We have a Bradford White Defender water heater. Pilot went out on day of huge windstorm. Cannot get it to relight. I am very paranoid when dealing with gas. So, I depress the red button, and then click the "lighter" several times, but to no avail. About that time, I start getting freaked out about an explosion(although I never smell gas, I'm sure its there). Is there any danger of an explosion as long as the value is set to "Pilot" and I just keep clicking the lighter?
Thanks!

Sometimes the piezo generator doesn't want to put out enough spark. Can you get to the pilot or is it sealed? If you can get to the pilot, use a long fireplace match, hold down the valve @ pilot and use a match. Pilots are very small and it sometimes takes a bit of holding down to get the gas to flow.

Thanks for the quick response! The pilot is sealed as far as I can tell. Is there any danger to holding down the value and repeatedly hitting the piezo generator?

No danger from the gas with what you are doing. Pilot should not actually be sealed but it may be hidden behind a small removable aluminium door.

If the heater has a piezo ignitor then I believe it is behind a sealed combustion door that should not be removed UNLESS the consumer replaces the chamber door gasket over to a new gasket as required by law to keep the combustion chamber gas vapor proof... ;)

Hold the pilot button down and repeatedly press the piezo ignitor (like 20 times if needed) until the pilot lights then hold the pilot button down another 30 seconds and then release and turn the gas valve to on and then set the temperature to approx. 120-125F maximum!

If this fails to work then you'll need to purchase a thermocouple with door gasket from a bradford white distributor (local plumbing supply store) and swap out the thermocouple and the door gasket!

Good luck!

Mark