How do you unclog a pilot light?
You can clear the pilot orifice with a piece of wire or a wire brush, and it isn’t difficult to access.
- Remove the cover plate at the bottom of the water heater.
- Turn the gas control to the “Off” position.
- Locate the pilot tube.
- Clean the pilot hole by brushing it with a stiff wire brush.
What happens when a thermocouple on a pilot light fails?
It consists of a heat sensor connected to a solenoid; when the sensor is not heated by the pilot flame, the solenoid closes the gas supply line. When a thermocouple fails, the pilot light won’t stay lighted. A burned out or broken thermocouple should be replaced. To replace a thermocouple:
How is a thermocouple connected to a gas flame sensor?
Some gas fired heating equipment relies on an electronic ignition to ignite the flame. Those devices generally will not use a thermocouple. If a thermocouple is used you’ll see a small copper tube (or in some devices an electrical wire) connecting the flame sensor to the valve.
What happens when a gas thermocouple is broken?
It consists of a heat sensor connected to a solenoid; when the sensor is not heated by the pilot flame, the solenoid closes the gas supply line. When a thermocouple fails, the pilot light won’t stay lighted. A burned out or broken thermocouple should be replaced.
When does a thermocouple need to be used?
Thermocouples are used with a 100% shutoff gas valves. When there is insufficient pilot flame or a defective thermocouple, all gas is shut off through the main valve. When the pilot is heating up the thermocouple it produces a small DC voltage.
How does a defective thermocouple affect the pilot flame?
When there is insufficient pilot flame or a defective thermocouple, all gas is shut off through the main valve. When the pilot is heating up the thermocouple it produces a small DC voltage. This DC voltage energizes a solenoid in the gas valve that holds the safety valve open to keep gas flowing to the pilot.
When to replace a gas thermocouple pilot light?
A faulty thermocouple should be replaced. Older gas appliances may have pilot lights that provide instant ignition when the gas is turned on. The pilot light is a small open flame that is fed by a steady flow of gas. Problems occur when the gas flow is obstructed or misdirected, or when the pilot is blown out.
Some gas fired heating equipment relies on an electronic ignition to ignite the flame. Those devices generally will not use a thermocouple. If a thermocouple is used you’ll see a small copper tube (or in some devices an electrical wire) connecting the flame sensor to the valve.
How to test a thermocouple on a gas refrigerator?
Then, press the ignition until the pilot light comes on. Hold the ignition to bypass the thermocouple, and then give the heat sensor roughly 30 seconds to heat up. The flame should be steady and mostly blue, and the thermocouple should be about half an inch inside the flame.
