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Message
Water Heater Pilot Light Out
Posted on 8/19/25 at 9:45 am
Posted on 8/19/25 at 9:45 am
The pilot light went out in my water heater, and I'm not having any luck relighting it.
My brief research has shown 3 potential causes:
- faulty thermocouple
- clogged pilot tube
- broken igniter
The pilot light isn't even getting lit when I press the igniter, so my initial guess is that the igniter needs to be replaced. Is this something that a somewhat handy person could accomplish on their own?
Would it be dangerous to try and light the pilot light with a stick lighter to see if igniter is the problem or lack of gas flow is the issue?
Appreciate any feedback yall can provide me.
My brief research has shown 3 potential causes:
- faulty thermocouple
- clogged pilot tube
- broken igniter
The pilot light isn't even getting lit when I press the igniter, so my initial guess is that the igniter needs to be replaced. Is this something that a somewhat handy person could accomplish on their own?
Would it be dangerous to try and light the pilot light with a stick lighter to see if igniter is the problem or lack of gas flow is the issue?
Appreciate any feedback yall can provide me.
6
Posted on 8/19/25 at 9:51 am to The Cow Goes Moo Moo
I would try a stick lighter just make sure your temp is turned down to low or vacation.
Posted on 8/19/25 at 9:59 am to The Cow Goes Moo Moo
I'm pretty handy. I do most everything myself at home, but one thing I do not frick with is gas. I pay somebody for that shite. I think I paid my AC guy $220.00 to replace the ignitor last year.
Posted on 8/19/25 at 10:01 am to jdavid1
quote:
AC guy $220.00 to replace the ignitor last year.
I actually have my AC guy coming tomorrow for yearly maintenance.
Would the pilot light for the water heater be something he could look at?
Posted on 8/19/25 at 10:34 am to The Cow Goes Moo Moo
When you can’t get a pilot light lit, 90% of the time the problem is the thermocouple. Pro tip…if you can get to it, lightly buff the thermocouple with some sand paper.
Posted on 8/19/25 at 10:54 am to The Cow Goes Moo Moo
change the thermocouple, it's pretty straightforward
Posted on 8/19/25 at 10:57 am to SETH6180
Odds are it's the thermocouple. Like Seth said, easy and cheap to change.
Posted on 8/19/25 at 12:34 pm to Spankum
quote:
f you can get to it, lightly buff the thermocouple with some sand paper.
This usually works too. I've fixed two of my neighbors doing this. Good suggestion.
Posted on 8/19/25 at 12:58 pm to The Cow Goes Moo Moo
If a gas flame lights but won’t stay lit, it’s usually the thermocouple. If it won’t light at all, the problem is usually gas, ignition, or airflow.
Posted on 8/19/25 at 1:07 pm to Spankum
This is incorrect. If you can't get the pilot light lit it has nothing to do with the thermocouple. The thermocouple only affects if it stays lit after lighting.
Posted on 8/19/25 at 1:45 pm to TAMU-93
quote:
If it won’t light at all, the problem is usually gas, ignition, or airflow.
Awesome, really appreciate it.
Posted on 8/19/25 at 2:25 pm to The Cow Goes Moo Moo
This may not apply to you, but experience tells me you may not understand how to light the pilot. There is a setting on the knob specifically for lighting the pilot. The knob pushes in further on this setting, allowing the gas to flow to the pilot.
Once you find this knob setting, push it in and hold it while lighting the pilot. You'll need to continue pushing the knob in for a minute or two until the pilot heats the thermocouple enough (hint, you can speed this up by keeping the lit lighter flame on the couple).
After a minute or two, release the knob. If the pilot stays lit, you are golden. Turn the knob to "on" and relax, you did a thing.
Once you find this knob setting, push it in and hold it while lighting the pilot. You'll need to continue pushing the knob in for a minute or two until the pilot heats the thermocouple enough (hint, you can speed this up by keeping the lit lighter flame on the couple).
After a minute or two, release the knob. If the pilot stays lit, you are golden. Turn the knob to "on" and relax, you did a thing.
Posted on 8/20/25 at 12:18 pm to The Cow Goes Moo Moo
You can check the voltage on thermopile (newer unit?) should ready 450-700mv
You put probe on dc, red into red wire going to thermal cutoff, and white into the white plug wire going to control valve (you have to pull the plug from the valve box)
If it’s reading that voltage and pilot won’t stay lit, the gas control valve is bad.
The pilot should stay lit..the valve isn’t opening to allow pilot to stay lit. Cheap units these days, I have replaced 3 on 2 units in last 3 years.
You could also check thermal
Cutoff ..it has a button (rod) in the center you can push in to reset it
New valve is 2-300$
You put probe on dc, red into red wire going to thermal cutoff, and white into the white plug wire going to control valve (you have to pull the plug from the valve box)
If it’s reading that voltage and pilot won’t stay lit, the gas control valve is bad.
The pilot should stay lit..the valve isn’t opening to allow pilot to stay lit. Cheap units these days, I have replaced 3 on 2 units in last 3 years.
You could also check thermal
Cutoff ..it has a button (rod) in the center you can push in to reset it
New valve is 2-300$
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