Replacing Thermocouple In Hot Water Heater

Flush the heater to remove sediment from the tank.

Replacing thermocouple in hot water heater.

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. Since almost all major brands of atmospherically vented water heaters have switched from a thermocouple to a t. How to replace a thermopile on a water heater. The thermocouple is a thermoelectric device that shuts off the gas if the pilot light goes out.

Make sure that the power is connected. A thermocouple or flame sensor is a device used to control gas flow in gas water heaters on older style heaters with standing pilot lights the device is typically called a thermocouple while on newer units with electronic ignition the same or virtually the same device is called a flame sensor for our purposes we ll refer to both devices as the thermocouple. Check the following when your water is not hot enough. The thermocouple and pilot light tubes both extend from the gas control valve to the burning compartment.

It s a simple inexpensive repair that could save you a bundle. Raise the temperature setting on the thermostat. If you have a gas water heater with a pilot light that won t stay lit it s probably due to a failed thermocouple. 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.

Learn how to replace this inexpensive part and keep your hot water heater working for years to come. Step 8 reattach the manifold tube pilot tube and thermocouple to the gas control valve thermostat and tighten them using the adjustable wrench. By james carey morris carey. A hot water heater that doesn t heat might just need a new thermocouple.

When the pilot light on a gas water heater won t stay lit the problem is usually a faulty thermocouple. Replace the heating element or thermostat. Inside the burner compartment of your gas water heater right in front of the pilot light is a small metal cylinder called a thermocouple. Before you replace a broken hot water heater check to make sure the thermocouple still works.

Remove the burner assembly and detach the thermocouple. The thermocouple is a heat sensitive. How to replace a thermocouple on a hot water heater.