The ignighter just went out and the pilot light would not stay on
I have a Lowe's Whirlpool water heater. I've experienced the same problems as I've seen described here. My pilot light started going out several times a day. It was not such a big deal, the tank is well insulated so the water would stay warm - I'd just re-light the pilot before going to bed and before going to work. That worked well for about three days, but the problem got progressively worse until it just would not light at all. I replaced the thermocouple with a Honeywell universal thermocouple that I got at Home Depot - that did not solve the problem. I'm very handy, so I decided instead of going through warranty service and having to wait three or four days for replacement parts, I'd buy a new gas valve at Lowes and try that. It cost $54.00 and it worked. By the way, I put the original thermocouple back in and the pilot light stays lit - it was definitely the gas valve and not the thermocouple in my case. It was a real pain to do since I had to drain the tank, but it only took about three hours total. From what I've read, these things last anywhere between six months and two years. That's ridiculous, but at least I have hot water now. If you are reading this because you are considering purchasing a Lowes hot water heater, DON'T!!! I started my search for a replacement gas valve at Home Depot, but they don't stock them. Lowes had 8 on the shelf. That tells you something right there - the water heaters Home Depot stocks don't need to have the gas valves replaced before the tank wears out - there's no demand for the valves so Home Depot doesn't stock them. Lowes probably sells 8 of them a week - all the boxes were shiny and new, not dirty and dusty like some items get when they sit around in home improvement stores.
I purchased my Whirlpool hot water heater at Lowes 04/2008. The pilot light started going out in June 2009. I called customer support and spoke with a lady from India who was difficult to understand. She said it was the gas valve. I could pick up the part at Lowes and send off the receipt to get reimbursed or I could have Sear's come out and replace it four days later. I bought the part and put it on. However, I removed the plastic covering on the metal rod probe (thermostat). I didn't know to keep it on as the imbeciles who designed them didn't put that in the instructions. The part is on without the plastic covering the probe and so far is working better than when I first bought it. I don't know what the plastic covering did for it looked liked part of the packing to keep it from getting damaged. Oh well the first one lasted 14 months if the next one lasts 14 months then it really doesn't make much difference. Whirlpool is junk.
THE THERMOCOUPLE GENERATES A SMALL ELECTRICAL CURRENT IN MILIAMPS TO ACTIVATE WHEN HEATED , MAKE SURE YOU HAVE IT ADJUSTED PROPERLY IN THE FLAME PATTERN , AND THE CONNECTION IS CLEAN AND TIGHT AT THE POINT OF CONNECTION TO VALVE , IF YOUR SURE THIS IS DONE COULD HAVE BAD VALVE ( very rare for new valves ) usually proper adjustment since you added new therocoupling)
Solution: Don't replace a gas valve unless you are sure that its the problem. In my case, thermocouple was the problem. I guess whirlpool has already realized that there is something awfully wrong with their thremocouples. At lowe's, free upgrade kits of the thermocouples are available. I upgraded the thermocouple in my water heater and since then its working fine. Solution to my problem turned out to be FREE.
Every time I read about a promblem with a whirlpool water heater pilot going out, no one mentions why the water heater failed in the first place. all 40 and 50 gal. water heaters manufacture after 2003 have a flame arrestor or air intake screen that has to be kept clean or the piot light will fail. vacuum the flame arrestor with a brush every 6 months . good luck
Bought a whirlpool water heater from loew's, 4/08. Having the same problem, i now see from reading all the comments, with the pilot light not staying lit. To top it off this happened christmas eve and no one was available due to the holiday. A contractor came out saturday and put a new thermocouple in with no luck. The guy gave up and said he didn't what else to do, go figure. Sear's is coming out monday, 5 days later, hopefully they'll know what to do, since this seems to be a common problem with whirlpool. NEVER again, from Lowe's and whirlpool.
My Whirlpool pilot will lite but only stay lit about 5 seconds then it goes out. What could my problem be? I understand Whirlpool has had problems in the past with this .
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Pilot light continues to go out and the water heater is less than a year old.
I have the same problem. Whirlpool Flamelock 40-gal bought this year. Called support number, after I went through their testing procedure they said it's the thermocouple. Said they'd ship it to me in 4 days. I can't wait, so they said buy it at Lowes and they will reimburse. Bought one, installed it myself worked a little while and it failed the same night. Now will go to Lowes and see if they can do something, otherwise I'll call a specialist. - Fred
polite lite wont stay lite !
Licensed friend stops by about twice a year and says it is dirty pilot. So he takes it apart and cleans it and it works great for a few months. But now it happens every few weeks. I took it apart myself and it was clean. My Whirlpool waterheater is only 3 1/2 years old so this is very frustrating. I never had this problem in the past. My last waterheater was over 20 years old and I didn't have this problem once.
Mine lights but when water is hot it goes out and I have to re-light it again.
_Albuquerque
Pilot light went out, but would relight for couple days. Went out again stayed lit for a few hours. Finally would not relight. Tested thermocouple and had 18 milivolts. Called whirlpool for warranty since the heater is less than 1 yr old. The folks at Whirlpool know they have an ongoing problem with the gas valve because they were so quick to ship one out. I just hope the new valve has the modifications to be more reliable. By the way the model is a 40 gal with the flame lock safety system.
same problem . for the 2cnd time whirlppol is shipping my parts to fix it. who knows how long this will last. and ofcourse, lowes dosnt care ... they keep saying after thier 1 year warrenty its not thier problem. im going back to my local applince store that has been there for the last 40 years. the sell for less and you get awhole lot better service. CASPERS APPLIANCE , please dont ever close up....
sux!
i can light the gas water heater with the reset but it will not stay lite.
Pilot light went out. When relit, blinks 4 times indicating "high temperature shutdown". What does this mean?
replace ignitor flame sensor saaembly
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