I have an old whirlpool gas water heater and the pilot will not stay lit.

Copy following link:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-gas-water-heater.html#intellivent
http://www.thetankatwaterheaterrescue.com/forums/forum3/

Gene
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If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

1) Copy following link for troubleshoot by type of gas control valve:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-gas-water-heater.html#intellivent

2) Clean air intake located on bottom of heater of American, State, Craftmaster, Reliance, Whirlpool, Kenmore
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/Flame-trap-inspection.jpg

3) Gas control valve thermostat might be bad.

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

Probably the thermocouple.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-gas-water-heater.html#pilot
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-test-water-heater-thermocouple.html

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

Replace gas control valve?
Copy following links for troubleshoot by gas-valve type, and instructions how to replace gas control valve, and install new gas water heater.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-gas-water-heater.html#intellivent
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/How-to-replace-water-heater-gas-valve.pdf
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-install-gas-water-heater.html

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

Whirlpool water heaters are made by American-AOSmith.
Approximate age of water heater is unknown, and type of gas control valve is unknown.

Clean air intake located bottom of heater, using a feather duster.
Get more fresh air to the water heater and see if that solves problem.
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/State-select-air-intake-400.jpg

If you have piezo igniter, then check if it is putting off spark.

If there is no gas at the pilot, then gas control valve is probably bad.
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/How-to-replace-water-heater-gas-valve.pdf

If pilot will light but not stay lit, then change thermocouple.
Watch videos on utube to lean how to replace thermocouple.

For pilot light problems: Read information on following link:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-gas-water-heater.html#pilot

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

Hi,

If it is one of the new ones with the fancy gas control and the blinking light... does the light blink?? or not??
If it is blinking then the pilot should stay lit...
If it will not blink then the sensor is bad or not in the right place...

Or... the gas control is bad... this is happening alot...

If it is brand new... take it back...

heatman101

If pilot lights and flame is robust and clear blue, and pilot goes out later, then some suspects can be excluded: air in gas line, low gas pressure, thermocouple is overtightened (finger-tight + 1/4 turn), thermocouple not positioned correctly in the flame, dirty pilot tube.
If flame is yellowish and small: then clean pilot tube and combustion parts.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-install-gas-water-heater.html#clean
Remaining suspects can include: air in gas line, low gas pressure, bad gas control valve, tight house so household vent fans pull air down water heater vent that blows out pilot, hot attic with inadequate ventilation, water dripping down vent.

Open following links to read troubleshoot resources.
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Pilot-light-will-not-stay-lit.pdf
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-install-gas-water-heater.html#troubleshoot

More than likely the thermal couple is defective. The thermal couple is a safety device that shuts the gas off if the pilot goes out. If it is defective the pilot light will not stay lit. The thermal couple is the device that the small copper line goes to. It is mounted beside the pilot flame and the flame much touch the TC for it to work. If the flame is not touching the TC bend it until it is in the flame. If it is touching the TC then replace it.

there could be a small blockage in the pilot light gas nozzle which just need cleaning

get a long stick match, a flashlight remove lower inspection cover, find thermocouple and pilot light will be next to it,turn gas valve to pilot light and hold down,stick the match in by thermocouple till the pilot lights and hold valve down till pilot stays lit,this may take a minute or more,then release gas valve and see if pilot stays lit, if not retry,if it wont stay lit,the thermocouple is defective and needs replacement