Why Is My Water Heater Not Working?Posted by Melchiorsen Bird on May 23rd, 2021 A hot water heater pilot light is the little blue flame at the bottom of the heater that lights the burner when your water heater needs to heat water. The heater won't heat water if the pilot is out and it will need to be relit. In an older heater (ahead of 2002) it is possible to relight the pilot with a match or lighter. Water heaters have changed in recent years to adhere to new laws to prevent fires and explosions. The reason behind the new regulations is because residents that don't possess basements in their homes will often have their heater located in the garage. That creates an issue when a heater having an open flame is located near lawn equipment and cans of gasoline. The area at the bottom of the heater is now completely enclosed and the only way to relight the pilot is with a igniter that is located on the gas valve. There are a few causes of a pilot light going out. The first cause may be a thermocouple failing. Very simply put the thermocouple sends the message to the burner that the pilot is lit. If the thermocouple fails the burner won't light and the pilot will venture out. In an old hot water heater (prior to 2002) you are able to replace the thermocouple and hopefully be back in business. heater not turning on that you should consider is the oxygen intake. In case you have a traditionally vented heater (i.e. a heater that is gravity vented through a chimney in your home) it is possible that a down draft is occurring due to the oxygen intake being plugged. If the Fresh air intake vents at the base of the heater are plugged with debris the heater may pull its fresh air through the chimney vent. This may cause the pilot flame to be extinguished. To resolve this issue it is advisable to clean your air intake vents at the base of the heater and relight the pilot. Due to these new restrictions hot water heater manufacturers had to come up with new ways of getting fresh air to the flame without allowing the possibility of experiencing a fire start or having an explosion. This created problems with pilot lights not staying lit. Most manufactures involve some kind of venting that is located at the bottom of the heater. This venting may become plugged with debris and not allow combustion air to be studied directly into keep a flame lit. Adding to the problem is debris that may get sucked in to the heater itself. Water heaters used to possess combustion air to arrive from all sides. This design allowed for a more than adequate air supply to enter the heater keeping the flame and burner lit. With the brand new heaters how big is the air ports for fresh combustion air to enter the heater have restricted the air supply. The amount of air needed may be the same however the size of the hole that the air has to enter has been choked down causing vacuum pressure effect. This causes debris to enter the heater itself and plug screen that is located in the heater that has been added as a safety shield to prevent any flames from escaping the heater. If this occurs it's possible, although difficult, to blow out the debris.Like it? Share it! |