The water heater is 15 years old, has had the thermocouple replaced 1x that I know of. My husband tried lighting it, and there was a blue flame while he was holding down the pilot light button but the pilot light won't stay lit... any suggestions? We're in the middle of severe weather (blizzard warning, freezing rain, sleet and snow) and we'd like to fix this even if it's temporary just to get through this bad weather.

Sounds like your sensor went bad, as I had the same problem last year. I do not remember exactly the name of the sensor, but I think it was the flame sensor or something like that.

HI Gammers...

How long ago was the thermocouple changed out? If it's been awhile now then the first step here would be to simply replace the thermocouple again.

If that fails to fix this pop back with a model number and a name brand on the water heater and we will see what steps to take next.

Let me know what happens, OK?

Mark

PS: Pready, fifteen year old water heaters do NOT have a flame or vapor sensor, but thanks for posting anyway... ;)

The thermocouple you changed a while back would cause that problem as well as a few other safeties. I once changed a thermocouple and it worked for a while then stopped. After a good review of my work I realized the nut that connects to the gas valve had come loose. Now I don't know if I forgot to tighten it or it vibrated loose or what but that and perhaps the thermocouples position in the flame might be the culprit. If the thermocouple is not in the pilot flame it can't function. What a thermocouple does, is converts heat into electrical current which is read by the gas valve. If no current is read the pilot goes out and the valve will not open.

I have Glo-Warm-- #ZW07l1C7 and Pro-Com #10540375 blue flame wall heaters; purchased 2 years and 1 year ago respectively. Neither heater will light after having been used this month and turned off. I live in Northern Louisiana where we experience short winters. Could the coupler already gone bad in both? Can either be lit using matches?