Why does my local Tesco have its extractor fans running in the winter? The easiest way to diagnose a bad control valve is to try all other solutions first. Home » Troubleshooting » 5 Reasons Why Your Water Heater Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit. Get your answers by asking now. Do This When The Gas Fireplace Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit. Cutting down chain link posts, should I be concerned that sparks from an angle grinder might set dormant grass or a nearby fence on fire? What do I do? If the pilot light won’t stay lit and the thermocouple is okay, then the thermostatic control valve may be defective. In most cases, the fix is something as simple and inexpensive as reigniting the pilot flame. Can you help answer my problem? If it doesn't and goes out, it could be a bad thermocouple or the pilot is dirty. You should clean the orifice or have it replaced. Furnace turns off and briefly back on when it relights the burners. It then shuts off the gas supply as a safety precaution. Put everything back together perfectly. At this point, it has to be the controller. This pilot light may not always stay lit, due to a variety of issues that may affect the gas supply or ignitor. Relight the pilot light. We depress the off/pilot/on control knob and light the pilot. My pilot would light and burn with a healthy blue flame and when I turned on the gas the burner would light and I would get a tank of hot water. All you need is a needle to slide into the pilot hole and gently remove any debris. The reading should be above 20MV. Have tried three brand-new un-vented propane heaters. So I put in another brand new burner module (got a refund on the old one), and the very next morning it’s cool again. Is my breaker box three-phase or single-phase? Try cleaning the vent underneath the water heater. Yesterday everything was fine. Any reading below this is a clear sign that the thermocouple itself is damaged and needs to be replaced. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. I had put it on very tightly. Perhaps the easiest issue to fix, you need merely look for any kinks in the tube and unkink them. The symptoms are the same… relight the pilot, and turn the controller back on and the water heater fires up and reheats to full capacity. As soon as the pilot knob is released, the pilot flame goes out. You will see dust fly out of the Ishtar at the base of the pilot. A thermocouple is a safety device and is a component of the ignition system. If the amount of fresh air/oxygen is too low, the sensor will shut off the propane flow to the pilot light and burner. Lift the protective flame screen off the heater, unscrew the nut and pull out the thermocouple. Sometimes there is air in the gas line which is blocking propane from getting to the heater head unit. Thermocouple problems can be fairly common, and this component is often the culprit when the water heater pilot keeps going out. Ill call my dad tomorrow and ask see what he knows. The pilot light will stay lit. Use a needle to. If you have some canned air, stick the straw into the end of the pilot and blow back Thur it. Remove the orifice or the pilot light tube from the mounting bracket. I just posted a comment that should help hopefully. (two different models). Install a direct vent unit, or gravity vent unit with air exchange. In the event it has become bent away from the flame, gently bend it back. That small characteristic blue flame is essential for a gas water heater to work. Chances are, it’s a problem with your burner. 5 Reasons Why Your Water Heater Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit, DIY Solar Water Heater: An Ultimate Guide. A butane lighter (used to light charcoal grills) and the lighter with a flexible hose used by the technician wouldn’t light in the area either. We’re in the same boat. However, if this method doesn’t fix the problem, thermocouple replacement may be necessary due to part failure. Help! Facts: Greenhouse is 20’ x 60’ or 1,200 square feet, 12’ high. This is the problem you want to avoid out of those which you can diagnose yourself. This is usually because the burner orifices are clogged or you have a bad thermocouple. So I had a hot water tank that would not stay lit for more than a month. Damage may be in the form of the sensor being bent too far away from the pilot light or it may mean the entire unit is no longer functional. Why does my unit burn low or won't stay ignited? My uncle had this problem, he kept riping his hair out. When I hold in the pilot button to light it, it does light but when you release it the flame goes out. Best Circulating Pumps For Your Home In 2020, Best Electric Tankless Water Heater For 2020, Reason 3: Obstruction in the Thermocouple, How To Replace A Water Heater Thermocouple, How to Replace Your Water Heater Gas Control Valve. If you need help finding one, contact a large Greenhouse operation in your area. Don't change the size of the orifice in no way shape or form. I hope I don’t have to buy a new water heater. TKS SO MUCH FOR THIS SITE. Find a local heating contractor that has done Greenhouse installations. My 2 year old water heater pilot lit stays on for 4-5 days and longer at times then goes out, what could be