The pilot could be dirty and may be too weak to heat the thermocouple properly.
Most of the time it comes down to replacing the thermocouple.
ANS 2 The thermocouple costs less than $19 and can be changed in about 30 minutes. Best to first Shut off gas, and remove your one, then take to the store for comparison. There are 5-6 different types but all very similar. Honeywell Universal is good for many heaters. This is essentially a thin copper tube 18 -30 inches long, with a metal bulb at one end and a hollow nut at the regulator end. Many good instructions on internet about how to do it
The pilot light burner probably needs adjustment and cleaning.
1- Spillage (down draft) 2- Defective thermo couple 3- Not enough free air for proper combustion
The thermocouple is bad. That is the small tube that sits in the flame of the pilot light and runs to the control valve. Easy and cheap to replace.
No, it is not dangerous. (Unless you are working with a water heater that is 20+ years old.) In any modern hot water heater, if the pilot light goes out a fail-safe will go off - preventing gas from leaking out. Also, there is a sensor so if there is not enough air-flow or oxygen with the water heater, it will shut off the gas.
No because water heaters have a safety valves and when the pilot light goes out the safety valve shuts off the gas
Thermocouple? It is what keeps the pilot light lit. It is a small tube that runs from the pilot light to the control valve. The tube is made from two types of metal that when heated produce a small electrical current that keeps the gas valve open. Thermocouple goes bad the pilot light goes out and no gas can get into the house.
The thermocouple is usually the first thing to change. It controls the valve and the spark ignition is just to light the pilot.
thermocouple is bad.
When pilot light goes out, gas flows out of the pilot light nozzle. If out has continued for a long time, a gas cloud can develop around the furnace. When you go to light the pilot light, you'll ignite this gas cloud and make a big fire ball. If your basement is drafty, you might never get a huge cloud of gas hovering around your furnace. When you notice that your pilot light is out, you should shut off the gas to the furnace and allow any stray gas to dissipate before you turn the gas back on and light the pilot light. alliedallcityinc.com
Sounds like you need a thermocouple.
Thermocouple is most likely the problem but it also can be wind and draft which blows out the pilot light and very rare it can be you have a air pocket in your line or sometimes condensation can drip on the pilot. If you have a flame when starting the pilot light as you are pushing down on a non forced air gas water heater and the pilot goes out after you release the pilot handle then 90 out of a 100 times its your Thermocouple. If you have a forced air tank type gas water heater it can be a lot more sophisticated and I recommend you read your manual trouble shoot guide and follow those steps for YOUR specific water heater.
No it shouldn't, There is a sensor that turns off the gas if the pilot flame goes out, The only way it would leak gas is if it as a faulty sensor, or a peice of depree gets in the gas line
Gas or electric? Gas If you have a pilot light but it will not light, the thermocouple is most likely bad. That is the small metal tube that sits in the flame of the pilot light and runs to the control valve. If the pilot light will not stay lit, thermocouple also. The thermocouple is about the only thing that goes wrong with a gas heater besides a leak. Electric Breaker tripped and will not reset. One of the heating elements is burned out and shorting out. Could be either one, but I would look at the top one first.
Yes, as the day goes by and the heater and as well as the light are turned on they make the water "disappear".
Most thermocouples are held in place at the pilot light by pushing them into a clip that grabs it on both sides. The control end is held in place by a nut that the shaft of the thermocouple goes through.