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NBachers

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12. If the pilot light won't work always check the THERMOCOUPLE first. It's an inexpensive device that's

Thu Apr 13, 2023, 04:28 AM

Apr 2023

fairly easy to install. If they didn't try installing a thermocouple, I'd run from them.

Your pilot light's flame is focused on a small metal rod called a thermocouple. The heated rod produces a small amount of electricity. This electricity keeps the small valve open that supplies gas to the pilot light.

The thermocouple is a safety device. If the pilot light goes out, the thermocouple cools off. The electricity stops. This closes off the supply of gas to the pilot light. It keeps un-burned gas from flowing into your environment. Sometimes the thermocouple wears out and needs to be replaced.

Any plumber or most handymen / women know how to replace a thermocouple. They cost less than twenty bucks. Check out "Water heater thermocouple" online or on YouTube. Verify that Roto-Rooter replaced the thermocouple.

Do NOT buy a new water heater if the thermocouple has not been replaced on your old water heater first! You may not need a new water heater.

https://www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-replace-a-thermocouple/9ba683603be9fa5395fab901ced3a679

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Seeking advice on water heaters [View all] mvd Apr 2023 OP

40 gallon is what most homes have. Unless you have a large family Meadowoak Apr 2023 #1

Agree 100% beaglelover Apr 2023 #37

We have had a tankless water heater now for 10+ yrs. If a new heater is going to cost you 5k PortTack Apr 2023 #2

Agree, we are all electric- solar and love ours. we can do it Apr 2023 #20

I would look at going tankless lapfog_1 Apr 2023 #3

Thanks all mvd Apr 2023 #5

Tankless may not be a good option Major Nikon Apr 2023 #39

He did say he had a gas water heater. Maybe there is some savings there. If one has to upgrade their retread Apr 2023 #40

That's a crazy big water heater. Phoenix61 Apr 2023 #4

Yeah, this house is only around 1600 or something square feet mvd Apr 2023 #6

Same size house 40 gallons. 100 is way more than you need for. Lochloosa Apr 2023 #15

Never buy a water heater from a plumber. Mr.Bill Apr 2023 #7

100 gallons seems like overkill unless you have a lot of people in the household... RockRaven Apr 2023 #8

It's only a 2 person household mvd Apr 2023 #9

30 gallon markie Apr 2023 #16

Does your water heater provide hot water for heating? ramblin_dave Apr 2023 #10

It has a separate heater for non water heating mvd Apr 2023 #11

If the pilot light won't work always check the THERMOCOUPLE first. It's an inexpensive device that's NBachers Apr 2023 #12

OP says they couldn't light the pilot light. Kaleva Apr 2023 #13

Depends on what "can't light the pilot" means ... JustABozoOnThisBus Apr 2023 #19

I kept a set of small needles in my tool bucket Kaleva Apr 2023 #21

And the pilot light needs the thermocouple to work to stay on when lighting Jack the Greater Apr 2023 #31

And the thermocouple needs the pilot light in order to work Kaleva Apr 2023 #33

Most of us believe there is no non-working water heater. BlackSkimmer Apr 2023 #34

If the gas valve doesn't work, then might as well replace the unit Kaleva Apr 2023 #35

A 40 gallon ought to be adequete Kaleva Apr 2023 #14

I had an experience with RR which convinced me that vanlassie Apr 2023 #17

I have a water softener and my water heater lasted 30 years. Emile Apr 2023 #18

Water softener s can make a big difference. Kaleva Apr 2023 #22

$5,000??? No way. You don't need a 100-gallon water heater Ocelot II Apr 2023 #23

There's no way I would pay $5,000 even if I had it mvd Apr 2023 #24

Isn't the house in foreclosure? MissB Apr 2023 #25

What an excellent question. BlackSkimmer Apr 2023 #27

You can ForgedCrank Apr 2023 #26

Definitely contact United Way of PA XanaDUer2 Apr 2023 #28

You can get a tankless one for less than that! jcgoldie Apr 2023 #29

His water heater is gas Mosby Apr 2023 #32

40 gallons should definitely be more than sufficient for two yellowdogintexas Apr 2023 #30

Columbus Ohio, 50 gal tank, 9 yr warrenty, $1750 irisblue Apr 2023 #36

That's the installed price? Mosby Apr 2023 #38

The guy said my previous tank was 31 yrs old. Second is next week irisblue Apr 2023 #41

That's a long time. Mosby Apr 2023 #44

I'm so ForgedCrank Apr 2023 #42

Can you come up over here? irisblue Apr 2023 #43