My Rheem water heater pilot light keeps going out and I have to relight it every time I want
to take a shower. It not hard to relight, but it is colder than you know what if I forget to relight the
pilot. How can I fix the pilot myself? I am not sure if my Rheem hot water heater is under warranty or not.
If the heater is under guarantee, will Rheem send someone out to my house to repair the water heater and
pilot light?
Rheem recommends that you do not attempt to repair your
own water heater, but that you should call a qualified Rheem service professional.
There are several reasons that your Rheem water heater pilot
will not stay lit.
These are the most common reasons for a water heater pilot light failure.
1. Bad thermocouple-nothing lasts forever, install a new thermocouple.
2. Loose thermocouple-in rare cases, the thermocouples dislodged during shipping and needs reinserted
into its guide.
3. Safety switch in the control valve is bad, replacing the gas valve is your only option; there
is no safe procedure to field repair a gas control valve.
4. Bad control valve-replace the water-heater gas control valve.
5. Oxygen sensor tripped-only a qualified Rheem technician should attempt to replace an oxygen sensor.
In fact, most of the time, Rheem would rather authorize the replacement of the entire water heater than pay a
tech to repair an oxygen sensor.
6. Combustion or flue venting issue-Make sure the exhaust vent in coming from the top of the
water heater is clear and unobstructed all the out of the building. The vent should also extend 18 to 24
inches above the highest roofline. If the vent is to short, even the slightest breeze will blow the pilot
light out.
7. Restriction in gas supply line- Not as common, if the gas supply line fills with water or
other debris, it restricts the gas flow to a point that even the pilot will not stay lit. Contacting your gas
or propane supplier is your first and best option. They will in most cases come out and inspect the service
line free.
Worn out, old, burnt and loose Rheem thermocouples are the leading causes for Rheem water
heater malfunctions. In the past, it was no big deal to just reach in, remove, and replace your thermocouple
from inside the water heater combustion chamber. Modern water heaters; however, now have a sealed combustion
chamber. In order to replace or maintenance a water heater thermocouple or burner, you have to disconnect the
thermocouple, pilot tube, burner gas supply tube and pilot igniter from the gas control valve, and then
remove the sealed access door. You must install a new airtight seal each time the access doors removed to
prevent carbon monoxide from escaping it the home.
Rheem will assist you in your water heater repair during the first year of the warranty
period. They will give you phone numbers of authorized Rheem water heater companies and technicians. This
first year labor guaranty is limited. If you choose to hire your own plumber, and they are not authorized
Rheem service agents, you are responsible for any addition cost of repair.
Rheem parts are under warranty until it expires for your unit. Call the 1-800 phone numbers on
the front of your Water Heater, and ask for new parts right away. Delivery of new parts could take several days.
How to replace a Rheem water heater thermocouple Video from YouTube