It’s a cold winter’s day, you arrive home and want to feel warm and comfortable yet you find a cold shower. Having a water heater that wouldn’t keep your shower water warm can be annoying and frustrating. And you might be asking yourself “Why won’t my water heater stay lit?”
Do not worry, we have the solution to your inconvenience. In this guide we will assist you through a certain set of instructions to help you identify the problem and possibly solve it.
It would help if you follow these instructions in their respective order to avoid any costly repairs and to ensure your heater functions appropriately. Whether you are a homeowner or a renter, if your water heater won’t stay lit–our friendly tips will assist you to solve this problem and restore warmth to your shower.
So let’s begin and dive into the troubleshooting process and get your heater to work and keep you warm and comfortable.
Maintaining a Water Heater
You must regularly clean and maintain your heater to prolong its life. But the frequency with which you must clean it varies. The frequency with which you must clean it relies on how much you use it and where the heating system is located. Also, regular upkeep helps prevent accidents and also maintains the quality of your heater.
Primarily it depends on the environment and your heater usage. Moreover, if you notice a buildup of soot or if your heater’s flames or heating are inconsistent it might be an indication that the burner needs replacement.
Step 1: Check the Gas Supply
If your water heater won’t stay lit the first thing you need to do is ensure that your heater has a steady gas flow. You can do so by following these simple steps:
Check if the Gas Valve is Open:
An open gas valve means a smooth flow of gas to the burner. However, if the valve is closed or opened partially, the burner does not light up. Therefore, your first step is to check the valve position—whether it is open.
Verify Gas Pressure:
Another leading cause of the heater failing to stay lit is inadequate supply of gas. So it would be better for you to consult a professional who can check the gas pressure to ensure that all the necessary requirements are met for the burner to stay lit.
Inspect Gas Line for Leaks:
If you smell a strange odor near the gas pipeline, check for potential gas leakage. Gas leakages are dangerous; therefore it is necessary that you must find the site of leakage. If you are unable to do so on your own, get professional help as soon as possible.
Step 2: Examine Pilot Light
Another common problem that can result in your water heater failing to stay lit is a malfunctioning pilot. To resolve this issue, you can try the following:
Clean the Pilot Light Assembly:
When you decide to clean the pilot light assembly, use soft brush or compressed air. Correspondingly, we advise you to be gentle throughout the process and get rid of dust, or debris that is causing the water heater failing to stay lit by obstructing the flame.
Adjust Pilot Light Flame:
To adjust the pilot light flame, it is better if you follow the guidelines written in the heater’s manual. Once you locate the pilot light adjustment screw- make the necessary adjustments as required.
Check Thermocouple Functionality:
Every heater has a thermocouple that can detect the pilot light. You must check its functionality by making sure that the thermocouple can detect the pilot light.
If not–then your thermocouple needs to be replaced. It is better if you consult a professional to do the job.
Step 3: Check the Thermocouple
The thermocouple is also an important part of your water heater that keeps it functioning.
You can check and maintain your heater’s thermocouple by following these steps:
Clean the Thermocouple:
Buildup of dirt and soot can affect the thermocouple’s performance. If you want to get rid of dirt or soot you should use fine sandpaper to scrub off debris. You must also make sure that you clean it correctly and that no dirt residue is left behind.
Adjust the Thermocouple’s Position:
For a thermocouple to function it needs to be in a specific location. You need to ensure that it aligns with pilot flame. If you are not sure about position–it would help if you seek assistance from a professional technician.
Replace a Faulty Thermocouple:
While installing a new thermocouple or adjusting it, seeking professional help would be best to ensure safe installation.
Step 4: Clean or Replace Burner
A dirty or damaged burner can also be the cause of a malfunctioning water heater. To resolve this you can try the following:
Clean the Burner Ports:
A dirty or clogged burner port will not be able to sustain a stable flame. Therefore, to clean it you must use soft brush or compressed air.
Also, make sure that no dirt residues should be left else they might cause a threat to your heater’s burner.
Clear Any Blockages:
Another thing you can do is to look for any potential blockages that may reduce the gas flow to the burner, which is why your heater won’t stay lit. When cleaning you should carefully clear all the ports appropriately to ensure a smooth gas flow.
Replace a Damaged or Faulty Burner:
If your heater still fails to function then it is time for you to replace the burner with a newer one. However, for this you’ll need a professional technician who can properly install the new burner.
Step 5: Check Air Intake and Exhaust
Efficient heating is also dependent on proper airflow. To ensure proper ventilation of your heater you can consider the following:
Ensure Proper Ventilation:
Improper ventilation can be a cause of inadequate combustion process and that can lead to your heater’s burner going out. So you must check that the air intake and exhaust vents are devoid of obstructions such as;
including debris,
snow, or
animal nests.
Additionally, you must ensure there is adequate airflow that facilitates combustion process.
Remove Obstructions:
We know that any blockade in a pipe can cause obstruction in the flow of both the fuel and exhaust. Therefore you need to check the air intake and exhaust vents for any potential obstruction.
Not to mention but you must clean the obstruction immediately to ensure free flow of air without any hindrance so that the water heater functions in an optimum condition.
Inspect and Clean Exhaust System:
You must also check the exhaust system for any indication of damage, which includes- crack or leakages. Then you must clean the exhaust pipe if it is covered with soot or debris. A clean exhaust system is vital for safe operation of the heater.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my heater’s burner keep turning off?
There are various reasons that lead to your heater turning off- insufficient gas supply to the burner being leading cause. Your heater might not be properly functioning because of an obstruction in the burner or light assembly. In addition, improper ventilation can also be a potential reason you must look into.
How can I fix a faulty thermocouple on my own?
If you like to DIY, you might be thinking that you can fix a thermocouple that is unable to perform its function, by yourself. However, we advise against taking matters into your hands.
Incorrect placement of a thermocouple can cause serious threat to your heater. Correspondingly, it is better for you to consult a professional to help you in this situation.
Is it normal for the pilot light flame to flicker?
The flickering of a light flame is normal in most situations. On the other hand if you notice that the flame in your heater’s burner is extremely erratic–fluctuating in size, going out often- it might be an indication of a problem.
You should check for signs of obstruction that can lead to your water heater not staying lit, clean the pilot light assembly, and ensure that the gas supply is smooth and adequate. Meanwhile, if the problem still does not resolve; it will be best for you to call for professional help.
Conclusion
Don’t let the water heater failing to stay lit take away your comfort in the chilly months. We suggest that you closely follow the instructions mentioned in this guide so that you can effectively find the problem and fix it quickly.
However, it must be noted- you must prioritize your safety above all else. And when you think the solution is beyond you, consult the assistance of a professional technician. Once repaired, ensure that you regularly do maintenance of your heater.
Hi everyone! My name is Jason, and I am the founder of HeaterWise.com. Having run my own business as a Heating Engineer for 21 years, I have picked up a few things along the way.
I wanted to create Heater Wise as a place where anyone could come, from far and wide, to find the information that they need.
I hope you will join us here at Heater Wise, to get started on your own journey, to expand your knowledge, and make the best heating choices for you and your family.
