Water heater help?

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thewishman

thewishman

Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2006
Messages
8,223
Location
Reynoldsburg, Ohio, USA.
Due to the great advice I've been given in the past, I am seeking help with a new problem:

After 14 years of flawless performance, my natural gas water heater won't stay on.

The pilot went out and I tied to replace the thermocouple. This Whirlpool model was apparently notorious for thermocouple problems and replacements are not available. Bought a replacement assembly with everything but the igniter and the actual burner. It would burn for 15 minutes and then go out. Eventually (after a day) the pilot would not stay on.

Took the old assembly and sanded off the soot and crud on the thermocouple and it worked! For a day. I can light the pilot and turn on the heater - fires right up. Burns for about 15 minutes and then there is a click and the unit shuts down. And the pilot goes out.

Just turned the temp setting to almost 100% and the burner is still going after 35 minutes. Yippee!

There are no drafts, gas supply hasn't been interrupted (except for shutting down to replace the internals) I'm stumped.

Any idea what I need to do?
 
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My son has a heater with a overtemp switch near the burner. It will kick out when the air flow is restricted. He vacuums out the screen on the bottom to clear the dust bunnies, and it will work again.
 
Typically, replacing the thermocouple will be all that is needed. Here, if your new thermocouple...mounted in the path of the pilot....is not fixing the problem, I think two options other than the dust bunny issue already stated.
Either your replacement thermocouple is not up to snuff or the control valve itself is the culprit. Do not trust the valve if you cannot completely be assured it is functioning properly.
There was just a huge explosion at an apartment building in the news...due to a natural gas leak. Take no chances. You and your family are worth more than a water heater.
With 14 years on the water heater, I would replace the whole unit instead of spending for a new control unit. The tank could start leaking in a few months.

Good luck!
 
I bought a house last year that had original water heaters from 1998, both were gas, one is in a little guest apartment and switched it to electric due to seldom use and the main kept at natural gas. I didn't even test them to see if they worked due to age I knew they would have to be replaced soon enough and I wanted it to be on my timeline and not Murphy's........I was shocked at the price tag, new efficiency rules in place so prepare for sticker shock just as a heads up!
 
I like the new heater idea. There was a gas explosion in Central Arkansas yesterday @ a home....the screen as mentioned above can be an issue...please be sure that it is vented properly....
 
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