Dirty Thermocouple Makes Pilot Light Keeps Going Out A dirty thermocouple may falsely trigger the safety device to stop ignition. The thermocouple can mistakenly turn off the gas valve and eliminate the burning flame.
Does gas keep flowing if pilot light goes out?
If your pilot light repeatedly goes out, this is a likely culprit. If this flame sensor should fail, gas will continue to flow even after the pilot light has been extinguished, causing a safety hazard, and requiring immediate repair.
What happens if water heater pilot light goes out?
If it senses that the pilot light has gone out, the thermocouple shuts off the gas supply to the flame in order to prevent safety issues with your water heater. Over time, thermocouples can begin to malfunction and shut off the gas supply to the pilot light even if it’s burning properly.
