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DIY & Home Improvement

SHRED

(28,136 posts) Sat Jan 27, 2018, 12:45 PM Jan 2018

Pilot light on water heater won't stay lit [View all]

My suspicion is the thermocouple is bad.
Just confirming that I should start there.

I can get it to fire up as needed but since the pilot won't stay lit it doesn't fire up after that.

My water heater is about 12 years old.

24 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Pilot light on water heater won't stay lit [View all] SHRED Jan 2018 OP

Yes, that is what I would look at first Hokie Jan 2018 #1

The thermocouple is probably one of the least expensive places to start. Arkansas Granny Jan 2018 #2

Simple stuff first. cloudbase Jan 2018 #3

Thank you all! SHRED Jan 2018 #4

Good luck SHRED Wwcd Jan 2018 #5

Thanks SHRED Jan 2018 #6

I had the same problem. It was the thermal couple. LastLiberal in PalmSprings Jan 2018 #7

First thing,find the Serial Number Wellstone ruled Jan 2018 #8

Thanks SHRED Jan 2018 #11

Most likely it was made by Whirlpool. Wellstone ruled Jan 2018 #12

Sage advice SHRED Jan 2018 #16

Bradford White Wellstone ruled Jan 2018 #17

Mine is strapped to the wall SHRED Jan 2018 #19

Oh yah, Wellstone ruled Jan 2018 #20

I notice it does grumble SHRED Jan 2018 #21

You might have about 3 months Wellstone ruled Jan 2018 #22

So a Rheem and be done with it? SHRED Jan 2018 #23

I don't care gibraltar72 Jan 2018 #9

. SHRED Jan 2018 #10

Wrong. It's the soot deposited on the tip of the thermocouple. Remove the deposit with a NCjack Jan 2018 #14

This works most of the time just use a small fine wire brush if you have one randr Jan 2018 #18

I have had success with a piece of sand paper. But a new thermocouple is cheap and easy to replace. Midnight Writer Apr 2018 #24

One other check... flotsam Jan 2018 #13

I will thanks SHRED Jan 2018 #15