I have read some of the questions regarding pilot lights not staying lit and realized my orange flame should be blue. If I'm to understand correctly, this means my burners need to be cleaned out. My initial problem was that while I can light my pilot light and get the flame going, it only slightly warms the water and then turns off again! I have never worked on a water heater before, only learned how to relight the pilot when the water goes out. However since my husband is frequently away, I'm all about learning how to do things myself and not waste my money on someone coming to fix something that I could have done myself! My question is, does this sound like the burners need cleaning? Is there something else I should try first? How would I go about safely opening the water heater, removing the burner and cleaning it? Do I need special tools or to replace any possible seals? Thank you so much for any help you can give!
It's a State Select GS650HBRT

Before you start cleaning burners, make sure your water heater has:

1. Unobstructed gas vent all the way to the roof
2. Has unobstructed oxygen intake vents around water heater
3. Enough gas volume is delivered through properly sized gas pipes to your heater as per BTU consumption tables

All of the three above may and will cause "yellow flame".
Back to you

Milo

Before you start cleaning burners, make sure your water heater has:

1. Unobstructed gas vent all the way to the roof
2. Has unobstructed oxygen intake vents around water heater
3. Enough gas volume is delivered through properly sized gas pipes to your heater as per BTU consumption tables

All of the three above may and will cause "yellow flame".
Back to you

Milo

Thank you Milo!
I have cleaned the intake vents and underneath tank with a brush and vacuum, and the gas volume has never been changed. The only thing I haven't done is check the gas vent. However I'm a little skeptical about doing this since I am reading its very dangerous and should be left to a professional. With two little ones in the house, I am really trying NOT to blow us up! ;-) Any advice? Is it not as bad as some make it out to be?