pilot won't light... (thermocouple question)

[artisthands]

i tried making sure the dial was in correct place, as well as trying different gas valve positions. still not lighting.

i see that the pilot orifice has some rust on the outside and the thermocouple has build up. i know some options are to replace the thermocouple or the pilot orifice(i tried putting a needle in the orifice to clean it a little, but didn't go down very far since not in a good position)

my main question is, some say to replace the thermocouple possibly for the pilot not lighting but that doesn't make sense as i thought that is if the pilot is not STAYING lit and there's a shut off happening.....
but for the the pilot to not light at all seems more like gas not getting there
and the thermocouple doesn't affect gas GETTING TO the pilot right?

and it seems unlikely there would be a clog in the orifice or gas tube since i was getting hot water and then all of a sudden it's out.

lastly, i read something somewhere about checking near the gas meter at a t pipe with loop that you drain or something, and that water could get into the gas.....??

thank you greatly for any help!!!

[notuboo]

If gas is not getting to the pilot assembly, it could be 1 of several problems. I'd pull the burner asssmbly by loosening all 3 connections on the bottom of the control valve. Once the burner is in hand, you can look at everything in better lighting. Be careful with the thermocoupling connection, some newer models are left hand thread. You can look at the exposed thread on the connection for the proper twist direction.

Now, to elimate causes, are there any other appliance starved for gas such as the stove? This would eleimate the drip at the meter being full. This does not eleimate the trap at the water heater, which should also be visually checked.

good luck and more problems write back and someone will answer you.

[Ejbogusch]

You could give this a try for instant diagnosis. If you are trying to light your pilot via a match or lighter and no flame is present at the pilot AND you are pushing the pilot knob on the gas valve down while on pilot THEN unscrew the small aluminum tubing at the gas valve with a 7/16 open wrench. Now push down on the pilot knob and see if you have gas escape from the valve. If you do then your pilot orifice is plugged and should be cleaned. This can be done usually free of charge from the gas company. If no gas is present and you are sure the gas is turned on suppling the valve then the gas valve is bad.

Now if you are trying to light the pilot by the electronic sparker that newer models have you would follow the same steps but you also need to make sure the sparker is actually sparking over the pilot orifice and not anywhere else.