I cannot get the pilot light to stay lit on a 50 gal "State" gas hot water heater, Model PRX50NBRT. I have followed the instructions on the front of the tank. I just had a black out and the light goes out without power. This has happened before, and has been tricky in the past. I forgot how I got it to light the last time. Any help would be great.

In general, you turn heaters to pilot (off-pilot-on switch). You then hold the button which will let gas to the pilot without the safety kicking it off.

You need to hold that button for some time, a few minutes usually. This heats the thermocouple (looks like a copper tube that's in the pilot flame) which will then keep the gas valve open.

Sometimes you can improve the heat transfer by lightly sanding the thermocouple. The pilot must heat that tube. The worst case is that the thermocouple may need to be replaced.

I moved the PM'ed email to the forum where it belongs.

Thanks, but it still not lighting. Should I leave the thermostat on "Pilot lighting" until it lights, or do I move it towards Low?

I can't find the model on state's website, but when you said that it goes out when there is no power it leaves me to believe that it could not have a pilot light, but rather an ignitor or there might be a reset button someplace.

Sorry for the email,
I'm kind of new at this and have been up and down in the basement all night.

Thanks again.

GZDZ.. give me model number again... and serial number. Tell us is it power vented, direct vented.. or does it vent into chimney?

If power vented... did you check the breaker/fuse at panel.. Get back to us with info. Thanks.

It's power vented, and I just remembered how to reset the 2 sensors at the flu on top of the water heater. Every time there is a power outage I need to reset these to get the pilot light to work.

Thanks for all the help.