WHY WON'T HOT WATER TANK IGNITER WON'T SPARK

SOURCE: new gas water heater pilot light will not ignite

Hi .. if this is a brand new heater, then you probably need to have the gas line bled. This means getting all the air out of the gas line feeding the burner. This can be done by constantly trying to light the burner or poilot . or it can be bled down by a HVAC tech.

Mike Butler

• 6674 Answers
• Posted on May 25, 2010

SOURCE: I have atwood pilot relight model gc6aa-8 pilot

So are you saying that the first initial lighting of the pilot, without turning to on, works o.k., good flame etc, ? If not sure, try lighting pilot only, and leave setting at pilot only, and see if it's a good flame, and get back to me.

SOURCE: 50 gal gas water heater

You may not have purged out all of the air from the gas line, it does take forever...

SOURCE: 7-25-11. Purchased Reliance 909 model

The problem requires looking at manual and service handbook, except handbook doesn't show most recent water heater.
My first check point would be gas supply, and then vent draft, and then air supply.
Take off front cover and try lighting again to make sure air supply is not problem.
Review lighting instructions.
If there is no gas, and gas is turned ON, then gas control valve is suspect.

On-line manual for Reliance 909 gas
http://www.reliancewaterheaters.com/lit/om/manuals/186486-002.pdf
Reliance 2006 service handbook:
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Reliance-2006-Service-Handbook.pdf

Other resources:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-install-gas-water-heater.html#troubleshoot
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/Test-water-heater-vent-1400.jpg
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/Water-heater-in-attic-800.jpg

SOURCE: the pilot won't stay lit on gas hot water tank.

Make sure thermocouple tip is seated inside the burner flame.
Make sure thermocouple is not overtightened. Finger-tight + 1/4 turn.
If the pilot lights, then ECO energy cut off is not tripped, but gas control valve might be bad.
Check color of pilot flame: it should be strong and clear blue.
If pilot flame is weak, or color of flame is yellow-orange: Clean pilot orifice and burner and combustion parts on yearly basis.
Clean air intake screen if applicable.
Increase air supply to water heater. Open a window and see what happens.
Check for adequate draft going up chimney using match under vent hood to see if smoke drafts immediately upwards.
Bleed air out of gas line.
Check gas pressure.

Open following links for troubleshoot resources:
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Pilot-light-will-not-stay-lit.pdf
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Pilot-outage-troubleshooting.pdf
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Vent-spillage-test-atmospheric-gas-water-heater.pdf
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-install-gas-water-heater.html#troubleshoot