05-15-2014, 09:55 PM
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?
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?