Anybody know water heaters?

[wannacatchem]

I have a new house. Moved in 5 Sept 03. I have a gas water heater that the pilot light keeps going out on. I figured ifish should be the first place to ask for help, because with all the people here, we end up knowing everything :smile:

What causes the pilot to go out at least once a day? This didn't start until the cold weather hit. I don't have any problem starting it back up. Doesn't seems to be a wind problem, as the heaters is in the garage and the door is rarely open. Plus the burner area seems to be well enclosed. Any suggestions? Something I may be able to fix myself? pretty handy with tools and very safety concious

Thanks

[Silver Hilton]

I am NO expert on this situation, but it's a gas light, and it's going out. When my gas grill starts having that issue, it means the apertures on the grill need cleaning with a wire brush.

I repeat, while I know everything about many things, this is not one of those things.

[ampersat]

Check the pilot light tip. Encrusted stuff should be brushed away with a stiff brush (tooth brush will do but spend more time at it). A toothpick poked into the opening GENTLY would help as well. You want to clean it but not "modify" it. Don't dig at it really hard. Also, once you relight the pilot, see if the flame is getting blown around. Your chimney may be drafting back down and blowing out the pilot light.

[brshooter]

Sounds like a bad thermo coupler. A little heat sensor by the pilot light. It sends a signal that cuts off the gas when the flame goes out. If the thermo coupler is bad, it could give a bad reading and cut off the gas flow causing the pilot light to go out.

[WheresMyBobber]

Any of the things mentioned could be the culprit, but I would bet on a bad thermo coupler. If you call the gas company, they'll send someone out to take a look for you. In my experience they're excellent at helping people with problems like this.

[Slugranch]

possibly a bad thermocouple, but sounds like a combination of things. I've seen the same thing happen when the main burner comes on. It needs air to burn, so it causes a turbulence and pulls the flame of the pilot away from the thermocouple. The thermocouple doesn't sense a pilot flame, so it shuts off the gas valve. Do you have a fresh air vent close to the water heater? Code says that you need some fresh air from the outside for the burner to operate properly. I believe it is 1 square inch per 1000 BTUs. It should be a vent to the outside of the house, located in an outside wall, or through the wall into the crawl space. Hpmeowners will block this vent to stop cold air from coming into the garage, and the results are just what you described.

[freespool]

I just replaced my gas hot water heater with a on demand unit. Hangs on the outside of the house and delivers 140 degree water forever. Simple, small, and very efficient.


salmon hugger

[duckcall]

Call the gas company 503-226-4211. Free service.

[lost_sailor]

NW Natural will check it out for free.

I know that much.

[wannacatchem]

Once again...the great souls of Ifish come through!!!!! I will investigate all the suggestions AND call the gas company. Now if I could only get you guys to give up waypoints to your honeyholes.......

Thanks all...if you ever need your copper vapor depositions tools fixed, let me know