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Hi - We bought and had installed, a year or so ago, a Sears Power Miser 6 gas HWH. We have it connected in series with a smaller electric hwh. It functions basically as a pre-heater (heating incoming cold water, which it then feeds into the smaller electric hwh) and backup hot water supply. We would not and do not, then, notice very often whether it is working or not. So it was that when we tried to fill the very large bathtub a few weeks back, we discovered the pilot light was out on the gas HWH. I relit the pilot light, and all seemed to work fine. But then the next time we tried to fill the very large bathtub, we ran out of hot water again, and sure enough the pilot light had gone out again. Can you diagnose this problem. It does not seem to be a broke thermocouple, since the pilot does appear stay lit (for a short time, at least) and goes out only later, but we do not know how soon, except for the next time we want lots and lots of hot water. What can we do? Thanks. kbd
Optional Information: Make: Sears Model: Power Miser 6 Already Tried: I relit the pilot, and that seemed to work, for a while. Can you give better info than what I have already got for free off the internet? Namely: "Pilot Will Not Light - 1. Gas off --- check cut off valve - check meter or gas tank. - 2. Air in gas line --- hold pilot button down and try to relight several times. - 3. Pilot orifice clogged --- remove and clean. - 4. Pilot supply line kinked or clogged --- inspect - replace. - 5. Defective gas control valve --- replace gas valve."
First of all, does the pilot flame seem hearty and blue in color? Meaning is the thermocouple fully engulfed by the pilot flame, directly in the center of the flame? This could account for why it's coming on, then going out, as the pilot flame wavers a bit.
I started searching on internet before relighting pilot light again. What I found out, before going to "just answer" was this:
"Pilot Light Goes Out Intermittently - 1. Thermocouple going bad --- replace thermocouple. 2. Pilot orifice or line partially clogged --- remove and clean. 3. Main burner --- burner partially clogged causing blow back or roll out blowing out pilot light - Remove burner assembly and clean. - 4. Down draft from flue --- this may happen on very windy days. - 5. Gas control valve going bad --- replace gas valve."
I have trouble using this interface. It seems to go on without me. I am going now to relight the pilot, after which we can continue.
You did not answer the questions I asked above. Please answer the questions, each one. If you just want to search the internet and fix it that way please let me know so I can move on and help someone else
does the pilot flame seem hearty and blue in color? Meaning is the thermocouple fully engulfed by the pilot flame, directly in the center of the flame? This could account for why it's coming on, then going out, as the pilot flame wavers a bit.
Hi craig - I relit the pilot light - it seemed to me to be "hearty and blue," and fully engulfing the thermocoule tip, and not wavering, when I did - I then turned the thermostat up again (from the pilot setting) and the water is now reheating
? Hi craig - what does it mean that you have "stepped out of this chat"? - have you lost patience altogether, or just turned your attention elsewhere temporarily? - anyway, the water is still reheating - the issue, of course, is whether the pilot will continue to stay lit after the water finishes reheating and the gas is no longer feeding a big flame, or go out spontaneously (as before), and if the latter, why so and how to fix -
Oh it's because I'm working on other things and leave the page if you are not right there.
Don't worry about that just tell me what you can and we can get together back and forth. Sometimes if you leave to do something or I do something it will tell you that
I get you reply though, it just may be a bit later...
Yes...just turned your attention elsewhere temporarily, but I return
No I have not lost patience at all, I want to help you fix this
it's how it works, we're here then go to other questions
So I read that you did light it and it's now working.
So this means there is a 'intermittent issue'
watch closely and see if and when it goes out, what is happening when it does. Check the copper line that goes to the gas valve and the thermocouple. Is it tight?
perhaps I should have tried these things before inquiring - the hwh tank is rather large, and so it will take a while to heat - i will turn the thermostat lower to induce the automatic thermostatic cutoff to kick in sooner - meanwhile, it is a matter of waiting to see what happens (eg, how long the pilot stays on) when the set temperature is reached - do i keep this webpage open until our transaction is completed, or is there a way to bail out and come back to it? - i find the interface confusing -
sorry about that. Just come back. You will have emails to get here.
Did you check the thermocouple as I asked? Make sure the copper tube is tight on the gas valve
use a small wrench and check it, if it's loose it could cause this
I checked and the fittings on the outside of the tank and they seemed tight - i may have misunderstood your inquiry, I think - i will try now to find a copper line that feeds more directly into the thermocouple - meanwhile, I turned the thermostat back towards "low," and the gas stopped firing at some intermediate point, and the pilot flame kept burning handsomely - will check that "copper line" now, if I can find a more promising candidate, with a small wrench, and also check to see if pilot light still burns - will be back with whatever answers I can find - thanks much
yes there is a small thin copper 'wire' that is the thermocouple line going into the flame
the other end goes into the side of the gas valve
It has a small nut that tightens it to the valve
If it's loose, the pilot and flame can go out
hi - the hwh is three floors down - i found the small copper line connected with a small nut (of some sort) to the thermostat assembly and going thence underneath the tank and into the pilot and/or thermocouple - that nut fitting seemed to be tight and well-sealed when checked with a pair of pliers - does that sound like i made the right test? the pilot light continues to burn bravely
Will continue to check in for further responses (through the email link to the webpage [http://www.justanswer.com/appliance/4nr3z-hi-bought-installed-year-so-ago-sears.html?jats=82759-58860858-120112-5918&utm_source=sys&utm_medium=email&utm_content=crev2.2_viewyabuttontext&utm_campaign=ChatNotify&r=ems|2011-02-28|577]) - i am pleased so far, but not yet "satisfied," as we have come to no conclusion except a negative one (it appears not to be a problem with the "small nut" connection) - therefore, if I understand the protocol correctly, I do not yet "accept" - hope to hear from you further
Yes, that's good.
So it seems that it is intermittent and it's working now right. If you feel that you do not want me to work with you and this is negative let me know, I don't want to spend a bunch of time and not get paid
My time is limited and I get a lot of questions that people just leave me hangning
Hi craig - by "negative" I do not mean that my experience with you has been negative - as I said, I am quite pleased so far - I meant to say that we have not yet come up with a positive answer ("this is the problem, and this is how it can be fixed"), but only a negative answer (the problem is not so-and-so) - a negative answer can mean progress, but it is not a solution - i anticipate that my $25 will be well spent, and that i will therefore "accept," even if the positive answer we arrive at is that the problem can be fixed only by something I cannot do myself and I therefore have to call in the plumber anyway - - sorry for the misunderstanding - i was really asking whether I was following the appropriate protocol by holding off "accept" until the inquiry was concluded satisfactorily -
meanwhile - i will return through the email link when there is something to report , and pay the $25 ("accept") if there is nothing to report for an extended period, since you will then have done as much as could be expected -
Oh good, I want to help you and it's important to me.
Is the heater still on?
I have seen similar issues, it may help to clean the thermocouple with steel wool. It does require taking it out and working it over with steel wool, but lets not go there yet. Watch it and see how it does for a bit
Electrical Technician
33 years experience electrical troubleshooting industrial equipment and control systems.