Plumber needed

[eman]

Any of you fine folks know a reputable plumber in the B.R. area?
Got ready to take a shower this am and water heater is out. It's a gas heater and i checked and it does have gas feeding to it . My heater pilot light in the house is still on so i didn't lose gas. Tried going thru the lighting sequence and nothing?

[BananaTom]

Sounds like a thermocouple is bad. This is what senses the heat from the pilot light, and keeps the gas to the pilot light on. That same heat also allows the gas value to open when the thermostate calls for heat. Should the pilot light get blown out by high winds, or interuption of fuel, the thermocouple will cool, and it will keep unburned gas from entering the confined installation area, causing a hazard.

When a thermocouple goes bad, the pilot light will not stay lit. They are inexpensive and can be at the local hardward, and easy to replace.

So if you light the pilot, the gas at the pilot burns, and you hold the knob down for 2 minutes, and then when you let go and turn the knob, the fire at the pilot goes off, bad thermocouple.

[eman]

Hmmm pilot light won't light???

[Garfish]

Did you call your brother?
I'm sure he knows somebody.

[eman]

****head won't answer his phone

[BananaTom]

Originally Posted by eman

Hmmm pilot light won't light???

If the pilot light will not light at all, verses staying light, then it is a fuel problem. The gas is not getting to the pilot. If gas service is confirmed, then there is either a blockage at the gas value of debris in the line, or the gas value is bad.

The gas valve does has a screen located right where the gas pipe connects to it. It could be stopped up. This is common if a drip pipe was not installed in the gas line. If no debris is found, then the valve is bad.

[Garfish]

Originally Posted by eman

****head won't answer his phone

OK!! Know the feelin'.

[eman]

Originally Posted by BananaTom

If the pilot light will not light at all, verses staying light, then it is a fuel problem. The gas is not getting to the pilot. If gas service is confirmed, then there is either a blockage at the gas value of debris in the line, or the gas value is bad.

The gas valve does has a screen located right where the gas pipe connects to it. It could be stopped up. This is common if a drip pipe was not installed in the gas line. If no debris is found, then the valve is bad.

called the manufacturer and they said that this unit is designed so that if the thermo goes bad that it shuts down everything including feed to pilot . Good news is that there was a recall / mod made to this unit and they are overnighting me the fix and new thermo couple free of charge.
Bad news ,one more morning of cold showers.