[nanapaul]

I can't light the pilot light on my water heater. This happened once before after Katrina and when I looked at the ticket from the plumber it said "air in line". Is there anyway I can fix this myself?

[massplumber2008]

If pilot light is not lighting or not staying lit Nanapaul, and knowone has done work on the unit recently then most likely your THEMOCOUPLE needs to be replaced.

See the picture below. The thermocouple is available at all home supply stores and usually only requires a couple tools to replace.. but can be tricky as it is tight space in the gas chamber. It comes coiled like you see below and then gets unrolled to install.

Look into the gas chamer.. should be able to see the bulbous end and chase it back to the gas valve. Then you can decide if you want to tackle this.

Please let me know if you have any more questions. Also, let me know how this turns out for you... ok?

Glad to help if we can... ;)

MARK

[Milo Dolezal]

Also, Make sure you are pushing down the red button while lighting up your pilot.

[speedball1]

: Let me paste up a article I found on the web that you may find of interest.
Troubleshooting Gas Water Heaters
Knowing how to light the pilot is one key to living with a gas water heater; see the instructions on the tank. For safety, a gas heater has a thermocouple. This is thermoelectric device that impinges on the pilot flame and shuts off the gas if the pilot light goes out. The gas flame should be blue. If it's orange, adjust the shutter; if it's still orange, call for service.
Twice a year, inspect the flue assembly to be sure it's properly aligned and all its joints are sealed. Then check the flue by placing your hand near the draft diverter (with the burner on); air flowing out indicates an obstruction that should be removed. Every year or two, shut off the gas, remove the access panel, and clean the burner ports, using stiff wire or a needle. If you ever smell gas, get out of the house immediately and call the gas company.
There is no hot water.<<
Check for:
Unlit pilot light.
Pilot light won't keep burning.<<
Clogged burner
Defective thermocouple.
The gas is not coming out.<<
Remedies:
Carefully relight the pilot.
Make sure the gas controls are completely turned on. Then check the thermocouple and be sure it is firmly connected to the gas control unit and positioned near the pilot flame.
Call a qualified contractor.
Replace the thermocouple.
Call the Gas Company.
There isn't enough hot water.<<
Check for:
Incorrectly set thermostat.
Defective thermostat.
Exposed hot water pipes
Too small of a water tank
Clogged burner.
Sediment has formed in the tank.
Leaking hot water faucets.
Remedies:
Turn the thermostat higher.
Call a qualified contractor.
Insulate the hot water pipes.
Install a larger water tank.
Call a qualified contractor.
Turn off the gas and drain the tank.
Repair or replace the faucets.
The water heater is very noisy.<<
Check for:
Scale and sediments in the tank.
Remedy:
Turn off the gas and flush the tank.

[afaroo]

Hello Nanapaul,

Mark and Tom have stated very well, the most probable cause would be the thermocouple, I also past the following at may help you, Thanks,
Best Regards,
John

If your water heater has a standing pilot it also has a thermocouple
> that controls the gas flow. If the thermocouple isn't hot, it will
> turn off the gas flow so a blown out pilot doesn't cause the house to
> fill with gas. These thermocouples routinely go bad after a few
> years. So that's one possibility.
>
> Another possibility with water heaters is tank failure, and a slow
> leak or condensation or something causing water to drip on the pilot.
>
> Those are probably the two biggest causes I'm aware of for pilot
> failure. Thermocouples are pretty easy to change and available at
> hardware stores. Measure the length of the thermocouple that you
> have and that should lead you to a decent replacement. If you're not
> comfy with this, get a pro in to check what's going on, or if it's
> been 10 years, just replace the water heater--it's probably due.