I've got one is not working, and it's only about 3 years old. Yes, the gas bill has been paid.

I don't know a thing about them, other than I know they have a pilot light. But I don't see the light "burning" anywhere, and I'm not comfortable trying to light it with no experience. Anyone have an idea here? Hate to spend the $$$ for a plumber for something that seems so simple.

I know nothing about hot-water heaters...tell me more!

What is a Hot water heater?

yessss, i'm not the only one!

If it's already hot, why does it need to be heated?

as for your question, there ought to be instructions on the heater on how to light the pilot, if you see it's not lit.

it is a little intimidating, just be careful and keep the area ventilated (meaning take the cover plate off so gas doesn't build up underneath if for some reason it won't light).

if that doesn't work, or you still aren't comfortable doing it, you're gonna have to call a pro out.

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If it's already hot, why does it need to be heated?

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SUPER HEATED HOT water heater!

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as for your question, there ought to be instructions on the heater on how to light the pilot, if you see it's not lit.

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Yup...the amount of gas needed for the pilot is VERY small, so you may not actually smell it if the area is well ventilated, I'm not sure if there is a safety shut off or anything.

you may not, but if i remember mine right if it doesn't catch after a few seconds you're supposed to let go of the button to cut the gas off and then wait for a minute or two to let any gas clear out.

post the make and model of the water heater.

Most of the "Water heaters" have a thermocouple to detect the pilot light. If no heat is detected after about 15 or seconds (maybe less), a valve shuts off.

Just follow the instructions on the side. You might take a flashlight to shine in the bottom to see where the pilot is. It should look like a small, crimped piece of tubing, about an inch long. You can do it with matches; a flick-n-flame is easier and safer.

Twist the knob to "Pilot" and push down for about 20 seconds, stick the lighter in and it should light. Continue to hold the knob and twist it to "normal" operations. Ta-Daa!

~egon

Had a guy come over yesterday, pretty easily got it going. Felt stupid, but lighting gas freaks me out for some reason. It was the pilot light...weird that it just "went out" though.

I call them hot water heaters, too.

Whatever they're called they scare me....my wife's "cold water heater" busted open at her apartment in cs and she had a foot of water in her apartment. I want to get mine out of my attic and into the garage.

I bought a "tankless" water heater with my house six years ago. It's a Microtherm from Houston. I'm on my third one. It's electric and takes 4 220 lines.

I kind of wish I bought a Rinnai, gas model instead.

Is it a sealed unit? IE you push a button to light the pilot? Or one that you use a lighter?

Don't feel too bad if it is sealed, they are hard to light because you cant see very well down there.

The pilot should not normally go out. If it happens regularly you may have a backdraft type problem or a problem with the thermocouple (a sensor that tells the control the pilot is on so that the gas keeps flowing. I had a 7 year old unit that the thermocouple died on - they do go bad. They can be replaced, but depending on the age of the unit and location it sometimes makes more sense to replace the whole thing.

Google "lighting the pilot for a hot water heater"
Watch the videos.



[This message has been edited by BBDP (edited 7/7/2009 12:58p).]