Non of the above helped me. Cleaned everything. Replaced thermo coupler. Good flame around it, until override is released. Mostly blue flame with occasional yellow flickers. Not a great installation though. No sediment trap or drip loop. Bad control valve or junk in it?
Matt.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by afaroo

Hi Mamalion,

Try what Tom has stated he is the expert.

Just a bit of expansion on what the others have said. The thermocouple is a safety device that turns off the gas if there is no pilot light. If you look closely at the burning pilot light, there is a small metal tube that sits directly in the flame, with wires that lead back to the gas valve. The thermocouple generates a small amount of electrical current when heated by the flame. This current keeps the gas safety valve open. If the pilot light gets blown out, the current stops and the gas valve closes. When you light the pilot light, you hold down the over-ride button for about 30 seconds. This allows the gas to flow long enough to heat up the thermocouple and generate current and then you can release the over-ride button and gas will continue to flow. If the thermocouple is defective, then as soon as you release the over-ride button, since there is no electrical current, the gas will stop flowing and the pilot light will go out.
This is a pretty common failure on water heaters and furnaces. Replacement of the thermocouple is fairly simple if you are the handyman type. If not, the thermocouple is a cheap part -- about $10 bucks, Thanks.

Regards,
John

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Non of the above helped me. Cleaned everything. Replaced thermo coupler. Good flame around it, until override is released. Mostly blue flame with occasional yellow flickers. Not a great installation though. No sediment trap or drip loop. Bad control valve or junk in it?
Matt.

I have changed the thermal coupling twice. I have also changed the gas valve. Tried to clean everything up and checked for water in the drip valve. No dice. My water heater is only three years old. Any advice?

Hello Sepaskett,

You have posted your thread in almost a year old post, any how please tell us more about your water heater the name and the brand of your water heater, Thanks.

John