Why does my pilot light go out when I release the button?

If you’re able to light the pilot light, but it goes out when you release the control knob, the thermocouple probably needs replacing. The thermocouple is a safety device that shuts off gas flow if it senses the pilot light is out, but when damaged it loses its regulatory ability.

Why won’t my pilot light stay lit on my gas heater?





If your pilot light won’t stay alight, it might be the thermocouple. Sometimes dust buildup collects on the thermocouple and blocks the sensor. Try cleaning the thermocouple and then relighting the pilot light. If it continues to go out, the thermocouple might need to be replaced.

Why will my pilot light not stay lit on my water heater?

When the pilot light on a water heater will no longer stays lit, it typically means the thermocouple is bad. Thermocouples are little electric generators that create a magnetic current that holds open a magnetic gas valve inside the control unit on the front of the water heater.

How do you fix a pilot light that keeps going out?

This is and easy fix, simply let it cool down and brush off the dirt or debris. Your thermocouple might bend. The end that sits near the pilot light flame is what communicates with the gas valve and tells it to open or close. If it is bent away from the flame it won’t register heat and will keep the gas valve closed.

Why does my furnace flame keep going out?

If your furnace keeps shutting off, it could be due to low airflow. There are several indirect issues that cause low airflow. Dirty Air Filters. If you don’t change your air filters often enough, the filters will become dirty and clogged, which means the heat exchanger retains heat and eventually causes it to overheat.

Why does my gas heater keep turning off?





The flame sensor is responsible for turning off the gas valve when no burner flame going. The sensor can’t sense the flame if it’s covered in soot, so the gas turns off prematurely and the furnace turns off. Leave the work of repairing a dirty flame sensor to a pro like Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.

When I turn my gas fireplace on the pilot goes out?

Because the fireplace cannot expel the exhaust or cannot get enough oxygen, the flame will “starve” for air and eventually everything will go out (including the pilot light). This will happen within minutes of initially turning on the fireplace.

How do I know if my thermocouple is broken?

If you can’t get the flame to light at all, and you’re sure the gas is on, there’s probably an obstruction in the pilot tube. If the flame lights and goes out when you release the gas control knob after holding it in for the recommended 20 to 30 seconds, that’s the sign of a thermocouple malfunction.

How do you test a thermocouple?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: First thing that we're going to need is our multimeter and we're gonna put it on the own setting first thing we're gonna do is we're gonna test continuity across the thermocouple.

How do I know if my thermopile is bad?



Just like the thermocouple, the thermopile can be read with a multimeter to check if it’s the cause of the problem. Three hundred millivolts or higher voltage is a sign of a good thermopile. A reading below 300 millivolts would require you to replace the thermopile.

Should thermocouple be in pilot flame?

The pilot flame should touch the thermocouple at a specific level. If the flame is blue and weak, and barely reaches the thermocouple, it needs to be stronger. If it extends well above the thermocouple, it’s too strong.

How do you check a thermopile?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Continue to hold down the gas controls thermostat knob until maximum voltage is reached. This may take up to three minutes a healthy thermo-pile.

Is a thermocouple the same as a thermopile?



The main difference between Thermocouple and Thermopile is their method of measurement. The thermocouple is a thermoelectric instrument, while the thermopile is an instrument that modifies thermal energy into electrical output.

How do you fix a thermopile?

Replacing a Thermopile

  1. Turn off the Gas Supply. …
  2. Disconnect the Wires. …
  3. Remove the Manifold Door. …
  4. Remove the Pilot Assembly and Thermopile Wire. …
  5. Place the New Thermopile Wire. …
  6. Feed the Wires Through the Manifold Door. …
  7. Install the Manifold Component Block. …
  8. Reconnect the Thermal Switch Wiring.

How long does a thermopile last?

Thermopile sensors don’t have a specific life expectancy or degradation rate. As long as they are used correctly and maintained properly, thermopiles can last for years or even decades and remain in good working condition.

How much does a thermopile cost?

24″ Thermopile

Was: $16.99 Details
Price: $15.48
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How does a thermopile sensor work?

Thermopile sensors are designed to measure temperature from a distance by detecting an object’s infrared (IR) energy. The higher the temperature, the more IR energy is emitted. The thermopile sensing element, composed of small thermocouples on a silicon chip, absorb the energy and produce an output signal.