There is nothing like a warm bath or a shower at the end of a long day; however, you can be posed with the problem of the water heater not lighting up, and honestly, this can be annoying.
The truth is, you can be facing this problem for various reasons, but the good news is that with a little help, you can have your electronic ignition water heater working in no time. In this blog, we have brought you a step-by-step guide and all you need to know to solve this problem.
With that being said, let’s get started!
How Can You Light Up A Water Heater Using An Electronic Pilot?
If you’re certain that your gas water heater is integrated with an electronic pilot light attribute, then you must follow a few essential steps to light it up conveniently. You don’t need to be a gas expert in using the water heater pilot light assembly.
So before you start, look for the control center of the gas kit. It’s a box attached somewhere around the bottom of the water heater. It comes with the main gas line attached, numerous switches for ignition, and a rotating control knob for any alterations. Here are the particular steps you can follow to light up the water heater:
- First of all, ensure the electrical wiring circuit of your gas water heater is turned on. Subsequently, switch the gas knob on.
- Now, use the rotatable gas regulator and set it to the pilot light position.
- Turn and hold the gas control knob to complete the following steps.
- Press the ignition button once every few seconds and keep on doing it until you notice the status light pilot blinking repeatedly. It displays whether your electric water heater is ignited or not; this entire combustion process takes less than a minute.
- Now just use the gas valve regulating knob to set the ideal water temperature settings, and you’re good to go!
Generally, this instruction will solve your hot water heater problems. However, in some cases, this might not work. There is no need to worry; we know exactly what to do for these special situations too!
Extra Tips For Fixing Your Electronic Water Heater If It Doesn’t Light
There is no denying the water heaters not lighting up or not doing the things it’s supposed to can really get on your nerves. Sometimes, the pilot light turns off before you rotate the knob to a particular temperature setting. It occurs when the bad thermocouple is not heated sufficiently. So it’s recommended that you wait 10 to 20 seconds, then adjust the gas regulator from the pilot to the temperature setting.
If all your attempts to light up your heater to get it going fail, then you can consider using the small reset button. It’s usually present at the base of the water heater. So if your water heater is integrated with one, just press the button and hold it for a few seconds. Then repeat the entire process.
Now that you know how to light a water heater, you can at ease come to the rescue of your hot water heater’s pilot light and fix it in no time.
Possible Reasons For the Malfunctioning of the Electric Water Heater Pilot Light?
Without a doubt, if the pilot light of your electric heater doesn’t turn on at once or even after multiple attempts, it is apparent that something is wrong with it. However, pointing out the specific problem for the malfunction may be challenging.
There could be various reasons why your water heater is not working correctly. If you’ve been facing issues with lighting for some time now, it is crucial to figure out the problem. Before you get into it, it is better to start lighting your water heater to check if it is functioning properly. Moreover, it would be best if you gave it a few tries before you go ahead and fix it.
Even after all the hassle, if the pilot light does not ignite, then you are looking at a huge problem that can be because of:
1. Loose Wires
As you may already know, the whole electric heater has various wires that give it the power supply. There might be a chance that these wires come loose or face other damage that can cut out the power, which stops the device from igniting.
To solve this, you should thoroughly inspect the machine wirings. With this, don’t forget to take the necessary precautions like unplugging the heater or switching off the gas while you repair the water heater pilot light.
It is always a good idea to call for the pros if the problem is complicated or if you just want to ensure that the repair is solid and done safely.
2. Voltage
Next is the voltage, which can be the actual cause of your device not working instead of the heater. So yes, you might be barking up the wrong tree all this time.
Usually, you can easily point this problem out by viewing the control board this igniter is connected to, but if you don’t have the board, then you can use a multimeter to ensure the voltage is not over 125VAC. You must be thorough with these tests and checkings so that you are cautious and can get to the real problem of the electric heater.
3. Thermocouple
A thermocouple is a device that is attached to the control valve of the hot water heater. Basically, this device is responsible for the pilot lighting up, so if this is loose or damaged, the heater will not ignite.
So if the thermocouple is loose, then just tighten it up to solve the problem, but if that doesn’t work, then there is a good chance that the device is damaged. To find this out, you first need to disconnect the thermocouple from the gas control valve and then use a multimeter to check the device; if it is below 25 millivolts, you will need to replace the thermocouple.
4. Control Valves
After all the testing, you should check the control valves if you still can’t find the cause of the trouble. However, this should be done by a licensed plumber as it might require a whole replacement or has issues that are best handled by a professional.
Precisely examining the device and everything connected to it is vital for you to know the cause of the malfunction of your electric heater. Most of the time, it can be just a loose wire causing all the hassle, but at times there can be serious problems like a damaged control valve that will need professional attention. Along with this, keep in mind that it is okay to call a licensed pro if you can’t do this by yourself.
Frequently Added Questions
Is It Possible To Manually Light An Electric Heater System?
Never manually light up a water heater that has electronic ignition. This is extremely dangerous and is discouraged for safety reasons. Likewise, don’t use candles, lighters, etc., to ignite it as it can be harmful, especially if there is any gas leak.
Is It Bad If The Water Heater’s Pilot Light Is Not Working?
The pilot lighter not working isn’t a critical issue; however, if you smell a gas leak, then you should call a licensed plumber and avoid lighting up any appliance. Any modern device will probably give you a heads up about an issue, but you should still watch out and take the necessary precautions.
What Do I Do If My Electric Heater’s Pilot Light Is Not Working?
If the pilot light of your electric heater won’t light up even after multiple attempts, in that case, you should consider troubleshooting it and check out the wiring, gas control assembly, flame sensor, voltage, thermocouple, and even the water heater gas valve of the system to find out the problem.
If you are confident enough, then you can fix the problem by yourself or call for professional help.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, all the reasons for your pilot light not working or malfunctioning. Also, we have provided a complete guide that could help you fix your electric heater; however, if you face any difficult situation or are not comfortable with setting the unit all by yourself, you should take help from any licensed plumber as well as take necessary precautions.
Doing this can make your heater work smoothly; I hope you found this insightful. Happy reading!
