Disgruntled Pilot Light
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: General Correct Craft Discussion
Forum Name: Off Topic
Forum Discription: Anything non-Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=21515
Printed Date: January-11-2025 at 3:04pm
Topic: Disgruntled Pilot Light
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Subject: Disgruntled Pilot Light
Date Posted: April-28-2011 at 9:10pm
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What makes a pilot light not want to stay on? It's on our water heater. I relit it yesterday and it went out after a few hours.
Any help is much appreciated! ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |
Replies:
Posted By: Dreaming
Date Posted: April-28-2011 at 9:20pm
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If the thermo-couple portion of the gas valve is broken, or not being heated by the flame, then the pilot light will not stay on.... try warming the thermocouple with a match while holding the valve "light" button down.... then light the pilot flame. could also be a clogged orifice, air in the line, or bad gas valve.
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Posted By: hasbeenskier
Date Posted: April-28-2011 at 11:21pm
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More than likely the thermal couple is faulty.
bj ------------- hasbeenskier |
Posted By: peter1234
Date Posted: April-28-2011 at 11:27pm
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or lousy pilot flame . but odds are thermal coupling. make sure you measure the length before buying one. and its a good time to clean pilot orifice while its down. ------------- former skylark owner now a formula but I cant let this place go |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: April-28-2011 at 11:50pm
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Thanks guys for the quick replies. I googled thermocouple so I knew for sure what I was looking at. It's screwed to a bracket by the burner and connected to the control box...right? That's what I'm replacing?
Thanks again! ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |
Posted By: kytom2
Date Posted: April-28-2011 at 11:54pm
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Yeppers sounds like what you described is the thermocouple. ------------- |
Posted By: jbear
Date Posted: April-29-2011 at 1:20am
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turn the gas off and be careful!
john ------------- "Loud pipes save lives" AdamT sez "I'm Canadian and a beaver lover myself"... |
Posted By: NEDLUTZ
Date Posted: April-29-2011 at 9:29am
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http://www.americanwaterheater.com/support/manuals/nat_tc_instr.pdf - http://www.americanwaterheater.com/support/manuals/nat_tc_instr.pdf
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Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: April-29-2011 at 10:08am
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I got bit real bad after I discovered that a thermocouple will stay hot enough to keep the valve open even after the pilot has been out for awhile. I ended up with 2nd dgree burns on my hand. The HWH was leaking water into the burner. I found this out when I relit it and heard the sizzling. I shut it down turned it back on and then made the mistake of going at it with a match. Besides the flames that came out, scalding hot water shot of of the burner as well.
Greg, The position of the thermocouple in the flame is key as well. The hottest part of the flame is actualy at the very tip where you sometimes can't even see the flame. It's not in the middle where some will place the thermocouple tip. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: tullfooter
Date Posted: April-29-2011 at 10:39am
Another thought is down draft. You've had some serious winds where you are. If the stack doesn't have a rain/wind cap, wind can blow down the stack and blow out the pilot light. Sounds far fetched, but it happens. My buddy had this happen 5+ times until he had a cap installed. His wife would call me to light the her pilot each time.  ------------- Play hard, life's not a trial run. '85 BFN '90 BFN White Lake, Michigan |
Posted By: peter1234
Date Posted: April-29-2011 at 11:19am
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Petes right about the position also there can be soot deposits built up from flame impingment with the flame too close to the thermo coupling ------------- former skylark owner now a formula but I cant let this place go |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: April-29-2011 at 1:01pm
I just replaced the thermo coupler and it seems to be working well. Thanks again for the help. I'm out of town monday, so this happened at a good time. Cold showers suk. 
FWIW-I looked around on the web for some help and found a little, but I'd rather hear from yall. CCF rocks! ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: April-29-2011 at 1:15pm
You should have a draft diverter on the top of the HWH. Most are built into the tank itself but check.  ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
tullfooter wrote:Posted By: quinner
Date Posted: April-29-2011 at 3:14pm
Greg, bet this guy could help
 ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1143" rel="nofollow - Mi Bowt |
Posted By: Jtonor1
Date Posted: April-29-2011 at 6:19pm
| My parents got a new gas hot water heater a few years ago and had a problem with the pilot light going out during the summer. The new one was closer to the ground than then old one and since it is in the attic and gets really hot up there during the summer, we live in Louisiana, the flame would use up all the oxygen in the small space underneath the hot water heater and go out. |
Posted By: peter1234
Date Posted: April-29-2011 at 10:21pm
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im pretty sure the tin man wasnt too smart ..and if he has gas ..a ticking time bomb.... ------------- former skylark owner now a formula but I cant let this place go |
Posted By: bhectus
Date Posted: April-29-2011 at 11:14pm
This happens when there is not enough "make-up air" in the room. In this application they are better off with a direct-vent gas heater or they need to install a fan to blow more fresh air into the room. ------------- '02 Ski Nautique 196 w/ 5.7 Apex bowtie - Sold '87 Barefoot - sold '97 Super Sport Nautique - originally custom built for Walt Meloon '97 Ski Nautique '83 SN 2001 |
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: April-30-2011 at 12:35am
Chris,how is a picture of you at a kinkey party going to help Greg? ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: April-30-2011 at 1:12pm
Or better yet, get some ventilation in that attic. Without any, there will be even bigger problems than just keeping a pilot light lit. Have you ever seen mushrooms growing on roof rafters??? The complete roof framing was nothing but rot!!! Some of the rafters came down in two pieces when they did the R&R. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |