Water heater not staying lit?

Well I agree with most of your other answers, but water heaters now days are like cars, sometimes you can't work on them. I agree with the thermocouple solution, but that will depend on the year, make, & model of the water heater. During the last 4 or 5 years water heaters have changed a lot. So if your water heater is pretty new it could be that the make & model does not allow for the changing of the thermocouple, the entire burner assembly needs to be replaced, for example also with new water heaters there there is a sensor, located on the outside of the water heater that comes into play with new water heaters. So if your water heater is an older model then the thermocouple is likely the problem, if it's a newer model, there is a whole new set of trouble shooting rules that come into play. With a newer model you should contact a plumber.

Your problem may be a bad thermocoupling. It's a relatively cheap little gadget, situated where the flame of the pilot light burns on it constantly. The heat from that flame causes the thermocoupling to send a little trickle of electricity to the fancy valve to tell the valve the pilot is lit. If that's not working right, then the valve thinks the pilot light is off,, and it shuts off all gas. If you're good with small tools, you could replace it yourself. Otherwise,, get a friend or plumber. Thermocouplings typically go bad after several years of use and must be replaced.

o.ok.i quite typically accept as true with the different solutions. yet, right that's how that is achieved..turn the gasoline off to the water heater. The thermo coupling is a small copper colored cord. (a million/8 of an inch diameter) VERY intently remove the top it truly is contained in the water heater. It seems probeish and merely calls for a medium tug. Then with the right wrench loosen the top on the gasoline valve. (at the front of the water heater sq. field) you ought to purchase a thermo coupling that's an same length as they arrive in a lot of. when you've the superb alternative section. Insert the probe end first. that's the top that suits right into a keeper contained in the water heater. Then carefull bend the copper cord so the male thread end will screw into the open port. The sq. field at the front of the water heater. Hand commence the tightening then end with a wrench. no longer TOO TIGHT. do not bypass loopy merely comfortable then 1 / 4 turn. turn gasoline back on.. straight forward the pilot. strong luck.

It is not the thermocoupler, it is the gas bill, you didn't pay it. If it was the thermocoupler it would not light, period. I have 4 of them sitting on the bench here because that is what everybody thinks is wrong. If it isn't the gas, gas line, or shut off valve, then it is clogged, It should have a trap on it for debris to fall into in the gas line before it enters the valve, Shut off the gas, take the cap off the nipple, and see if anything drops out, open the valve and see if any gas comes out, shut the valve, cap it up, call the gas man, or the toll free number on the heater itself, and tell them you need a new heating unit. Check it out.

with a brush,clean the gap between the thermocouple and pilot burner. if that doesn't do it,replace the thermocouple. that should get you back to hot water.

Sounds like you need to get a "thermal coupling".

Any Big Box Hardware store should carry them. Less than $10. Looks like a copper tube... unscrews from each end. Remove and replace and see if it works. 9/10 times it's that. Cheap way to check before shelling out for a new unit.

replace thermocouple