Hi. My problem is similar to most here except that it originally began when my GE Profile Performance Smart Water Heater suddenly stopped giving hot water, for no apparent reason, after about 15 years of consistent performance. The heater still looks in good shape, so was wondering what may the problem be? My pilot light also does not stay lit after trying to light it twice. The flame is blue, not yellow, so it is strong. Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Joe

I guess I should have been more specific in my question: Could a thermocouple going bad be a reason that the heat would suddenly stop in a water heater?

Hi JS

If the pilot light remains unlit after 2-3 attempts then yes, the thermocouple is probably the problem and will need to be replaced.

Since the heater is 15 years old, a simple universal thermocouple, available at any home improvement store will work fine for you.

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Let us know how you make out, OK?

Mark