Why does my water heater thermocouple keep going bad?

It’s Dirty Soot buildup on the thermocouple may block the flame. Under constant exposure to a hot flame, a thermocouple wears down over time. Even a slight residue can make the thermocouple malfunction.

Can a faulty thermocouple cause a water heater to go out?

The pilot can go out for a number of other reasons, however, so if you’re having trouble getting the pilot to stay lit, the thermocouple may not be at fault. Here are a few ways to pinpoint a faulty thermocouple as the culprit. The Pilot Lights But Won’t Stay Lit If a water heater pilot won’t light at all,…

What causes a gas water heater to shut off?

Thermocouple failure is a common problem with residential gas water heaters. The thermocouple is a thermoelectric device that shuts off the gas supply to the water heater if the pilot light goes out.

What to do if the thermocouple doesn’t work?

To test if the problem is with the thermocouple, try to relight the pilot. If it goes out when you release the button, then the component has worn out. It is not necessary to remove the burner assembly in order to replace the thermocouple.

Why does my gas water heater pilot light not stay lit?

Thermocouple Failure in Gas Water Heaters. If you have a gas water heater and the pilot light will not stay lit, it’s most likely due to a failed thermocouple that will need to be replaced. Thermocouple failure is a common problem with residential gas water heaters.

The pilot can go out for a number of other reasons, however, so if you’re having trouble getting the pilot to stay lit, the thermocouple may not be at fault. Here are a few ways to pinpoint a faulty thermocouple as the culprit. The Pilot Lights But Won’t Stay Lit If a water heater pilot won’t light at all,…

Thermocouple failure is a common problem with residential gas water heaters. The thermocouple is a thermoelectric device that shuts off the gas supply to the water heater if the pilot light goes out.

How can you tell if a gas thermocouple is working?

A gas water heater in Boise, Baton Rouge, Buffalo or Boston uses a thermocouple that includes a probe attached to a copper tube that screws into a port on the gas valve. If the thermocouple is working, you should be able to measure 30 to 40 millivolts of voltage at the connection end of the tube when the pilot flame is on.

Can a thermocouple go out when the pilot is on?

Nothing lasts forever, and when the thermocouple wears out, the pilot won’t stay lit and your appliance won’t work. The pilot can go out for a number of other reasons, however, so if you’re having trouble getting the pilot to stay lit, the thermocouple may not be at fault.