To clean the thermocouple in a water heater is an important maintenance procedure.
Dirty thermocouple water heater.
How does this happen.
A thermocouple is basically a safety device on the heater.
If you can light your pilot light but it keeps going out the first item to check is the thermocouple.
When a faulty thermocouple gives improper readings it can shut off the gas supply to the furnace even when the pilot light is working.
Before you replace a broken hot water heater check to make sure the thermocouple still works.
Hence hot water supply will cease today we ll show you how to clean the thermocouple on your water heater to avoid this inconvenience.
It s a simple inexpensive repair that could save you a bundle.
Over the years your water heater s pilot tube can become dirty and clogged resulting in your pilot light s inability to stay lit.
If you have a gas water heater a dirty thermocouple could be to blame.
Gas based heaters can be dangerous because it can heat up faster and also there may be gas valve leaks.
When the water heater is first lit a valve releases gas into the burner and the pilot light ignites that gas.
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.
A dirty thermocouple if the pilot light isn t working properly that could mean that soot has built up on the thermocouple.
If after you ve fully inspected the thermocouple your gas water heater pilot light keeps going out then you ll want to inspect the thermocouple.
Gas water heaters which use a pilot to light the burner will also have a thermocouple or thermopile to monitor the pilot a thermopile is essentially multiple thermocouples connected in a series making the.
Inside the burner compartment of your gas water heater right in front of the pilot light is a small metal cylinder called a thermocouple.
And how to clean pilot tube on a patio heater so let s get going with the details how to clean a thermocouple on a patio heater.
What is a thermocouple and why does my water heater need one.
Even though this procedure is very simple it is still difficult to do without any precautionary measures.
How to replace thermocouple on a gas water heater.
After about 30 seconds heat from the ignited pilot light flame activates a simple electrical switch called a.
If you don t it will eventually prevent the water from heating up.
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.
This buildup can lead to the thermocouple not properly detecting heat or loss thereof.
Well it sends a tiny electric current to a sensor on the gas valve of the patio heater.
