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Can I replace a thermocouple myself?
1 cause of pilot lights that won’t stay lit is a worn-out thermocouple. It’s easy to replace and a new one costs $5 to $10. Then detach the thermocouple from the burner and take it with you to the home center or hardware store to ensure you buy the right replacement.
Is it difficult to replace a water heater thermocouple?
Thermocouples are designed to detect a pilot light’s loss of heat and close the gas valve to prevent a gas leak. Replacing a thermocouple is a relatively easy fix that can take less than two hours.
How do I know if my thermocouple is bad on my water heater?
A worn out thermocouple is one of the most common gas water heater problems. When thermocouples wear out, the pilot light goes out, the burner won’t light, and you will have no hot water.
How much should a plumber charge to replace a thermocouple?
Hot water heater repair cost Service Average cost to repair Leak repairs $100 – $1,000 Pilot light replacement $50 – $200 Pressure relief valve replacement $50 – $300 Thermocouple replacement $100 – $325.
Are water heater thermocouples universal?
Universal Thermocouples. Universal thermocouples, as the name implies work on most water heaters. They are available online and in home supply stores for a reasonable cost. The length and the thread type are the two concerns when purchasing one.
Why the pilot light goes out on the water heater?
Your thermocouple senses when your pilot light is burning. If it senses that your water heater pilot light keeps going out, the thermocouple will shift off the gas supply to the heater. Over time, thermocouples can malfunction, accumulate dust buildup, or the device can get bent away from the pilot light’s flame.
Can you clean a thermocouple?
Yes, you can clean a thermocouple, but the task must be done with a light touch. Remove the thermocouple from the process assembly, using a steel wool or emery cloth, lightly clean the tip removing any build up.
Who replaces thermocouple?
Honeywell, White Rodgers, and other manufacturers make universal replacement thermocouples, usually with a 30-millivolts (mV) rating for standing-pilot furnaces.
How much does a thermocouple cost for a water heater?
Thermocouple – $20 to $150 The thermocouple is an apparatus that senses whether the pilot light is lit and triggers the gas control valve. Repairs typically cost about $150 to have it done professionally, though a new thermocouple itself only costs about $20 on average.
What does it mean when your pilot light won’t stay lit?
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.
What happens when thermocouple goes bad?
Normally when the thermocouple malfunctions or isn’t working, it simply shuts off the gas to your heater. This is important, particularly if the pilot light is out, because it prevents harmful gas from leaking into your home.
How do you troubleshoot a thermocouple?
Importantly, always make sure the tip of the thermocouple is directly in the pilot flame. If the tip is in the flame, you have held the nob on the gas valve down for longer than a minute, the pilot flame is strong and steady, and the pilot still does not stay lit, then you likely have a problem with the gas valve.
How do you diagnose a bad thermocouple?
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.
Where is a thermocouple located on a hot water heater?
The thermocouple is part of the water heater’s burner assembly and is positioned next to the pilot light. It slides into a bracket and is held in place by a couple of clips. The thermocouple line runs outside the heater and is connected to the gas control valve, which is located on the outside of the tank.
Are thermocouples interchangeable?
Commercial thermocouples are interchangeable, economical, and supplied with standard connectors. Unlike most other temperature measurement devices, external form of excitation is not required for thermocouples because they are self-powered.
What is a thermocouple on a hot water heater?
The thermocouple is a thermoelectric device that shuts off the gas supply to the water heater if the pilot light goes out. Its function is simple but very important for safety. The thermocouple generates a small amount of electrical current when it has been heated by the flame.
How do I choose a thermocouple?
How to choose a Thermocouple Determine the application where you will use the thermocouple sensor. Determine the temperature ranges the probe will be exposed to. Determine how important a fast response time is. Consider any chemical, abrasion or vibration resistance. Consider any installation requirements.
How do I know what kind of thermocouple I need?
A thermocouple should exhibit very low resistance. Attach the negative lead to the red wire, and the positive lead to the yellow. In this case, the reading will be about three ohms. Thus we can conclude that this sensor is a thermocouple.
Are furnace and water heater thermocouples the same?
While most furnaces and boilers have a thermocouple, in some boilers and gravity furnaces a thermopile (pilot generator) will generate electricity to operate the gas control valve. You can distinguish this device from the metal tube of a thermocouple by the two wires in sheathing that lead to it.
