Water heater pilot light gets extinguished by main burner ignition.
Problem: Water heater pilot light gets blown out by main burner when it ignites.
Background: About eight or nine days ago I installed a new Rheem LP gas fired water heater. I had to convert (change / install) the main burner jet and pilot light orifice to burn LP gas as well as change the thermostat settings to LP. Did so very carefully and followed instruction manual step - by - step.
When I first fired it up it ran fine for about 24 hours. Then I discovered the pilot light was out. I assumed maybe a downdraft? When I re-lit the pilot, and turned the thermostat control valve up to ignite the main burner, the pilot light gets blown out - extinguished. I thought possibly the pilot light might need to be positioned away from the main burner a bit, but there are no provisions for adjusting, short of bending some tubing etc.
I called the company I purchased the heater from last Friday (one week ago); they sent out a technician; we lit the pilot, cycled the thermostat several times to ignite the main burner, and the pilot light was never extinguished when he was here. Maybe air bubble in the line from the re-plumbing of the LP supply line? We both were lost for solutions, but it never failed at that time.
Now a week has gone by and the water heater has been operating fine until last night. Pilot light was out again. Re-light it, main burner blows out pilot light when thermostat is turned up. Same old problem is back.
Suspecting a downdraft possibility again or a faulty thermocouple, I lit the pilot and left the control valve in the 'pilot' position for four hours and it never went out. The pilot flame is good and strong; is not dancing around as though it were being affected by any wind or drafts; and is burning around the thermocouple tip about 3/8" from the end of the thermocouple.
Specific questions:
1. Anyone ever experience this before? If so, what did you have to do about it?
2. Is it ever necessary to adjust the position of the pilot light relative to the main burner? Where should the pilot light be located relative to the main burner? Is it possible for the pilot light to be 'too close' to the main burner?
3. If there aren't any designed provisions for adjusting the pilot to main burner position, has any one ever found it necessary to bend the pilot light tube to move it slightly away from the main burner?
I have considered changing the thermocouple but I don't think that is the problem. If I do change the thermocouple, and it is necessary to adjust the position of the pilot light, I would like to do so while the assembly is out.
Additional info.:
- I also have an LP furnace and it has been running fine.
- Both the primary and secondary pressure regulating valves in the delivery system were changed a couple years ago, and at that time the system was tested for leakdown etc. via a pressure drop test.
- Main burner flame is 95% blue with slight & occasional orange colored tips - appears to be burning correctly.
Running out of ideas and in need of a hot shower.
