Water Heater pilot won't light

[Microman]

Had to turn off water heater, because we were putting a plug on a line in the remodeling of the Kitchen.
Now water heater won't in light.

Push on the DiazoElectric starter, and push down on the PILOT control in the correct position, but still no go.

Any tricks. There is a window, that I suppose to be able to look thru, and see if things are happening, but it is sorta fogged/ heat/ unusable… to see thru.

Maybe it just takes time to get the air out.

Water heater is not that old, just a couple of years, or 5.

[cbelt3]

Push and hold pilot for 1-2 seconds, THEN push the igniter and keep holding PILOT. If no blue flame, let go of PILOT. Wait 1 minute, then try again. DO NOT keep PILOT held down too long.. the chamber will fill with gas and you will get a nice little kaboom.

If you DO get a blue flame, hold the PILOT Down for a count of 10 before letting go. If the blue flame goes out, you may need to open the combustion chamber and clean off the thermostat with a toothbrush or steel wool.

[Microman]

Ge Model SG50T12TXK00

Will look for manual, even though lighting instructions are on the outside.

Haven't found it in my files yet, and can't locate on line.

Will keep trying.

At one time I saw a spark coming from the wire to the Water Heater, and I moved the bigger insulation that was connecting the two different wires in series up to cover that end , and that no longer happens, but still no ignite.

[OWC Jamie]

Thermocouple is likely shot and needs replaced. Simple fix.

[rgG]

OWC Jamie wrote:
Thermocouple is likely shot and needs replaced. Simple fix.

Most likely this.
In my experience, it is usually a bad thermocouple.

[Jack D.]

rgG wrote:
[quote=OWC Jamie]
Thermocouple is likely shot and needs replaced. Simple fix.

Most likely this.
In my experience, it is usually a bad thermocouple.
:agree:

Looks like this and just screws in where the old was.

[eustacetilley]

Also check for spiders. For some reason they are inordinately fond of plugging up pilot lights with little spider eggs.

Eustace

[pdq]

Water heater worked like a champ for 15+ years. Then the pilot light started going out at unexpected, unpredictable times - result: cold showers.

Internet says replace thermocouple. Easy, cheap fix. Didn't work. Pilot light lights, heater works, sometime later, pilot goes out.

Then summer came. All better. No problem for months.

Then winter came. Same problem. Aha! Must be snow clogging the vent. Except vent was clear. Cleared snow all around anyway. Didn't help.

Wife says, I'm tired of no hot water at unexpected time. Okay. Water heater is 16+ years old now. Sprung for new, bigger (expensive!) one, installed by plumber.

Pilot light still goes out. On _new_ water heater.

Called plumber. He talks to HVAC friends - maybe vent is clogged. Comes out again and checks vent - says vent is fine. Maybe gas pressure is a little low. Replaces gas regulator.

Pilot light _still_ going out - twice this week. In spring/summer (now). I'm almost embarrassed to call the guy back out, cause I'm sure he thinks we're just messing with him.

Now I don't know what to do. Move?

[MikeF]

pdq -- where is the vent with regards to house and/or eaves? Does it happen when windy? Our gas water heater is outside in a closed corner and when it's really, really windy, the pilot has been known to blow out.

[Octave Doctor]

If the water heater's been on for a few years, the down time may have kludged the thermocouple. And sometimes you get a bad one brand new. I'd buy two, either to have a spare or to avoid a second trip. Yep, one more thing that's not made like they used to be.

Vents can become a problem if somethings been built close by or a tree's grown up close to it. You may need to extend it to get a clear shot.