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Kaleva

(40,113 posts)

33. And the thermocouple needs the pilot light in order to work

Fri Apr 14, 2023, 12:49 PM

Apr 2023

Here is what the OP said:

"They could not light the pilot light ..."

If ,as the OP stated, the pilot light doesn't light, it doesn't matter if the thermocouple is good or not. Replacing the thermocouple won't solve the problem.

You have to be able to light the pilot light first. If you can light the pilot but it doesn't stay lit, after releasing the knob on the gas valve, then try and replace the thermocouple.

I've been doing this for over 30 years and I have an idea about how things work

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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