Sounds like the thermocouple:
The thermocouple is a safety device that turns off the gas if there is
no pilot light. If you look closely at the burning pilot light, there
is a small metal tube that sits directly in the flame, with wires that
lead back to the gas valve. The thermocouple generates a small amount
of electrical current when heated by the flame. This current keeps the
gas safety valve open. If the pilot light gets blown out, the current
stops and the gas valve closes. When you light the pilot light, you
hold down the over-ride button for about 30 seconds. This allows the
gas to flow long enough to heat up the thermocouple and generate current
and then you can release the over-ride button and gas will continue to
flow. If the thermocouple is defective, then as soon as you release the
over-ride button, since there is no electrical current, the gas will
stop flowing and the pilot light will go out.
This is a pretty common failure on water heaters and furnaces.
Replacement of the thermocouple is fairly simple if you are the handyman
type. If not, the thermocouple is a cheap part -- about $10 bucks, but
the service call may run you $100 or so. Before you call a serviceman,
get all of the brand and model information from the information plate
on the heater so he can bring the proper replacement part. And sorry for your trouble. hope this helps:)
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