To detect whether it is the air causing the problem, light the stove burners, and consequently switch on the RV water heater. 3,116 satisfied customers. 10. This can happen with age. Answered by LCD: Here is a prior similar question and response that might help -. Bradford White D4403S*F water heater troubleshooting If your gas-burning heating unit isn’t working, the first thing you probably do is check the pilot light, right? If you have a natural or propane gas water heater, chances are the pilot has gone out. 8. It woks on electric so fortunately we still have hot water. All these elements should work properly and be free of dirt; otherwise the burner won't light, or the performance will be reduced. Pull aside the filter fabric, insert brush, clean. Another possibility is that the thermocouple is loose or … Turn on your hot water tap and wait for about 4 … The Angie’s List Answers forum ran from 2010 to 2020 and provided a trusted space for homeowners to ask home improvement questions and receive answers directly from Pros and other users. Here are the top five reasons your pilot won’t stay on, as well as methods to fix each issue. Correct burner flame pattern. Troubleshooting an Electronic Ignition Furnace That Won't Light. Do you have an exhaust fan running in the house pulling air back down the flue? Correct burner flame pattern. But when I turn the gas switch on the inside panel on, I got a DSI fault. Below are some reasons why your burner won’t stay lit. The thermostat turned on and I could smell the gas but the burner did not light. Chances are, it’s a problem with your burner. Some water heaters use an igniter to ignite the gas. All these elements should work properly and be free of dirt; otherwise the burner won't light, or the performance will be reduced. I had my wife hit the switch while I was outside. Same thing relit pilot and burner fired up. The flame should light instantly. ... How to Relight a Gas Water Heater That Produces No Hot Water How a Gas Tank-Type Water Heater Works If not firing and reheating at all, then thermocouple or rarely the gas control valve is the problem. Make sure to follow the directions on your water heater label. When the water heater pilot light goes out, first try relighting it, following the directions on the water heater label. 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 flame sensor is responsible for regulating the gas flow to the burner. The flex tube is a long tube that connects the gas controller to the burner that houses the pilot light and thermocouple, ... We hope this won’t impact our service and we will remain open for business until further notice. Written by. If your water heater’s burner is defective, then this is likely to affect ignition, which may cause the pilot’s light to go off. The pilot ignites the water heater’s gas burner. Most of the time improper venting would cause the pilot outage on direct vent gas water heaters (DV). Water Heater Pilot Light Keeps Going Out? You should hear a clicking noise until the pilot burner lights. A water heater burner will produce a stable flame only when there is a correct amount of … Helping You to Do It Yourself! Once pressed, the electrode should release the spark. The manual refers to a thermostat but I don't see one on the unit. At times, it can be getting enough heat to let the pilot gas flow, but not enough to open the gas control valve for the main burner. In general, heaters Bradford are pretty simple in use. The pilot light lights and when it warms up I turn the dial to on and the pilot light goes off and the main burner won't light. In summary - if water gets warm and reheats after use (though not to full temp) probably a thermostat issue (drift, sediment, or whatever) because it is firing but just not getting to full temp. My water heater's burner won't stay lit. A boiler has a pilot light that ignites incoming gas to the unit. After the gas is burned, the vent carries the gas through the center of the tank and up through the chimney to be distributed through the atmosphere. Don't know if there is a thermocoupler on these or not. How Much Would it Cost to Move an A/C Unit About 5 Foot or Less? Privacy Policy | Keep in mind that your household needs 75% of your water heater’s capacity for hot water. What is the Cost of Installing a New Oil Tank in the Basement of a 2000 SF Home in Massachusetts. Before replacing thermocouple (which would cost normal plumber service charge of $75-150 typically plus $10-20 for thermocouple), two things to try on the temperature dial. If you're hot water is cold, there's a good chance that the burner did not ignite. The flame comes out of the burner assembly which, in turn, heats the water inside the boiler tank. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. For more information about life expectancy, read this article entitled how long do water heaters last? This is an archived question from the Answers forum. The Angie’s List Answers forum ran from 2010 to 2020 and provided a trusted space for homeowners to ask home improvement questions and receive answers directly from Pros and other users. The water heater is starved for air. I relit the pilot and the burner turned on. Your heater's pilot light allows the burner to cycle on and off while maintaining the water in the tank at a constant temperature. Sometimes i … read more If not firing and reheating at all, then thermocouple or rarely the gas control valve is the problem. Gas Hot Water Heater Pilot Light. Again, it would attempt to light the burner and work for a few seconds. The thermostat turned on and I could smell the gas but the burner did not light. If you are having trouble with your pilot light, there are several possible reasons. Same thing relit pilot and burner fired up. When troubleshooting lighting problems, it is recommended to test it first. Get a free estimate online from top local home service pros in your area. The spark gap is factory set (0.125") and should be maintained. Inside the burner compartment of your gas water heater, right in front of the pilot light, is a small metal cylinder called a thermocouple. Gas burner. I do hear a slight "click" when it goes out. If you have a new style water tank with a built-in ignition switch, press this button. Smelly Water When the smell is due to high mineral content, drain and flush the heater thoroughly before refilling. Turn the gas OFF to the water heater and press the piezo igniter. Without hot water. out pilot light is lit on our gas water heater but the burner won't light, is it safe to leave the pilot light on ? Also on thermocouple - take flashlight and make sure it is well into the pilot flame - the tip and about 1/2 the length of the brass end of the thermocouple should be immersed in the pilot flame - rarely the "fingers" or twist-knob that tightens the thermocouple in place will slip and let it drop down to the flame is not heating the thermocouple enough. pilot light and burner won't stay lit longer than 30 seconds. There are several reasons this may occur, including an electrical problem, an issue with the gas flow, damage or wear on the flow sensor that tells the unit when to activate, and dirt or dust buildup affecting the pilot assembly or burners. Malfunctioning Flame Sensor. Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Pilot light is on, burners won't light - I have an older rheem natural gas furnace. Whirlpool hot water heater pilot light lit, but burner … Master Technician. ... but the pilot won't light. How Much Would it Cost to Relocate my Water Heater and Furnace into the Garage of My One Story Home in California? Light the pilot burner. Below are some reasons why your burner won’t stay lit. Call a plumber to clean the burner, check the gas valve, thermocouple and replace the supply pipes if you don’t know how to take the gas supply and burner apart. My Rheem hot water heater (gas) model number 21 vp40-1 isn't working right. This does not make any sense. When I light the pilot light it will stay lit, but once I turn up the thermostat the burner will only run for 10-20 seconds and then the burner and pilot light both go out instantly. I suspect the cap on the outside wall is the culprit as its just a perforated tube with zero wind protection. If your pilot doesn’t re-light, won’t stay lit or keeps going out after a short time, you most likely have an issue with the hot water heater thermocouple. It’s also possible you have a burner problem. To determine if the igniter is defective, first make sure the igniter is getting voltage. 3 days later no hot water again. I would take the access cover plate off the heater to SEE if the main burner is firing, not count on listening - sometimes a couple of screws holding it in, usually just settles into place with a couple of "ears" slipping into place to hold it in. If the pilot goes out, the thermocouple signals the gas valve to remain closed until the pilot light is relit. If the pilot does not light, the water heater will not heat. Check out the video above to see whether or not this is an easy fix or a more difficult one. I found it easiest to light the stove top or try until it would burn then I went to the furnace and water heater it still took a few minutes as the pilot is a very small draw but once the lines had properly purged I had no problems after that, it was like some air was in the lines would light burn funny and go out, once I got a solid flame the problem was solved. When the water heater is first lit, a valve releases gas into the burner, and the pilot light ignites that gas. A forum community dedicated to Do it yourself-ers and home improvement enthusiasts. Pilot doesn’t light. I have a 1 yr old A O Smith Gnr50-200. If it is, get plumber to service it or for DIY turn off as entirely (valve control to off), let cool completely, then carefully (without breaking off pilot or gas fittings) brush or vacuum (easier) the burner element and pilot area clean. For more information about life expectancy, read this article entitled how long do water heaters last? If your gas water heater doesn’t stay lit, you may have a defective thermocouple. Gas burner. 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. I can get the pilot to light may take a second or two to keep it light but when I turn it to the on position and turn up the temperature the burner lights. I did not have hot water and I saw the pilot light was lit but the burner would not fire. Make sure to follow the directions on your water heater label. Model no. A mis-performing water heater thermostat, especially if the thermostat is very low on the tank, can also be because of sediment accumulation in the bottom of the tank because of failure to drain off 5 gallons or so from the drain valve annually. I Hear a Vibrating Motor Sound in My Walls at Night. All comments are subject to review and approval prior to posting. You have fire, you have fuel. | Water heater. Author Post; Posted: Sat Nov 25th, 2006 12:16 am : PM: Quote: Reply: 1 st Post: skocher Inactive Joined: Fri Nov 24th, 2006: Location: Posts: 1: Status: Offline. The old water heater had the same exhaust but the intake and exhaust were attached … On Labor day I noticed no hot water. Water Heater Pilot Light Keeps Going Out? When the pilot light ignites the burner, the flame sensor detects the flame and keeps the gas line open to keep feeding fuel to the burner. One other thermocouple issue - make sure (after turning gas valve to PILOT and removing cover plate) that the thermocouple is not buried in rust - that can affect the temperature that it sees and cause it to not work correctly. It is an AO Smith Promax propane gas heater with a pilot light that won't stay lit. If the igniter fails, the burner will not light. If there is a lack of air flowing to the burner, it will not heat the water as efficiently. Thus it will not light! This means it can be a nightmare when your water heater pilot light won’t stay lit. Need professional help with your project? It turns on, and the igniter comes on and lights up, but the burner won't light, like it's not even getting gas. The main sign that a pilot light is out is one that everyone dreads: The water won’t get hot. Most gas hot water heaters us a pilot light to ignite the burner. Current exhaust vent is 5" diameter. The light goes out due to improper venting or air supply. First the furnance and now the water heater. There are two likely faults: Thermopile is not sensing the flame correctly, or. The problem could be as simple as the gas control valve not being fully open, or an issue with venting. Chances are, it’s a problem with your burner. We re-light the pilot light, and the burner – the big ring of fire that looks like gas kitchen range burner – keeps going out or wont light at all. Or two of heating sometimes, carbon deposits can build up on inside. 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