Have you run your bath water only to realise
its ice cold? Have you jumped in the shower and been sprayed by cold water? If
so, chances are you have a problem with your homes hot water system. Don’t
stress, there are a few basic things you can try yourself prior to calling a
plumber. If you have a natural or
propane gas water system, chances are the pilot has gone out. The pilot is a
small flame that ignites the gas burner on your system. When it goes out, first
try relighting it, following the directions on the label, which is often on the
front of the system. If the pilot doesn't relight, or if it goes out right
after lighting, by far the most common cause is a broken thermocouple. The good
news: you can usually replace a thermocouple for minimal cost and in less than
an hour from a local hardware. You'll get your hot water going without waiting
for a pro to show up and save a few dollars!
To replace the thermocouple, be sure to turn
off the shutoff valve in the gas line; that is, one quarter turn so that the
handle is at a right angle to the pipe. Since working room is tight around the
burner, we recommend that you simply unscrew the three nuts at the control
valve and pull out the entire burner assembly unit. You'll see either a slot or
clips that hold it in its place. Then either unscrew the thermocouple end or
pull it out (depending on the water heater) and take it with you to hardware
store to find a match. Position it exactly the same way as the old one. The
pilot flame should wrap around the thermocouple bulb.
To reattach the three lines to the gas valve,
thread the nuts into place with your fingers and hand-tighten them properly.
Then snug them up with a quarter to half revolution with a wrench. The metals
are soft, so don't over tighten as they will break.
Be sure to test for gas leaks. You must have
the pilot lit and the burner on for this test so that gas is flowing through
the large tube on the system. Reopen the shutoff valve, relight the pilot, then
turn the control valve to the “on” position. When the gas burner is on, use a
50/50 dish soap/water mix to test the screw joints for air bubbles that
indicate leaks.
If you have an issue with a blocked drain Perth or hot water system Perth, then you need a 24 hour plumber Perth or an emergency plumber Perth to service you. You might also reach out to a gas plumber Perth to help you. Its important that you have a plumber Perth or a Perth Plumber you can trust.
