e will produce a large and lazy flame.

If it had the proper o*****e in it to begin with it will produce a nice blue flame if everything clean.

I would put a new thermocouple in while you have it apart.