Why is the pilot light blowing out on my water heater?

By Emily Dawson

Why is the pilot light blowing out on my water heater?

You may have faced a situation where whenever it gets windy, the water heater’s pilot gets blown out. Check if your thermocouple is dirty, clogged, damaged, or worn out, and repair it. Also, a downdraft coming from your air vent may cause the problem. The water heater pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas burner on your water heater.

How to stop wind from blowing out pilot light?

If you need additional help determining a lousy thermocouple, check out our guide on making that determination. If you need to replace it, be sure to turn off the power and the gas. You should be able to loosen a series of nuts, bolts, or screws nearby the thermocouple and twist it off.

What does a draft hood on a water heater do?

A draft diverter, also known as draft hoods, collects the exhaust gases from the flues of a water heater to be safely vented to the exterior. A draft diverter ensures a tank doesn’t soot up or that poisonous exhaust gases don’t cause a backdraft into the water heater closet.

Are there HVAC techs who heat houses with water heaters?

👉 For more insights, check out this resource.

There really aren’t that many HVAC techs who heat houses with water heaters, so you won’t necessarily get the best answer from them, as they generally have far less experience with devices they aren’t called to install nor fix. It’s somewhat like calling a bus mechanic to fix a car, the devices seem alike because they have gas and venting.

What does the pilot light on a water heater do?

👉 Discover more in this in-depth guide.

The Pilot Light is the heart of your water heater. It’s a small blue flame that burns petroleum gas to produce heat. Without this flame, there would be no heat, and thus no warm water. So, What Are The Reasons Your Water Pilot Light Keeps Going Out?

If you need additional help determining a lousy thermocouple, check out our guide on making that determination. If you need to replace it, be sure to turn off the power and the gas. You should be able to loosen a series of nuts, bolts, or screws nearby the thermocouple and twist it off.

What causes a water heater to blow out in the wind?

Wind Blows Out Water Heater – What Causes This? 1 You have a dirty, broken, or misaligned thermocouple 2 You have a downdraft coming from your air vent. 3 Your gas release or the electric heating element is malfunctioning. 4 You have a chimney and need a cap. 5 Someone improperly installed your firebox cover.

Why does my water pilot keep going out?

Therefore, a dirty thermocouple might be the reason why your water pilot keeps going out. A layer of dirt and grime can hinder the electric current from reaching the thermocouple. As a result, the gas supply will be cut off and the pilot light will go out.