The pilot light wont stay on. If the thermocouple doesn't sense heat coming from the pilot light, it shuts off the gas to prevent a leak or dangerous buildup. This has happened before, and a new thermocouple always fixed the problem. The problem may be a genuine defect or it could be an issue with the sensor. You can check to see if this is your problem by seeing whether or not your pilot light is staying on. I have replaced the thermocouple to no avail. The job of the thermocouple is to determine whether or not the pilot light is lit. Assuming I was in over my head, I called the plumber who proceeded to change the thermocouple and now everything is fine. It’s not unusual for the thermocouple to collect carbon deposit buildup after a season of use. Step 5. Family is warm, what more can you ask for? Favorite Answer. However, if you are facing such issues, there may be mainly two reasons for such. Here are 5 reasons why your pilot light won’t stay lit and how you can fix it. The easiest way to tackle this home project is to abrade the rod with fine-grit sandpaper lightly. After installation, I also did the detergent test to make sure the gas connections are secure and not leaking. The thermocouple and safety shutoff do double duty, since on burners that use a pilot flame the thermocouple senses the pilot flame and won't permit the gas valve to open if the pilot is not lit. Lv 6. Is it common for thermocouples to test fine but still not actually work? The flame looks perfect, nice and blue, the thermocouple gets glowing hot when attempting to light the pilot. Answer Save. Relevance. But, sometimes, thermocouples wear out, then you may need replacing. When you push the thermocouple closer to the pilot, it will solve the problem. A couple of days go by, and as I'm changing the humidifier filter, I notice the pilot light is out once again. howdy! The thermocouple on a gas fireplace may eventually become clogged with dirt and soot, which can reduce the effectiveness of the thermocouple and may eventually prevent the fireplace from lighting as expected. I've tried two new thermocouples, and I can't get it to stay on. Its a hydro flame rv furnace… furnace gas pilot-light. I replaced the thermocouple but after 30-45 seconds it goes out. The pilot light won't stay on. tuxedo cat. Some common causes include issues with the thermocouple and pilot tube. I can light it and depress the pilot switch for 2 minutes. It could simply be that the thermocouple is bent. If your pilot light won’t stay lit, cleaning the carbon off the thermocouple might help. I tested the thermocouple with my multimeter and got 29 millivolts which meant it was still working. I have an older ruud furnace. Why does this happen? If it determines that the pilot light is off, it shuts down the flow of gas. The pilot stays lit anywhere from 20 minutes to several weeks. Mechanic's Assistant: Just to clarify, what are the exact lights you're talking about? You can test it with a multimeter. After cleaning, should the pilot light still not stay lit, it is probably time to get new equipment. Sunday, we ran out of hot water, I checked and found one of them not lit. BMitch ♦ 41.2k 13 13 gold badges 82 82 silver badges 188 188 bronze badges. ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. To adjust the pilot flame, turn the adjustment screw on the gas line, as directed by the range manufacturer. If your home furnace's pilot light won't stay lit, it's possible that your thermocouple has failed and should be replaced. The gas valve sends gas to the main burner(s), which is lit by the pilot light. 0 1. Take out the faulty thermocouple and thermopile and replace them with new ones. it's sounds like it's time to change out the gas valve. A thermocouple is typically used on a gas furnace with a standing pilot, recognizable by its small, continuously burning flame that you can see if you remove the access cover on the furnace's burner chamber. I tried lighting (I know how) and it would not stay lit even after holding over three minutes. We had a man come out and fix our furnace, he replaced the thermocouple in it. The pilot on my Rheem furnace will not stay lit. If you have a furnace with a pilot light, then you will have a thermocouple. Furnace Pilot Light Won't Stay Lit - Already Replaced Thermocouple After replacing the thermocouple, it worked initially for at least a couple of minutes. This device generates a small electric signal to keep the gas valve open when the pilot is on. Cleaning the thermocouple is a pretty simple process but should only be done when the fireplace is turned off and is completely cool. If the pilot light is not working, the gas control valve will not open and you won’t get any heat. If this still doesn’t solve your problem, you may want to consult a professional. My furnace pilot light will not stay lit. i have a williams wall furnace Model #25GV-A1-5T. The pilot light is still going out after the heat kicks off. After all, your thermocouple is sitting in direct flame its whole life. Your furnace’s thermocouple is a copper rod that sits next to your furnace burners.It’s often called the “flame sensor” because its job is to detect whether the pilot light is lit or not.If it can’t sense a flame from the pilot light, it prevents the gas valve from opening and … Thermocouples. I have an older ruud furnace. Thermocouple vs. Flame Sensor . Yesterday, I replaced the thermocouple with a universal thermocouple and cleaned out the dust and soot from the burner area. Williams Wall Furnace Pilot Light Won't Stay Lit­ It’s crucial that the end of your thermocouple (tip) is in the path of a good pilot