You can usually replace a thermocouple for minimal cost and in less than an hour.
Water heater pilot light won t stay lit after replacing thermocouple.
Sometimes if the gas valve is just barely bad a hotter thermocouple will work for a short time but finding a hotter thermocouple is just hit and miss.
The thermocouple has been damaged.
The flex tube is how the gas reaches the device and if the continuous flow of gas is interrupted the pilot light won t stay lit.
Another important project all homeowners need to know is.
If their is a good flame on the thermocouple then it is a bad gas valve.
A layer of dirt and grime can hinder the electric current from reaching the thermocouple.
Check the flex tube.
Check along the tube to straighten it so there s no obstruction to the flow of gas.
No hot water on a cold monday morning.
This is also a likely cause if the pilot won t ignite at all.
You tried to relight the pilot and the pilot won t stay lit now what.
Therefore a dirty thermocouple might be the reason why your water pilot keeps going out.
If the pilot doesn t relight if it goes out right after lighting or if the pilot light keeps going out by far the most common cause is a bad thermocouple.
There is a chance that your thermocouple has simply gone bad and is the reason your pilot light won t stay lit.
If you re fairly certain this is the source of the problem you will either need to have the thermocouple replaced or repaired.
As a result the pilot doesn t get enough fuel to stay lit.
As a result the gas supply will be cut off and the pilot light will go out.
This usually happens when the tube is kinked at one or many points.
It happened to me.
Thankfully a dirty pilot tube is the easiest issue to fix.
You will have to order the control valve from the manufacturer.
Dirt and debris can collect in the pilot tube causing the flow of gas to be blocked.
You ll get your hot water going without waiting for a pro to show up and save the cost of a service call for a gas water heater repair.
It s the coldest day of the year and you just realized your heat is not working.
I have seen people try 4 thermocouples and the fifth one worked then they claimed the other four were bad.