I have Whirlpool Water Heater (MOD#: BFG1F4040S3NOV)

We shut it off to bug-bomb the garage... and now the pilot light won't turn back on... I think it is a problem with the Thermal Switch... the switch reset button has no tension on it - it slides slightly in and out without resistance...

Also - in most gas appliances I have owned - you can turn on the gas valve and push the button for engage the pilot light... and you can hear the gas flowing... when doing that to this unit I hear silence...

I called Whirlpool (because no one carries a thermal switch locally) and they want me to replace the entire manifold...

3 questions:
1) Is there a way to temporarily by-pass the thermal switch (connect the two wires together on the back of the switch?) so I can give my kids baths tonight?


2) Is it necessary to actually replace the entire manifold - or should I be able to change just the switch?

3) I am assuming my problem is the switch - does that seem to be correct?

FYI - My unit is only 2 years old...

Thanks for any help!

I actually got help from Whirlpool - after the 3rd phone call / 5th person... Rep had me go through the pilot turn-on procedure (turn heater to lowest setting / set knob to pilot / push and hold the pilot button for 10 seconds and then use the electric striker 6 times --- and then continue to hold the pilot button down for an additional 30 seconds / rotate knob to on and release button)... turns out the unit is working fine - it's the window to see the pilot light that doesn't work... it doesn't allow you to actually see the pilot light to tell if the unit is lit or not... it has to be pitch dark and then you can see the glow of the light...

Long story short - I had to 'pretend' the unit lit because there is no way to tell the pilot had caught.

The same thing happened to me. Had a spider problem in my garage, I shut the water heater off to bomb the garage and just like DougB, I couldn't get it lit again. At least I assumed that it wasn't lit because I could not see the pilot through the sight glass.
I found this forum, followed DougB's suggestion, worked like a champ. Now I am wondering how many times I had the thing lit to begin with...

Agree with the same problem, I can not see the light, although we can hear it's on and does not smell like gas, I can tell that the little window where you are supposed to see the pilot it's getting hot so the temperature is rising...

Thank you Doug B.

My problem was that I couldn't see the pilot light so I turned off the lights and after 60 seconds I released the pilot light then turned the unit to ON but it still started to dim. I immediately turned the setting from vacation to Warm and the gas flowed and the flame took off.

Being the dark was really important. Thanks very much

Yes, I have had the same issue here, unit is only 2 1/2 years old... after numerous attempts to talk to someone at Whirlpool, each time I attempted to start the Pilot has deteriotated either the Thermal Switch or the Thermocouple. Pilot light will no longer remain lit and goes out immediately. It really helps if you shut off the lights in the immediate area then you can see through the view window and determine if the pilot light is lit and when the burner starts, you can really hear it take off.
I will test the thermal switch tonight by pulling the black and white wire and hooking them together (Whirlpool recommended) and bypass this switch then try and light the pilot again. This should tell immediately IF it's the thermal switch that has gone bad. If not, I will replace the thermocouple.
Wish me luck and I hope this helps others with the same issue!

Yep, this works. You do have to turn the lights off and follow the steps that DougB says. You'll never be able to see the pilot light come on with the lights on. Worked like a charm!

Sorry to see you're having problems! Can you contact me directly so I can help?
Whirlpool Water Heaters Product Support
Thanks! ~ Chris
American Water Heater, authorized licensee for Whirlpool Water Heaters

Thanks a bunch for the tip... after trying to light this thing 10 times I thought it as broken and was going to attempt to replace the thermal switch.After reading your solution I turned all the lights off and tried again.It worked exactly like you said.. woo hoo.. thanks again.. leave it to whirlpool to make something you have to work on in the dark.. I wonder if they manufacture them in the dark

Doug, I love you!! About 4 weeks now, I've been without hot water. Decided it was the hot water heater that needed to be replaced, didn't have the money for that. Finally sitting here on a slow evening, googled it, found your solution & it worked! I'm getting up early for work tomorrow so I can have an hour long hot shower!!

Ill have to try doug's solution. Never in my life have I had such an aggrivating time trying to light a water heater. This will be my LAST Whirlpool anything!

This was awesome got my Whirlpool water heater going, different model though. Could hear gas flowing, went through start up process, can't see anything in the window until completing process and turning to on position, then the window lit up :) . Thought I was going to have to tear it down and replace the ignition assembly which I had to do 2 years ago.
Thanks to all those who invested time to let us know about this process.

Thanks Doug!

I was at wits end like everyone else here. Instinctively, I knew the unit was fine - your method worked like a charm... saved us $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and the hassel of someone coming out over the weekend.

Much appreciated!

I just had the same thing happen. The pilot light came on easily and I discovered the best way to see it was by viewing it from about two feet away and looking at a 30 to 45 degree angle instead on straight on. The pilot light is easy to see then. When I released the reset button the pilot light kept going out. Turns out holding in the reset button for 3 minutes did the trick. Maybe because it was so cold in the garage? I don't know. Anyway it's firing now and hopefully will stay.