Water Heater Burner Knocks out Pilot...

[Waldo_vt]

Hello All

Well my gas water heater pilot light will not stay lit and I did a bit of investigating and I think I found the problem but I do not know how to fix it. Apparently when the burner comes on the pilot light goes out. After lighting the pilot I will slowly turn the temperature know up until the burner lights. Then when I turn the temperature know down the burner shuts off but the pilot is out. When lite the pilot flame is a good strong blue with some slight orange hitting the tip of the thermocouple.

What can I do?

Thanks again.

[Gary Swart]

New thermocoupler.

[Waldo_vt]

Thanks but I have already replaced the thermocouple.

[toolaholic]

some gas appliances have a small ajusting screw. look on the regulator out front. also tighten, if necessary the small pilot fitting going in to same control

[thezster]

Had a similar problem last year - it required replacing the thermocoupler - twice....... first one was defective...

Though it sounds as if the burner lighting up is blowing out the pilot - and it's not re-lighting

[master plumber mark]

the high limit switch is burnt out in the gas thremostat.

they cannot be repaired ,
and arent meant to be messed with
so you need a whole new gas thermostat

costs about 65 bucks...


what brand of water heater is it???

if you got a whirlpool, it might be trouble...

a small tip

remember to turn water off first before unscrewing valve..

[Waldo_vt]

Thezster,

Yes you are correct the burner lighting up is blowing out the pilot and it is not re-lighting.

MPM:

Why do you think the high limit switch is burnt out in the gas thremostat? I thought that a burn out high limit switch would keep the burner and pilot from even lighting up? BTW it unit is a very basic 40gallon shorty State Select water heater ~8-9 years old.

Thanks you for the responses

[master plumber mark]

Again I ask

WHAT BRAND ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?????????


If the thermocoupling wont work its just the next step..to try...

----barring some exotic vent problem
you see once in a blue moon... or

you could have a bad orfice in the burner assembly,
but usually we only see that kind of problem it the unit
has been under water


you got to just assume its the hermostat that is the problem..

They cant be repaired
so you just got to trust that its the problem....
it cant be anything else, cause their isnt anything
else it can be


we just went down this road today....with a Bradford White unit

changed out a thermocoupling a few weeks ago now its
going out again....sent one of my guys down ther ewith
a thermostat and changed it out....


its all trial and error.. good luck...

[Waldo_vt]

MPM

The unit is a "State Select" shorty 40 gallon water heater.

Thanks again

[master plumber mark]

Is the unit a pre-2003 water heater or the new
sealed combustion type.....
with the sparkey push button type
ingniter???.

If it is the newer style with the sealed combustioin feature
you got troubles.....

they are trouble


get the serial number off the unit, it should tell you how old it is

[jadnashua]

He indicated it was 8-9 years old. It might be more cost effective to replace it...it's on it's last legs in all likelyhood. My unprofessional opinion.

[RioHyde]

I'm with Jadnashua. Since its 8-9 years old and giving you that much of a headache replace it before it soaks you.