Thermal Cupple & Gas Valve?

Right now we can't afford to replace the tank unless we absolutely have to, so we are going to just replace the thermal cupple since the pilot keeps going out. I have whirlpool sending me the thermal cupple conversion kit.

My question is should we also replace the gas valve at all? Someone suggested that could be a culprit but the Whirlpool rep said that it wasn't and that the complaints related to our issue was the thermal cupple.

If the pilot light won't stay lit, that is a symptom of a bad thermocoupler. It is an inexpensive item and easy to install, so that's what I would try first. You didn't say, but I infer that this heater may be quite old. If so, it isn't too wise to put much money into a repair. The thermocoupler may get it going again, but who can say for how long. If you do have to replace the heater, avoid the Whirlpool like the plague!

If it is a flamelock Whirlpool then there is maybe a 50% chance of it being the thermocouple. As Gary said, it is cheap and not too difficult to install. But there is a 50% chance that it will be the gas valve. The design of the gas valve is poor for the application, so they fail a lot.

If you have some experience working on gas lines and leak checking it is a job you can tackle, otherwise have someone handy do the gas valve. You should be able to take your receipt to Lowe's, tell them what you need and get the part for free/exchange with the old one. I didn't have a receipt for the water heater since I didn't purchase it, but they still gave me credit for the old gas valve and thermocouple. (I worked this out with the appliance manager first.)

Gary Swart said:

If the pilot light won't stay lit, that is a symptom of a bad thermocoupler. It is an inexpensive item and easy to install, so that's what I would try first. You didn't say, but I infer that this heater may be quite old. If so, it isn't too wise to put much money into a repair. The thermocoupler may get it going again, but who can say for how long. If you do have to replace the heater, avoid the Whirlpool like the plague!

Click to expand...

It's only 4-5 years old but it's a whirlpool and as I understand this seems to be a common problem with their product. When you say it's easy to install, how easy? I'm considering having someone come and take care of it but might reconsider if it's that easy. I know nothing about water heaters (as you can tell I spelled thermocouple wrong). I just don't want to cause further issues.

If you don't feel comfortable about replacing the thermocoupler yourself, perhaps you should call a repairman who could check the gas valve at the same time.

If it is 4-5 years old the gas valve/thermocouple threading will be reversed. Probably best to do both at the same time for this reason.

Oh Boy...

Just go up to the sticky at the top of this forum section and have a nice read...

You might try vacuming out the air intake of the heater and see if that makes a difference...you will need a shop vac and 1" CPVC pr PVC pipe and a 90 on the end to get at it but if the intake is clogged with lint because there is a dryer in thye room...this MIGHT be the problem...those heaters have so many problems there is no telling but that might be it if your very lucky...

The air intake is located on the bottom and up about 1" or so...when I say bottom I mean the space between where the legs contact the cement and the bottom of the heater...it is not easy to access....