Replacing Thermocouple In Hot Water Heater

Replace the heating element or thermostat.

Replacing thermocouple in hot water heater.

In simple terms it s a short piece of tubing that runs from the gas controller to the pilot. Before you replace a broken hot water heater check to make sure the thermocouple still works. The thermocouple is a thermoelectric device that shuts off the gas if the pilot light goes out. A hot water heater that doesn t heat might just need a new thermocouple.

The thermocouple is a special sensing tube on gas water heaters that senses when the pilot light has flame and shuts off the gas to the unit when the pilot has been extinguished. By james carey morris carey. Inside the burner compartment of your gas water heater right in front of the pilot light is a small metal cylinder called a thermocouple. If you have a gas water heater with a pilot light that won t stay lit it s probably due to a failed thermocouple.

When the pilot light on a gas water heater won t stay lit the problem is usually a faulty thermocouple. Step 8 reattach the manifold tube pilot tube and thermocouple to the gas control valve thermostat and tighten them using the adjustable wrench. Check the following when your water is not hot enough. 1 cause of pilot lights that won t stay lit is a worn out.

Make sure that the power is connected. The thermocouple is a heat sensitive. How to replace a thermocouple on a hot water heater. Insulate the hot water pipes.

It s a simple inexpensive repair that could save you a bundle. Raise the temperature setting on the thermostat. Remove the burner assembly and detach the thermocouple. Learn how to replace this inexpensive part and keep your hot water heater working for years to come.

Replace the two piece wire connector onto the thermocouple and igniter wire securing it with the retainer clip and slide the manifold burner assembly back into the water heater. Since almost all major brands of atmospherically vented water heaters have switched from a thermocouple to a t. The thermocouple and pilot light tubes both extend from the gas control valve to the burning compartment.