How to Clean a Pilot Hot Water Heater

Gas hot water heater

Gas hot water heaters rely on a pilot flame to trigger water heating by igniting a gas burner. If the water heater fails to produce hot water or repeatedly needs the pilot flame to be relit, the gas burner, pilot gas tube and burner chamber need to be thoroughly cleaned. The chamber that houses the pilot and the burner unit is easily accessible and individuals with only moderate experience with water heaters can complete the cleaning.

Things You'll Need

• Adjustable wrench
• Thin wire
• Vacuum, with attachments
• Long matches

Instructions

1. Locate the gas cock on top of the water heater's control box and turn the cock to the "Off" position. Leave the heater for at least 10 minutes to allow the gas to dissipate.

2. Locate the burner gas tube, the pilot gas tube and the thermocouple wire--all three are connected to the base of the water heater's control box. Use an adjustable wrench to disconnect all three.

3. Locate the water heater's access panel on the side of the heater tank, directly beneath the water heater's control box. Behind the access panel is the heater's burner chamber; remove both the outer and inner access panels to expose the burner chamber.

4. Reach into the burner chamber and grasp the burner unit. Gently tilt the burner unit to the side to uncouple it from the slotted opening it is mounted in and pull the entire unit out of the burner chamber.

5. Unscrew the burner and use a small piece of thin wire to thoroughly clean the opening of the gas tube nipple that the burner was attached to. Use a vacuum attachment to clean the burner plate and the entire burner chamber. Clean the pilot gas tube with another piece of thin wire and reattach the burner onto the gas nipple.

6. Put the burner unit back into the burner chamber. You will need to fit the tab at the end of the burner into the slotted opening on the mounting bracket at the base of the burner chamber.

7. Reattach the pilot gas tube, the burner gas tube and the thermocouple wire to the water heater's control box. Turn the gas back on and relight the pilot flame by turning the gas cock to the "Pilot" position, holding a lit match near the end of the pilot gas tube in the burner chamber, and pressing the reset button on top of the control box. After the pilot is lit, continue to push the reset button for 60 seconds. Turn the gas cock to the "On" position and replace the burner chamber's inner and outer access panels.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not attempt to clean the burner chamber of a gas water heater without first shutting off the gas.

References

• Plumbingsupply.com

Resources

• Detailed information about gas water heaters.