The thermocouple in your hot water heater or furnace is a safety device that is used to shut off the flow of gas if it does not detect a pilot light flame. This is a small copper device that sits close to the pilot light and stays red-hot while the unit is in operation. If the pilot light were to blow out, the thermocouple cools and shuts off the gas flow to the appliance, keeping your family safe. You can replace a worn out thermocouple in less than an hour, using basic tools.
Instructions
1. Shut off the gas to the water heater or furnace and turn the unit to the "Off" position.
2. Remove the front cover off the unit, at the base. This cover protects the pilot light and burner assembly from catching anything on fire in the home. This cover can be removed from its small clips by hand. Some covers are attached with screws.
3. Locate the pilot light assembly near the center of the burner tubes. The thermocouple is a piece of copper rod attached to the base of the pilot light.
4. Remove the old thermocouple from the mounting bracket, using a pair of pliers. Unscrew the thermocouple from it's base, which will have a long, copper wire traveling to the gas regulator.
5. Install the new thermocouple by threading back into the mounting bracket. Adjust the thermocouple so that the top 1/2 inch of the copper rod is heated by the pilot light.
6. Turn on the gas to the unit and light the pilot light. Replace the heat covers and test the unit to make sure that the thermocouple allows the gas to flow, once the pilot light is burning. You can test this by turning on the furnace or hot water heater. If working properly, the burners will ignite once the pilot has heated the thermocouple.
Tags: pilot light, water heater, device that, heater furnace, mounting bracket
