I can light the pilot, but after the burner has been on and it goes off it is almost like it blows out the pilot.

Does it go out the instant you replaese the gas valve from the pushed in position? If so its probably a bad thermocouple. Cheap and easy to replace. Is this a furnace or water heater or what?

Sorry... It's a water heater. And the pilot will stay lit until the main burner goes on... And when that burner goes off, it's almost like it blows out the pilot.

To eliminate a back draft try opening a nearby window and then do a relight. Sometimes a home gets too tight and pulls adraft down the exhaust tube.

Hi Teach-brown

Take a piece of brown paper bag and light one corner of it and once it gets burning well blow it out and stick it right up next to the draft hood on top of the heater. If the smoke gets pulled up the draft hood then you probably don't have issue with backdraft.

How old is this water heater? What is the model name brand and serial number if possible? If this is one of the newer closed combustion chamber water heaters then you may have a make-up air issue going on here. These water heaters have an ignitor, much like a BBQ ignitor on the outside of the heater that you click to light. Is this like your unit?

Vapors/gasses/chemicals stored near these newer heaters can also cause issues with the vapor sensor that comes with the newer heaters so look around and see if you have anything new near the heater... could be the issue here.

Let me know...

Mark

Teach, there's a recall on some Whirlpool gas water heaters because of a problem with the gas valve. Is your's a Whirlpool?

Whirlpool Recall Information

It was the thermocouple. Thanks for the info!