Gas water heater dumb question please help
- Thread starter johnv713
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Help Support House Repair Talk:
I would be changing the thermocouple at this point.
I think it's getting there. Please reassure me, it's so easy a ten YO, or a caveman, can do it
Last edited:
maxdad118
JOAMOS
It’s not bad, a couple screws and 3 fittings. Take care of the fiber gasket behind the burner door. That’s got to be sealed up again when reinstalled. Simply pull the thermocouple out of the pilot assembly, slide the new up as far as it will go...reassemble. There probably is a tab or notch for the end of the burner to slide into also. Make sure it does otherwise the burner will be out of alignment and possibly burn incomplete=C.O.
maxdad118
JOAMOS
Thermocouple
I think it's getting there. Please reassure me, it's so easy a ten YO, or a caveman, can do it
Fear of the unknown is the biggest problem. I learned a lot of DIY home repairs from my dad his generation knew no other way to do things. When I was a young guy first married with a little baby and living week to week with a paycheck. Our furnace stopped working almost the same problem. I called a furnace guy he came out and I watched him and he said oh bad thermostat. It took him about 2 minutes to change it and when I saw the bill it was a days pay for me. Here I was learning a complicated trade on my own and I just paid a guy to do something relatively simple because I didnt know enough to try it on my own.
I didnt have an internet back then and being able to post digital photos and get answers like you can today.
Getting over that hump a few times and finding out you can do something is the key.
Update
Well, i finally got a bit of time today. Took the assembly out and give the heads/ terminals ( dont know what theyre called) a wipe down with a clean rag.. Also gave the screening another good cleaning from the inside and from beneath the tank itself. Used my trusty Dyson to vacuum the interior for good measure. And voila there's fire i bought the themalcouple but guess its not needed .Will keep it around for later.
I love learning new things but when it come to electrical and gas im a bit trepid.
Here's anotehr dumb question for ya. How long is the burner suppose to stay on? It's been 5 min and its still burning. I have the dial setting next to low.
Well, i finally got a bit of time today. Took the assembly out and give the heads/ terminals ( dont know what theyre called) a wipe down with a clean rag.. Also gave the screening another good cleaning from the inside and from beneath the tank itself. Used my trusty Dyson to vacuum the interior for good measure. And voila there's fire
i bought the themalcouple but guess its not needed .Will keep it around for later. I love learning new things but when it come to electrical and gas im a bit trepid.
Here's anotehr dumb question for ya. How long is the burner suppose to stay on? It's been 5 min and its still burning. I have the dial setting next to low.
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tuffy
well-known member
It will stay on until it reaches the desired temp you have you water heater set on.
maxdad118
JOAMOS
Sweet, so it costed you a dryer brush��..some fixes are darn near free. Another tip for you: If you ever wonder if your Pilot is on, turn the thermostat up and if you hear the main burner kick on you know it was����. Glad it’s working for you.
Update
Well, i finally got a bit of time today. Took the assembly out and give the heads/ terminals ( dont know what theyre called) a wipe down with a clean rag.. Also gave the screening another good cleaning from the inside and from beneath the tank itself. Used my trusty Dyson to vacuum the interior for good measure. And voila there's fire
I love learning new things but when it come to electrical and gas im a bit trepid.
Here's anotehr dumb question for ya. How long is the burner suppose to stay on? It's been 5 min and its still burning. I have the dial setting next to low.
The age, as well as the volume of the appliance, has something to do with how long it takes it to achieve its asked temp.Were you to remove the controller from it you would find a sensor that penetrates the shell of the tank and reacts to the temp. of the water.
Glad you got it running. Keep the new part handy. It has been my experience with thermocouples when the weaken taking them apart and or cleaning them up or putting them slightly closer to the flame will sometimes get them working again. Chances are though that they will act up again. In a relatively shorter time span than the original lasted.
