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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

OT:Hot water heater won't stay lit,Brrrr

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redtom

09-11-2006 20:33:02




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2002 model whirlpool natural gas heater. Has good pilot flame, lights up, runs about 15 seconds then goes out. each relight after that only lasts about two seconds. I had some trouble about two years ago with cycling and was going to replace the thermocouple. I thought no problem, I always keep one here. Nope, they're left hand thread now. At that time even the plumbing supply house didn't have one. He offered to take one off a floor model. The cost,...$80! That time all I had was a plugged pilot orifice. I know a bad thermocouple will keep it from cycling back on, but will it shut it off? If I need to spend that kind of money I'd like to be sure. My first heater lasted ten years now this one four. Plus I had a cold shower tonight

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redtom

09-12-2006 18:04:27




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 Re: OT:Hot water heater fixed, Some tips in reply to redtom, 09-11-2006 20:33:02  
Thanks for the input. And yes its left hand thread. I did find a thermocouple today and the man said my model is the only one that uses the LH thread ($22). I believe its because its a "Flamelock" model. All the burner openings are enclosed so that you can spill a gallon of paint thinner next to it and it won't blow up. This means no opening for a match to light etc. One interesting thing, and it may have been my problem. Because the burner is enclosed the combustion air must come through the bottom through a "flame arrester" which is very fine stainless mesh that can plug with lint and dust. Have you ever looked under your water heater? Needless to say after a vacuuming and t-couple I'm back in business.

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KIP in MX

09-12-2006 09:42:01




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 Re: OT:Hot water heater won't stay lit,Brrrr in reply to redtom, 09-11-2006 20:33:02  
My 5 year old butane water heater rusted through the tank, so I bought another of the same size and brand, hooked it all up and checked for gas leaks at all the fittings with soapy water. Everything was fine until nine days later when I had a cold shower. Checked water heater and the thermostat/regulator had caught fire and melted all the plastic (dial, pilot starter, ect.)into a plastic puddle. Thanks goodness the heater is in an open area and house is cinder block! At least it shut off before it ruined the heater. The brass fitting that held the main burner tube in the valve body was loose and must have leaked enough butane to reach pilot light! The weasle that installed it at the facory never tightened it but it didn�t leak....for nine days. I never thought to put a wrench on all the factory installed fittings. I tried to use the old heater�s thermostat in place of burnt one, but no, different brands and tubes different sizes. Only thing that would interchange was the thermocouple. Drove all over this island town looking for a new thermostat and finally found one after three days. Still had to cut gas and pilot tubes and install different size and type fittings, as I couldn�t buy a new burner/pilot assy.

From now on, any gas appliance I buy will have a wrench put on all fittings and valves before I turn the gas on.

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Tom in TN

09-12-2006 09:07:50




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 Re: OT:Hot water heater won't stay lit,Brrrr in reply to redtom, 09-11-2006 20:33:02  
Redtom,

I think pepper is right on. I've replaced plenty of thermocouples over the years, and they have always been the cause of gas shut-offs. And yes, as pepper said, they'll shut off all of the gas, including the pilot gas if they think that the pilot light is out.

Good luck,

Tom in TN



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pepper boy

09-12-2006 05:40:34




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 Re: OT:Hot water heater won't stay lit,Brrrr in reply to redtom, 09-11-2006 20:33:02  
Thermocouple will shut all off. go to hardware store and buy universal thermocouple. I never heard of left handed thread in valve body but i guess it could be. you might not need whole assembly but just sensor part and not pilot part of thermocouple assembly. good luck. Scott.



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