Gas Water Heater Thermocouple Issues

A gas water heater in boise baton rouge buffalo or boston uses a thermocouple that includes a probe attached to a copper tube that screws into a port on the gas valve.

Gas water heater thermocouple issues. Use the dishwashing liquid solution to check the connections around the pilot light and burner. Gas hot water heater troubleshooting usually leads you to the thermocouple. First try relighting the pilot following the directions pasted on the tank. Thermocouples are used as safety devices that will shut off equipment by shutting down the lp or natural gas fuel supply on some gas fired heating equipment such as gas fired furnaces gas fired heating boilers and gas fired water heaters.

If simple relighting or replacing the thermocouple or flame sensor does not restore the water heater to good operation then the problem is more serious and probably requires service from a plumber or appliance technician. Reinstall the access covers and slowly turn up the temperature until the burner is lit. The gas water heater thermocouple is a safety device. Make sure the problem is not your water heater pilot light before you attempt this repair.

It is important to make sure that there are no leaks on your water heater after you replace the thermocouple. When the pilot is not lit the gas valve will not turn the gas on. The gas water heater thermocouple is the safety element that is designed to inform a gas control valve is the pilot flame on or off and open or close the gas to the main burner. Possible causes include a bad gas control valve or a cracked or damaged burner.

If the thermocouple is working you should be able to measure 30 to 40 millivolts of voltage at the connection end of the tube when the pilot flame is on. Troubleshooting low performance insufficient hot water pilot light problems improper gas combustion issues with the pilot light thermocouple gas burner venting and other common issues. The thermocouple is part of the pilot assembly where one end is always in contact with the pilot flame while the other side is connected to the gas control valve. The other less common problem would be the gas valve.

A bad gas valve will not allow any gas to go to the burner or pilot light. Go to the article gas water heater thermocouple issues for information on this common repair. A worn out thermocouple is one of the most common gas water heater problems when thermocouples wear out the pilot light goes out the burner won t light and you will have no hot water. It senses when the pilot light is on.