Water Heater Help: Fixing a Pilot Light



Your water heater has stopped working out of a sudden. Cold showers forever await you! But wait! There is a chance that the solution may not be as drastic as you are thinking.

When your water heater stops working suddenly, it is possible that the problem lies on a damaged thermocouple. Thermo whaaaat? You may ask. No worries. If your water heater thermocouple is the problem, then your solution will be simple and inexpensive.

What tools will you need?

For this project, you will need a wrench set, and adjustable wrench and a screwdriver set. Get all your tools ready to go!

 What materials will you need?

For this project, you will need a thermocouple, long matches, and dish soap. Ready to get started with this DIY project and get your water heater back in business?

When will this not work

 This will not work when the burner chamber in the water heater is of difficult access or when water heaters do not have pilots.

Cautionary Measures

 If after removing gas lines you smell more than a whiff of gas, this may be a negative sign. The best solution is to call your utility company and abandon the premises.

First step to making your heater work

 The first step to get your water heater to work is to try to relight the water heater pilot.  If everything goes back to normal, then you got yourself a working heater.

Second step to making your heater work

 However, if the pilot light keeps going out then the problem is most likely a damaged thermocouple. Here is what you will need to do:


1) Turn off the shutoff valve in the gas line
2) Pull out the entire burner assembly. This may require unscrewing a few nuts at the control valve
3) The next step is unscrew the thermocouple and take it to a store with appliance parts to get a part that will match.
4) Next, put the thermocouple back into the burner assembly, screw it back on place, replace the burner assembly back in place and also screw it into place.
5) Finally reattach the three lines to the gas valve. Do test for water leaks also.

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