Water Heater Automatic Pilot Light Not Working

If there is nothing wrong with the thermocouple then another potential cause for a heater failing to light is a dirty pilot tube.

Water heater automatic pilot light not working. 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 cause is a bad thermocouple. Replacement is an easy diy repair. Dirt oil and occasionally carbon can build up and block the proper flow of gas to the burner system and pilot light. That smell is the gas leaking from the heater and it can ignite if you try to light the pilot light.

You won t need any tools to reset the pilot. To do this you must shut off the gas supply effectively resetting the system and resetting the pilot. In fact it is really not a matter of relighting the pilot but rather of resetting the pilot light. A thermocouple is a function on your water heater that senses the heat on the pilot light and allows gas to flow to the burner.

You ll get your hot water going without waiting for a pro to show up and save the cost of a service call for a gas. If the pilot cannot be cleaned replace it. Thermocouple problems can be fairly common and this component is often the culprit when the water heater pilot keeps going out. Since automatic pilot lights cannot be lit by hand the procedure for lighting them is entirely different.

A thermocouple senses the heat of the pilot and allows gas to flow to the burner. Sometimes carbon deposits can build up on the pilot and eventually create a restriction. A bad thermocouple will shut off gas to both the pilot and the burner which is when people notice that the water heater pilot light is out. You can usually replace a thermocouple for minimal cost and in less than an hour.

When the water heater pilot light goes out first try relighting it following the directions on the water heater label. 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. Luckily fixing this is a pretty easy and straightforward process. If the pilot does not light the water heater will not heat.

Although an unlit pilot light is usually not dangerous if you notice a rotten egg smell in the room where your water heater is located you need to turn off the gas and call the gas company. Note that most of the older and economy gas water heaters are equipped with the pilot while newer advanced models utilize piezoelectric sparks or a hot surface igniter which is more durable and reliable. Replacement is an easy diy repair. Otherwise if the pilot light is not functioning correctly the unit won t turn on and you won t have hot water.