the problem? A Broken or Damaged Thermocouple – In this instance there is something wrong with the equipment and a technician would be required to replace or repair the thermocouple in order for your pilot light to stay lit again. Dirt and debris can collect in the pilot tube, causing the flow of gas to be blocked. Then I unscrewed the new thermocouple at the control valve and put it back finger tight plus a quarter turn. A healthy flame will be blue in color. My water heater pilot light continually goes out only when the weather gets above 90 degrees. Ensure the thermocouple is cool to the touch. The problem may be a genuine defect or it could be an issue with the sensor. Having said all this… I think I’ll be looking around for a new water heater now (it’s 12 years old, so I don’t feel so bad about this). Can a 2 story house have only 1 A/C and heating unit? Have tried three brand-new un-vented propane heaters. Facts: Greenhouse is 20’ x 60’ or 1,200 square feet, 12’ high. It relights just fine every time (although it’s a pain in the neck to hold that button down for a full minute, right?). CAREFULLY ream out the pilot's small opening. Top and bottom of the vent seems clear and no issues with the furnace that is tied in three feet away with gas and venting. no more problems. I can keep a flame as long as I hold down the button down (as when striking). Our heaters are designed to operate based on a lit pilot light which emits a very low pressure which generally is detected if all fittings are tight and sealed. Turn the control valve to “on”. Depending on your geographical location you most likely have quite a few options to choose from. You can usually do that by turning off the gas and poking a needle into the tip of the pilot tube. Its a GE barely a year old. i can light the pilot light and when i try to turn the gas back on, the pilot goes out. How Do I Test My Thermostat To Make Sure It Really Works? Still have questions? There is gas flow to the other appliances in the house. Thankfully, a dirty pilot tube is the easiest issue to fix. When try to relight the unit it won’t light until the next day after the door is opened to the greenhouse and it is aired out. It’s not the supply… the thing heats up with no issues. If the pilot light on your gas fireplace won’t stay lit, a very likely culprit is a component called a thermocouple. I ruined my landlords $1k hard wood table. Thankfully, a dirty pilot tube is the easiest issue to fix. I put a two-inch flexible hose from the outside to come in under the heater for fresh air…butane lighter lights in front of pipe...not in room. It turns out thats all it was. (two different models) Symptoms: They light and burn, but about midnight are found to be out—perhaps after working about four hours. We hope that your heater will stay lit. Symptoms: They light and burn, but about midnight are found to be out—perhaps after working about four hours. Water heater Pilot Light won't stay lit after house ran out of propane? Without it, the water heater won’t be able to maintain internal temperatures, allowing the water to cool off. Reason 1: Dirty Pilot Tube. The pilot light in your gas furnace supplies heat to your home. How to Fix. On occasion, the tube can become kinked, interrupting the flow of gas. The air isn't "coming in" enough, it has to be forced in with a small fan, try that. I've used this furnace for over 15 years without replacing the thermocouple. Take note that it’s the pilot head, not the thermocouple. I have a ventless propane heater. Hey all I just had a good win with my water heater I thought I’d share. Pilot light problems are common in gas appliances, such as water heaters, furnaces, and gas fireplaces. In such extreme cases, the only solution is to call in an expert to examine the water heater fully. After the he hooked it to a thermostat and when the heat came on, the fan did also. But when I would go back to look at it later, the pilot would be out. Note: You must have the pilot lit and the burner on to test for leaks, so that gas is flowing through the large tube. Blast some compressed air through the tube. About 90% of the time, the propane torch works well the … In some cases, it could also be an indicator of potential gas buildup. The 2 inch hose for combustion air is irrelevant with neutral air exchange to the outside atmosphere. If the pilot light will not stay lit, it needs to be fixed ASAP to supply heat to your home and for safety reasons.There are numerous things that may make the pilot light on your furnace to not stay lit. Replacement of this part should be performed by … Just wondering if anything needs to be adjusted after installing a new gas water heater and it wont ignite ? The sensor at the end should lightly touch the flame when the pilot’s lit. NO one addresses this. As a result, the pilot doesn’t get enough fuel to stay lit. The pilot light in your hot water heater does more than simply ignite the gas. Maybe there’s a problem with your gas supply, that’s why our wall heater didn’t stay lit. What are you growing in the Greenhouse, is it releasing something that replaces oxygen in the environment. Method 5: Loose Gas Valve Checkup Please note that before attempting any of these diagnostics or repairs, you