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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 you remove a thermocouple and replace it?
How to Replace a Thermocouple Open the Access Cover. Remove the furnace’s access cover. Remove the Old Thermocouple. Using an open-end wrench, unscrew the nut that holds the thermocouple end fitting into the gas control valve. Install the New Thermocouple. Connect the Gas. Turn on the Gas and Power.
How do you test a thermocouple on a water heater?
How much should a plumber charge to replace a thermocouple?
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.
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.
What causes a thermocouple to fail?
METAL FATIGUE Like everything, thermocouples can’t stay new forever. Changes in temperature can cause regular expansion and contraction in metal, which will cause thermocouples to weaken over time. After enough time, metal fatigue can cause a thermocouple to break.
What causes water heater pilot to go out?
Over time, thermocouples can malfunction, accumulate dust buildup, or the device can get bent away from the pilot light’s flame. In either case, the thermocouple will struggle to sense the pilot light and stop the gas supply.
How much does it cost to replace a thermocouple on a water heater?
The cost to replace the thermocouple on a water heater is $100 to $325. The thermocouple detects whether the pilot light is lit and signals the gas control valve to turn on the gas flow. Thermocouple replacement is the most common repair needed for gas tank water heaters.
Does an electric water heater have a thermocouple?
Not all water heaters use a thermocouple. Some of the more recent models use a mercury sensor to shut off the gas valve. An electric water heaters don’t use gas at all, and therefore doesn’t need any kind of emergency gas shut off. Thermocouples can fail and require replacement.
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.
How do I know if my thermocouple is bad on my water heater?
If the pilot lights but the flame goes out as soon as you release the button after holding it for 60 seconds, then the thermocouple is bad. It’s possible to replace the thermocouple without removing the burner assembly, and many repair people do this.
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 bypass a thermocouple?
To bypass the thermocouple: Move the tilts switch wire aside. Remove your thermocouple from the heater using an 8mm wrench. Pull the valve housing aside using your 13mm socket wrench. Remove the valve using your pliers. Put your thermocouple back into position.
What does it mean when your pilot light keeps going out?
A faulty, misaligned, dirty, or damaged thermocouple is often the culprit behind your pilot light going out. The thermocouple is an automatic safety shutoff device that prevents the gas valve from opening if the pilot light is out.
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 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.
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.
What is the difference between J type and K type thermocouples?
Whereas a J Type Thermocouple is made up of iron and constantan, K type Thermocouples are composed of a nickel/chromium alloy (chrome) and a nickel/aluminium alloy (alumel) which gives them much better protection against oxidation and acidity than the iron limbs of the Type J.
Do newer water heaters have a thermocouple?
Not all gas water heaters have a thermocouple. Some newer models have an advanced temperature control system. Essentially, it is a microprocessor that constantly monitors and controls burner operation and maintains consistent and accurate water temperature levels. The flashing LED indicates that the pilot is on.
