Water Heater Pilot Light Troubleshooting

Common problems and how to fix them.

Water heater pilot light troubleshooting.

Gas hot water heater troubleshooting article topics gas hot water heater pilot light. If this pilot light ever goes out. The first sign of trouble with your water heater s pilot light is usually a cold shower. There are some more expensive models that use electronic ignition.

When the water heater pilot light goes out first try relighting it following the directions on the water heater label. When the pilot light goes out for any reason the thermocouple closes the burner. The water heater pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas burner on your water heater. Usually the first warning.

The pilot light in your hot water heater does more than simply ignite the gas. Most gas hot water heaters us a pilot light to ignite the burner. Your heater s pilot light allows the burner to cycle on and off while maintaining the water in the tank at a constant temperature. 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.

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. How to light the pilot for a gas hot water heater. 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.

Without this flame there would be no heat and thus no warm water. Gas hot water heater troubleshooting always seems to start with the pilot light. Otherwise if the pilot light is not functioning correctly the unit won t turn on and you won t have hot water. The pilot light is the heart of your water heater.

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. Without it the water heater won t be able to maintain internal temperatures allowing the water to cool off. It s a small blue flame that burns petroleum gas to produce heat. To prevent problems with the water heater pilot light it is crucial to read the manufacturer s instructions carefully especially how to maintain the gas water heaters and how to light the pilot.

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