hot water heater problems!!

[russellsue]

problem when I first fired it up(Manuel light) the pilot light stayed on an when I turned to on
I worked fine. There was hot water in the kitchen but only a few seconds of hot in the bathroom, then it went cold.now when I try to light it the pilot light won't stay on and there is no fire. Anybody have any ideas.could there be a leak? Plenty of fuel

[overlander63]

Check your bypass valves on the back of the water heater.

[russellsue]

Plenty.of flow valve. Is.on the. Use position. Stove works fine piolet light still
still won't stay on Could the regulator be bad?

[Farmer Dan]

Could be the regulator but if the stove is working properly, the problem may be the thermocouple for the water heater
Dan

[HowieE]

I would remove the pilot tube from the gas valve. Hold the pilot valve down fro a few seconds to test for gas flow from the valve. If you have gas the remove the pilot tube and make sure the orifice is clear. Reinstall and try again. If you do not have gas the valve may be bad.

If the pilot lights and the main gas does not fire correctly remove the burner tube and check for a spiders nest.

[TinShack]

I would try cleaning the propane pilot and burner tube first and see if that works. If not...If the pilot stays lit when you hold down the button, and goes out when you release it, it's probably the thermocouple. This is the cheapest and easiest to replace. If it still doesn't work, it may be the valve.

[azflycaster]

We had the same symptoms during our summer trip this year. Replacing the pilot thermocouple assembly did not fix the problem. We had a new water heater installed at the factory, problem solved.

[HowieE]

Lets get the pilot flame lit before you question the thermocouple. All that is necessary for the pilot light to light is gas flow and a match.

If the pilot lights and after having held the valve down for 30 seconds that main flame does not come on that could be a thermocouple, bad valve or a spider nest in the burn tube. The spider is the most common.

Though stink bugs are challenging them for first place.

[russellsue]

Tube clear pilot still won't stay lit where is the thermo coupler located?

[clancy_boy]

It's the little silver thing that sticks out into the path of the pilot flame - when there is a flame. It tells the regulator that there is a flame there so it's OK to turn on the gas when there is a demand. Usually there is a thin coil of tubing (looks like an uncoated wire) coming off the backside of it. Real easy to replace.

[HowieE]

The thermocouple is a small probe about 1/8 in. in dia. and 3/4 in. long that should be washed by the pilot flame. If it is in that position so the f;lame heats it and you have held the flame on for 30 seconds and the pilot flame goes out when you release the valve. Next thing to do is follow the thinner silver tube back to the valve. It is held in place with a 3/8 brass nut. Loosen the nut and remove the tube. Wipe the end of the tube with a cloth and reinstall Tighten but do not try and brake it off. That tube supplies a mill volt signal to the gas valve to show proof of flame. If cleaning and resetting does not solve the problem replacement of the thermocouple is the next step

[russellsue]

I want to thank you all for your input I willget a thermocouple and see if that fixes the problem again thanks
Russ