Why Your Water Heater Pilot Light Keeps Going Out? Easy Fix

Are you tired of experiencing your water heater pilot light keeps going out?

It is one of the most frustrating situations especially in winter because then you are left with lukewarm or cold water. Have you ever wondered why did it happen or how you can get away with this issue?

Sometimes the reason is simply that we can easily fix it at home if we are aware of the right procedure. In this guide, we will explain the actual cause of this problem and how you can fix it. Let’s get started.

What is Water Heater Pilot Light?

It is a small flame that is said to be the most important part of the heater. If the flame turns off, it will stop supplying hot water.

Whenever you see that the pilot light is not ‘On’ or it has been turned off, you can relight it but in case, it didn’t work out, there can be different possibilities which we will discuss below so that you can fix it at home.

Why Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit

A small thing can also cause your heater to be turned off. If the pilot goes off, you should turn it on again. Or there will be shortage of hot water.

Below are a few causes that might be the reason the water heater pilot light won’t stay lit. Carefully have a look so that the next time you are not blank whenever you face this issue again.

1. Issues in Thermocouples

A thermocouple is one of the most important components of a pilot burner assembly that is attached to the gas control valve. Whenever your pilot light turns off even after burning it again and again it clearly means there is some issue in the thermocouple.

You can easily replace it without touching the burner assembly if the thermocouple is broken and better call someone for this work so that they can do it efficiently.

However, if it only requires some cleaning, you can do it at home but do not forget to switch off the main supply in order to save yourself from unpleasant accidents. You can do it with the help of sandpaper and a scrubber.

2. Less Combustible Air

It is another common reason that indicates why your water heater pilot light goes off again and again. The water heater needs air so that the burner keeps giving light. If it doesn’t get enough air, the light will turn off.

Hence, ensure the water heater doesn’t contain any debris or lint because these are the common causes of low combustible air. Ensure the surrounding area of the water heater is always tidy so that you do not have to face this issue due to this reason.

3. Dirty Pilot Tube

If the issue in the pilot light is due to a dirty pilot tube do not worry because it normally happens. The main purpose of a pilot tube is to give gas so if it is surrounded by dirt and debris, it won’t be able to perform its work.

The flame will instantly go out due to dirt and sometimes it keeps fluctuating because it still provides a little gas. Ensure the pilot tube is dust-free so that this issue won’t occur again. With the help of a slender needle, you can get away with this clogging issue.

4. Issue in Main Control Valve

This issue is not common and people hardly witness it yet if the above-mentioned problems are not the cause of the pilot light issue, you can examine it once.

However, before checking the main control valve, do not forget to have a look at the thermocouple and pilot tube. The main motive of this valve is to give gas and water pressure to the heater.

In the start, it regulates little gas and once the light is on, it starts giving it to the fullest. You can not fix this issue at home so better call someone who can examine and function it. You might also have to replace this valve so that this issue never happens again due to this cause.

5. Bad Electrical Wiring

For any wiring work, always call an expert because they are better aware of their work. Bad electrical wiring could also be the reason for pilot light issues.

If the heater light instantly shuts down, you can easily predict that this issue is due to poor wiring. Immediately call someone and get your wiring fixed.

How to Fix Pilot Light Problem?

Now you are familiar with the actual causes, let’s get facilitated with the fixes as well so that you are able to perform this work at home. In the future, whenever you are going to light a pilot light, you can follow the below-mentioned steps.

Get your hands on the shut-off knob of the gas and shut it off. Now, wait for the next few minutes till it completely stops releasing gas.
In order to reach the burner, you have to pull out the access panel.
Now you have to begin the gas flow by turning the knob to the pilot setting. Press and hold it down.
Keep pressing the knob and with another hand, turn on the pilot light.
Once you are done, you can turn the knob of gas to the ‘on’ setting and now wait until you listen to a voice that indicates the burner is on. It is how you can turn on a water heater.

If the issue couldn’t be fixed with these steps, check for the above-mentioned causes and try to fix them as mentioned.

Where the Water Heater Pilot Light Locates?

There is an access panel that you can easily find at the water heater’s base. Inside the panel, the water heater pilot light keeps burning. However, it stops if it faces any issue as discussed above.

You can easily check whether the flame is burning or not through that panel that has a glass window. It is vital that the pilot light keeps lit so that you get warm water to bathe or in order to wash dishes, especially in cold temperatures.

If you experience lukewarm water or cold water, you can get to that panel and check the status of the pilot light. If the issue is big, you can reach out to some pro for help.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

The guide didn’t end here as we have a lot of other queries to discuss as well regarding the water heater thermocouple and gas hot water heater. Here we go.

What’s a Pilot Light?

It is a small flame that stops supplying hot water whenever turns off. If it didn’t turn on after relighting, it might be due to different reasons that you can recover at home. The possibilities are mentioned above.

Why Does the Pilot Light on the Water Heater Keep Turning Off?

If your pilot light of the water heater keeps turning off, check the condition of the thermocouple. The thermocouple might be broken that needs to be replaced or it might be dirty that you can clear out with cleaning.

Moreover, it might be due to bad wiring or a problem with the main control valve. Whatever the problem is, you can easily get rid of it without anyone’s assistance.

What I Do if the Water Heater Pilot Light Keeps Fluctuating?

If your water heater light keeps giving you a tough time, check all the main components that supply gas to the heater. Look for the thermocouple that whether it is faulty or not.

Also, look at whether the water heater getting enough combustible air or it is surrounded by dirt. The pilot tube might also be dirty that resulting in fluctuation of the pilot light. In the end, do not forget to check the main supply valve.

Can You Replace a Thermocouple by Yourself?

Yes, you can replace it yourself at home by following the right procedure. Shut off the main valve before jumping into this work and pull out the thermocouple assembly and burner.

If you don’t have any know-how about this work, do not indulge in such work and better call someone because your little mistake can cause a significant issue.

How Do I Prevent My Pilot Light From Going Out?

If your pilot lights keep getting off, there is a simple rule that you have to check first before moving towards the thermocouple or wiring.

Get your hands on a brush and simply remove dust and dirt from the heater because sometimes due to not getting enough combustible air, this issue occurs and can be fixed easily at home.

Conclusion

Have you ever wondered Why Your Water Heater Pilot Light Keeps Going Out? If you have been looking for the exact answer, I hope this guide did justice to it.

I have mentioned all the causes and solutions in the simplest way possible so that you can easily get your hands on this work in the future if you will ever experience this problem.

The most common cause of this problem is dirt and debris that occur over time. Hence, before calling someone or before stepping into the complicated task, it is better to remove dust from the water heater and other components thoroughly.

You can use sandpaper and a scrubber in this regard. If the problem still lies, check the condition of the thermocouple, look for the pilot tube, examine the wiring and last but not least, check the faulty main control valve.

I hope after reading this guide, you will be able to deal with this complication in a better way. In case of any queries, feel free to ask and we would love to get back to you.