I have a Craftsman water heater that has been installed for about 5-1/2 years. About a month ago, we went out of town for the holidays to come back to the pilot light going out. I relit with no problem and it stayed on. A couple weeks later we went out of town again. When we got back, the same thing, pilot light had gone out. I relit with no problem. 2 nights ago the pilot light went out again. I relit with no problem. Last night it went out again. Now it will not relight. As long as I hold in the red control knob, the pilot will remain on. I talked with Craftmaster yesterday. Since the water heater is still under the 6 year warranty, they said they would send me a thermocouple and some kind of door (I think, I barely could understand their poor english) but I would not have until Tuesday. The thermocouple has left handed threads and I can not find one around town. I did find the piece that the control knob and temperature setting is on. Does this need to be replaced? It seems that I am not getting enough gas to keep the pilot light on.

Mornin'

Did you go to a local sears for the part... they should have it in stock for you? Bring the model number and the serial number with you if you go to a local sears as they can honor the warranty as well.

This sounds like a newer model water heater where the thermocouple will need to be replaced and the door GASKET will also need to be replaced.

I have never heard of a left threaded thermocouple but then maybe I never paid attention to how they threaded in as I have changed 100s... ;)

Finally, if you care to try I'd go purchase a UNIVERSAL thermocouple ($8.00 at all home improvement stores) and try to replace the thermocouple temporarily... my guess is that it will swap out fine!

Then, if that worked, when the new door gasket arrives you can install that and you should be fine.

Back to you...

MARK

What is the door gasket?

If you have the newer model heater they have a closed combustion chamber that has a door gasket that will be disturbed when you remove the door. By law, you will need to replace the door gasket to keep it a closed combustion chamber. Sears should be sending it with your thermocouple.

If you do not have a closed combustion chamber then you will not need the gasket and should just be able to replace the thermocouple with the universal thermocouple I mentioned earlier.

MARK