Gas Water Heater Problems Pilot Light

It is common on fireplaces and older cheaper furnaces and water heaters.

Gas water heater problems pilot light.

When the water heater pilot light goes out first try relighting it following the directions on the water heater label. The water heater pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas burner on your water heater. It s the soul of your water heater. Pilot light issues are some of the most common problems experienced with gas water heaters.

The thermocouple is a safety device that stops gas flow when the pilot light goes out. The pilot light flame should be blue slightly tinged with yellow only at the tip a sign there is enough heat to warm your water or your home. It starts the whole process by first supplying a small amount of gas to the pilot light. A faulty thermocouple or malfunction of the gas valve could be the culprit but the problem may be as simple as a draft coming from a crack in the wall or under the door.

If the pilot doesn t relight if it goes out right after lighting or if it goes out repeatedly by far the most common cause is. An all yellow flame means the furnace or water heater won t get hot enough to heat the thermocouple to the point where it triggers the gas valve to open. A pilot light is always burning while using a small amount of gas either a water heater is running or not. Gas heater pilot light troubleshooting.

Gas heaters whether they warm up air or water in a home rely on a pilot light to trigger the flame of the actual heater. In this hvac training video i show up close how the thermocouple pilot light and gas valve work on a water heater furnace fireplace as well as other ap. For electric hot water heaters start troubleshooting with a quick reset. Turn off the water.

Your heater s pilot light allows the burner to cycle on and off while maintaining the water in the tank at a constant temperature. The main control valve is responsible for regulating the heater s gas and water pressure. When the pilot light goes out for any reason the thermocouple closes the burner s gas supply valve to prevent gas escaping and filling your house. If the gas is lit it fully opens the main valve to provide a steady supply of gas.

Sometimes the thermocouple just needs an adjustment so that the tip lines back up with pilot light flame. If this pilot light ever goes out. Although a blocked gas line is one reason why the pilot light on a rheem water heater won t light or stay lit there are other reasons as well some easier to correct than others. The pilot light in your hot water heater does more than simply ignite the gas.