Gas Hot Water Heater Thermocouple Replacement

Learn how to replace this inexpensive part and keep your hot water heater working for years to come.

Gas hot water heater thermocouple replacement.

How to replace a thermopile on a water heater. The thermocouple is part of the pilot assembly where one end is always in contact with the pilot flame while the other side is connected to the gas control valve. It is a simple device that converts the heat from a burning flame into a small electrical current allowing it to work like a switch to control the flow of gas from the gas supply valve. However it s possible to prolong the life of a water heater by following the proper care instructions that come with the units.

Remove the burner assembly and detach the thermocouple. A hot water heater that doesn t heat might just need a new thermocouple. 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. The gas water heater thermocouple is the safety element that is designed to inform a gas control valve is the pilot flame on or off and open or close the gas to the main burner.

Since almost all major brands of atmospherically vented water heaters have switched from a thermocouple to a t. Step 8 reattach the manifold tube pilot tube and thermocouple to the gas control valve thermostat and tighten them using the adjustable wrench. In simple terms it s a short piece of tubing that runs from the gas controller to the pilot. You should find that you turn the screw counter clockwise to tighten a right hand threaded connector.

A flame shield or manifold door that you removed from the heater or water heater. Like all household appliances water heaters eventually wear out. If you have a gas water heater with a pilot light that won t stay lit it s probably due to a failed thermocouple. Replacement parts for bradford white water heaters.

Reconnect the end of the thermocouple to the gas control valve where the old thermocouple end was un screwed. Bradford white water heaters are made with the best components available. The thermocouple is a thermoelectric device that shuts off the gas if the pilot light goes out. 1 cause of pilot lights that won t stay lit is a worn out.

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.