How to Fix a Water Heater Pilot Light

Replace the thermocouple

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Thermocouple

A thermocouple senses the heat of the pilot and allows gas to flow to the burner. A bad thermocouple will shut off gas to both the pilot and the burner.

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Photo 1: Unscrew the nuts

Turn off the control valve and the shutoff. Remove the burner access covers and unscrew the nuts on the gas, pilot and thermocouple lines.

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Shutoff valve

Be sure to turn the shutoff valve to the off position, as in this photo, before beginning work on the thermocouple.

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Photo 2: Remove the assembly

Pull out the burner assembly. Pull out the old thermocouple. Buy a new one that matches the old one in size and length.

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Photo 3: New thermocouple

Install the new thermocouple exactly like the old, slide the burner assembly back in and reattach the three lines to the control valve.

No hot water? If you have a natural or propane gas water heater, chances are the pilot has gone out. The pilot is a small flame that ignites the gas burner on your waterheater. When it goes out, first try relighting it, following the directions on the water heater label. If the pilot doesn't relight, or if it goes out right after lighting, by far the most common cause is a bad thermocouple. The good news: You can usually replace a thermocouple for minimal cost and in less than an hour. You'll get your hot water going without waiting for a pro to show up and save the cost of a service call.

To replace the thermocouple, follow the photo series. Be sure to turn off the shutoff valve in the gas line; that is, one quarter turn so that the handle is at a right angle to the pipe. Since working room is tight around the burner, we recommend that you simply unscrew the three nuts at the control valve and pull out the entire burner assembly. You'll see either a slot or clips that hold it in place (Photo 2). Then either unscrew the thermocouple end or pull it out (depending on the water heater) and take it with you to an appliance parts store to find a match. Position it exactly like the old one. When relit, the pilot flame should wrap around the thermocouple bulb.

To reattach the three lines to the gas valve, thread the nuts into place with your fingers and hand-tighten them. Then snug them up with a quarter to half revolution with a wrench. The metals are soft, so don't over tighten.

Be sure to test for gas leaks. You must have the pilot lit and the burner on for this test so that gas is flowing through the large tube. Reopen the shutoff valve, relight the pilot, then turn the control valve to “on”. When the gas burner comes on, use a 50/50 dish soap/water mix to test the screw joints for air bubbles that indicate leaks.

Closed burner chamber

When Not to Replace the Thermocouple

Some gas water heaters have a “closed” burner chamber, which is difficult to access. We recommend that you call a service pro to fix this type. Also, some gas water heaters don't have pilots. Let the pros fix these as well.