should first turn off the gas and allow at least five minutes for gas pressure and fumes to disperse. We have an Empire RH65, propane, B-vent heater. With a clean thermocouple, gas can travel to the flame easier and the heater will stay lit. Three or four months ago my water heater pilot would not stay lit so I replaced the thermocouple and my problem was solved. Source(s): warm morning gas heater pilot stay lit replaced thermocoupler out: https://tr.im/JyBbV. Or use a single strand of wire and run it through the tube. I have a Gas Wall Heater and the pilot won't stay lit. When the gas burner comes on, use a 50/50 dish soap/water mix to test the screw joints for air bubbles that indicate leaks. Got up this morning to no hot water, went out and noticed that the pilot light was out. When the pilot light ignites the burner, the flame … Troubleshooting this issue may be helpful in determining the source of the problem and helping users identify a potential resolution. The thermocouple is the co-pilot to the pilot light in electronic heaters. Here are the top five reasons your pilot won’t stay on, as well as methods to fix each issue. If the gas fireplace shuts off after a few minutes, it's pretty much always going to be a pilot head issue, or a valve issue. It stays lit in the winter. It senses when the flame of the pilot is hot enough to trigger ignition of the natural gas or propane that fuels the burner. Standard gas log sets are fairly simple. Let me know and I will go from there, It sounds to me like the pilot orifice has become, or is becoming clogged up. Dirt and debris can collect in the pilot tube, causing the flow of gas to be blocked. 5 Reasons Why Your Gas Water Heater Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit. A thermocouple which shows no signs of damage and is clean should be tested with a multimeter. First, any time I can, I use a propane torch to heat the thermocouple and light the pilot. any ideas? Why did it just all of a sudden go out. When a gas water heater pilot won’t stay lit, the water heater can’t heat the water inside the tank. Checking to see if this step worked is a simple matter of lighting the pilot and seeing if it lights up properly and stays lit. My pilot light stays lit but the gas flame goes out after a minute. They get dirty with dust and wont allow the air to supply the gas flame. Appreciate any help from professional out there. The air inlet gets clogged with debris. However, if you find that your gas fireplace or similar appliance has a pilot light that won’t stay on even after consistently being fixed … The heater is between 5-10 years old. No!! This is more common with water heaters located in attics. The Mr Buddy propane heater has a sensor which detects the amount of oxygen/fresh air in the area being heated. With a water hose, rinse the inside of the thermocouple tube, let it air-dry, then reconnect it. Inquire as to who installed heating for them. If you don't have canned air, place a long drinking straw over the end of the pilot and blow thru it forcefully. Check on the heater and see if the unit has an Oxygen Depletion Sensor. Fact: Unvented heaters and reasonably airtight greenhouses do not mix. Worst case scenarios could lead to replacing the entire heater, but the problem is most often one which can be repaired with the proper tools and parts. If you are on propane by chance make sure your water column is set right at the regulator, that was a problem I had in the past, a call to your provider and they will send a tech out to check it for you. I suspected the thermocouple and replaced it, but this didn't fix the problem. My pilot light will not stay lit. I hope this works for you, it's all I got. Another possible reason why a pilot won’t stay lit has to do with the flex tubing. Nothing has fixed the problem. it stayed lit, no more trouble. Suggestions? This is one of the most common reasons the burner won’t stay lit, even when the pilot seems to be in working order. While not as common as thermocouple issues, it’s an easy fix and should thus be rules out early on. OK- we replaced the thermocouple, the pilot … It seems the unit runs okay, but after a while the pilot begins to flickers and is eventually sucked out when starting on the next cycle. The question is asking, how to bypass/disable the sensor. When a propane heater won’t stay lit, often what is happening is that the propane heater may sense that the flame is defective in some way, triggering the propane heater’s safety functions and causing it to shut off. This device is designed to pick up an electrical signal from the pilot light’s heat to determine whether or not the pilot is on. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I think your ways are pretty easy to do and I am gonna try them. This is another relatively small piece of your fireplace that converts heat to electricity, ultimately opening up the gas valve when you turn on the fireplace. That would explain why it would go out when it got warm because it would soften the obstruction making it more obstructive. This allows time for all the air to get out of the line and gets the thermocouple nice and hot again. I could be a leak in a pipe somewhere. 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