Gas Water Heater Problems Pilot Light

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.

Gas water heater problems 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. For electric hot water heaters start troubleshooting with a quick reset. 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 water heater pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas burner on your water heater.

A pilot light is always burning while using a small amount of gas either a water heater is running or not. If the gas is lit it fully opens the main valve to provide a steady supply of gas. Your heater s pilot light allows the burner to cycle on and off while maintaining the water in the tank at a constant temperature. 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.

Gas heater pilot light troubleshooting. When the water heater pilot light goes out first try relighting it following the directions on the water heater label. If it s not the pilot light check the thermocouple. 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.

Turn off the water. 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. It s the soul of your water heater. 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.

If this pilot light ever goes out. The main control valve is responsible for regulating the heater s gas and water pressure. Pilot light issues are some of the most common problems experienced with gas water heaters. 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.

The thermocouple is a safety device that stops gas flow when the pilot light goes out. A pilot light is a small device that is designed to provide the flame and light the gas coming out of the gas valve and main burner. Without it the water heater won t be able to maintain internal temperatures allowing the water to cool off. Sometimes the thermocouple just needs an adjustment so that the tip lines back up with pilot light flame.