flame. it looks like the whole unit can easily be replaced, except for a pair of yellow wires leading from a sensor at the top of the furnace vent down to where the thermocouple attaches to the gas valve. If you have a direct ignition furnace, you won’t have a pilot light. Every gas appliance with a standing pilot that cycles on and off needs a thermocouple. Your furnace pilot won't turn on when it is defective or too far away. But, once I let go of the button, the pilot immediately goes out. The thermocouple tells the furnace controller that the pilot light is working. I bought this place several months ago and trying out the furnace ('93 Rheem) at for the first time (~40 degrees this past week) but realized the pilot was out. furnace pilot went out , replaced thermocouple, pilot won't stay lit? This pilot light may not always stay lit, due to a variety of issues that may affect the gas supply or ignitor. Your furnace will still have a flame sensor, but it will be over the burner’s flame. If cleaning the thermocouple didn’t allow your pilot light to stay lit, or cleaning the thermopile didn’t allow the pilot light to generate enough electricity to open your gas valve and ignite the burner, it might be time to replace one of them. Anonymous. Maybe the pilot stays on for a moment and the furnace attempts to fire, but almost immediately shuts down. Pilot light won't stay lit after initial furnace burn. Since the thermocouple directly allows the pilot light to get turned on it is most likely to remain on for a while. Why Water Heater Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit After Replacing Thermocouple? Even after trying to relight the pilot light, you still may experience it going off. A Broken or Damaged Thermocouple – In this instance there is something wrong with the equipment and a technician would be required to replace or repair the thermocouple in order for your pilot light to stay lit again. 1 decade ago. First, inspect the flame. So what’s the deal? A faulty thermocouple may arbitrarily determine that the light is off when you want it on and vice versa. the pilot won't stay lit after replacing the thermocouple. 8 Answers. This is a safety device that closes your gas valve when the pilot light goes out so gas doesn’t enter your home. The tip of the thermocouple is positioned in the flame, keeping the tip heated at all times. Pilot won't stay lit even after replacing thermocouple on bbq! Your furnace's thermocouple, if it works normally, checks to see whether the pilot light is on or off. What's up? Attempts to re-light the pilot light are futile. Maintenance or troubleshooting should only be performed by adults familiar with operating large gas appliances. If your furnace’s pilot light won’t stay on, the furnace won’t work. furnace won't stay lit, just replaced the thermocouple? Last night I replaced the thermocouple (TC), cleaned the screen, hooked it up and it still would not light. Does my thermocouple need replacing? This is not a rare issue that most of the people can never understand. I have a Gas Wall Heater and the pilot won't stay lit. When a propane heater won’t stay lit, often what is happening is that the propane heater may sense that the flame is defective in some way, triggering the propane heater’s safety functions and causing it to shut off. These furnaces skip steps 3-5 and instead light the burner directly. The thermocouple detects the pilot light via sensors. If you cannot get the pilot light on your Rheem furnace to light and stay lit, the most common problem is a bad thermocouple. Other Reasons for Gas Fireplace that Won’t Stay Lit Replace if Cleaning Did Not Work. I hold the button down in excess of 3 minutes and as soon as you release, the pilot light goes out immediatly. It won't stay on. try not to bend them close to the end where it attaches to the valve and at the pilot burner. When a pilot light won’t stay lit on your gas water heater, this is exactly what you can expect. If after inspection you determine there is a carbon buildup on it, try cleaning it off. 1 decade ago. … read more. M Oglesby. Try Cleaning Off Your Thermocouple if Your Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit. Adjustments for your furnace thermocouple. The pilot in my gas water heater (Aquamax 205) has been going out sporadically over the last 2 weeks. The tech found the new gas valve to have a fault, as it won't switch to "off", only pilot or on, but I don't think this has anything to do with the pilot going out. When finished, the pilot should be lit and stay lit. Thermocouples detect pilot lights by sensing the heat they produce. Step 3: If the pilot flame won't stay lit after several tries, it should be adjusted by a professional. It will stay lit after initial light, but will go out after furnace runs. If the pilot lights but won't stay lit, the thermocouple is probably bad. So the pilot on my furnace wouldn't stay lit. Don't try to adjust the mechanism or tamper with the gas line. Luckily, this is a relatively simple procedure with the right tools and equipment. share | improve this question | follow | edited Oct 29 '13 at 1:23. If not, then you need to either clean or do a gas furnace thermocouple replacement. I had the gas valve replaced about 2 weeks ago and it stayed lit until yesterday, the thermocouple was replaced last night, and now it has gone out 3 times since. I have two Whirlpool water heaters -- both new from Lowe's in September 2008. Troubleshooting this issue may be helpful in determining the source of the problem and helping users identify a potential resolution. 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