My pilot light in water heater lights just fine, the burner will stay fired up for 5-6 minutes then both the burner and pilot go out, what is wrong? Please help.

How old is the water heater, and what brand is it. Most likely if it's a newer heater, then combustion air screen is plugged. This is common on many sealed combustion water heaters.

Hi,

I would start with the thermal couple by replacing it first. That is the copper coil from the control box on the water heater to the burner. Basically if your pilot does not stay lit most of the time it is the thermal couple.

The other problem could be from the control box on the water heater that has the temperature knob. This control box is screwed into the tank and has a probe that penetrates and senses the temperature. It tends to be wrapped up in lime build ups and calcium .

Lastly, you might not be getting combustion air to keep the pilot lit. basically to make it simple, for water heaters with 100,000 BTU or lower it must have a grille opening of 100square inch(10"x10") in opening to provide for combustion air for cofined space. And for unconfine space you must have a 50 cubic ft per 1,000 BTU of the input rating on the water heater.

If need help on sizing your water heater space give me your BTU size on water heater and dimensions( base, height, and length), where it is located.

Probabnly not sealed combustion

When th ethermocouple goes bad, the sucker won't stay lit. Start with that. $20 part.

All new residential water heaters are sealed combustion due to government mandate. Now I agree that this may be an older heater that is not sealed combustion, but thermo couple usually is good or bad, very seldom does it work for a while then not work all of a sudden. Kenrimm says the burners will light for 5-6 minutes, then everything goes out(which is a common problem with sealed combustion water heaters as they run out of combustion air due to plugged filters or flame assester.)
Yes I agree with all above posts if the heater is an older heater, it is cheap and easy to replace the thermocouple, surely can't hurt anything. But if that doesn't fix it, please come on back and we will try to help you further. Good day guys.