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Hevn · Apr 9, 2009, 11:06 AM

My water heater pilot won't stay lit. Sometimes it stays lit and will work for a few hours and then goes out again. It's been doing this daily for about 2wks. The water heater is not old. What can be the problem?

ballengerb1 · Apr 9, 2009, 11:23 AM

I would suspect a bad thermocouple which can be easily replaced for about $5. Have you ever done one before?

massplumber2008 · Apr 9, 2009, 04:58 PM

Hi all:

I'm betting that you have the newer closed combustion type water heater... yes? To check, remove the door at the bottom of the water heater and see if you can reach into the water heater. If you can't, then you have a closed combustion system and the most likely culprit here will be that the VENT to the water heater is clogged.

As Bob stated, it could also be a defective thermocouple, but defective thermocouples usually fail outright and it sounds like your is fluctuating so not sure on this.

There is a screen at the bottom front of the water heater...check to be sure it is not clogged with debris/sediment... let me know more.

Name, model number and serial number would be best info. To provide (on sticker at front middle of heater).

MARK

letmetellu · Apr 9, 2009, 07:46 PM

If you water heater is a State or A. O. Smith it is very possible that the anti-explosion plate in the bottom of the heater is clogged with dust and lint. About the only safe way for you to try to clean it is to turn off the gas to the heater, now take the vent off the top of the heater, remove the draft diverter on top of the heater, "it is the metal thing on legs that the vent sets on". Now use a very high powered shop vac, that the hose and put it on the blower function of the shop vac, put the other end of the hose in the top of the heater, stuff a towel of rags around the hose so that you can blow down through the heater. As you are blowing look for dirt and lint coming out of the very bottom of the heater.

Put the vent back in place and vacuum all around the heater. Light it and see how long it stays lit.

louiss · Jan 5, 2010, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by massplumber2008

Hi all:

I'm betting that you have the newer closed combustion type water heater...yes?? To check, remove the door at the bottom of the water heater and see if you can reach into the water heater. If you can't, then you have a closed combustion system and the most likely culprit here will be that the VENT to the water heater is clogged.

As Bob stated, it could also be a defective thermocouple, but defective thermocouples usually fail outright and it sounds like your is fluctuating so not sure on this.

There is a screen at the bottom front of the water heater...check to be sure it is not clogged with debris/sediment....let me know more.

Name, model number and serial number would be best info. to provide (on sticker at front middle of heater).

MARK

It's a State Select and the model number is GS6404bra. Now the reset button stays depressed and won't pop back up. I check for sediment and that doesn't seem to be the problem and it is a closed system. I have never changed a thermocoupler but I don't believe it can be that difficult.

louiss · Jan 5, 2010, 07:53 AM

It's a State Select and the model number is GS6404bra. Now the reset button stays depressed and won't pop back up. I check for sediment and that doesn't seem to be the problem and it is a closed system. I have never changed a thermocoupler but I don't believe it can be that difficult