Water Heaters - Replacing whirlpool gas control vavle on water heater

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jpayne97
01-14-09, 06:57 AM
The pilot won't stay lit and after replacing thermal couple did some more research and decided it was the gas control valve. I took everything apart and noticed the original one has calcium built up all around the tip of the temp probe (which is surrounded in plastic). The free replacement I got from whirlpool warranty has the plastic around it too. So this is obviously going to happen again. Is the plastic around it for a reason? Or can I just cut it off? This water heater is only 10 months old so I don't feel like doing all this every year.

furd
01-14-09, 11:38 AM
Without the plastic the calcium would likely build up even faster. Normally I would advise you to get rid of the Whirlpool water heater as they have a poor reputation among all professional plumbers and get a better unit. However, since Whirlpool gave you the new control valve go ahead and install it.

I would strongly advise you to flush that water heater at no less than three month intervals if your water is that hard that it covers a plastic thermal sensor in less than a year.