Preview your own home with PGT products! Upload pictures of your own home and try out the various PGT windows and doors! Find the right PGT product for you. Browse our gallery of the industry's best windows and doors. Literature and Additional Info Whether you prefer email or literature by mail, PGT will send you the information you need to help you choose the best PGT products. For Dealers and Architects PGT now offers ProZone, an easy access resource for technical data. Now you can easily spec products.Water heater thermocouple buyers guide, troubleshooting, repairand step by step replacement guide.Thermocouple replacement is a simple process. If your handy with tools you shouldn't have any problems.Go to thermocouple parts page. Also called universal water heater thermocouple. It screws into the bottom of the gas valve and a probe on the other end slides into a holding bracket near the pilot light. It looks like a piece of copper
wire ( see pic. below). This thermocouple has a right handed thread. Turn right to tightenUniversal thermocouples come in lengths from 15 to 36 inches. 18 or 24 inch will suffice for all residential water heaters using universalAlmost all older waters heaters and many of the newer style units with a sealed burner compartment and a viewing window will use thisIf you want to use an exact replacement length just remove your old one and Thermal Cut Off style has a resettable thermal shut off switch integral intoIn the event of a flash fire or blow back from the burner the TOC will shut down gas flow to the burner and pilot. In case of a shut down the TOC should reset itself after it cools down and allow you to relight the pilot. The TOC switch looks like a watch battery. You will only find the TOC on newer style water heaters with seal burner These thermocouples have a tiny TOC build inside the tube. similar to a standard one except the diameter is larger about midways
When these TOC's switch off they will not reset and must be replaced. Some of Whirlpools older model water heaters were built with a left-hand Turn to the left to tighten, right to loosen. These are no longer available. Lowe's home improvement sells a Manifold Door Assembly for WhirlpoolIt comes with a thermocouple attached. You can also purchase one directly from Whirlpool at about the sameTheir costumer service number 1-866-698-2538.These water heaters were built by American Water Heater Co. a lot of "how to" replace parts guides for their water heaters. A pilot thermocouple sends a tiny electrical current to the gas valve when the probe is heated to a certain temperature. This electrical current tells the gas valve that the pilot is lit and its ok to send gas to the burner if the thermostat calls for it. To check a water heater thermocouple press the pilot button down on the water heater gas control valve. If after holding the
pilot button down 30 to 60 seconds the pilot light goes out when you release the button, the thermocouple is most likely at fault on olderThe TOC or air flow could be the problem on newer units with a pilot light viewing window . If the pilot does not light at all the problem is gas flow, gas control The tip on the thermocouple probe has deteriorated. Lack of air (oxygen) on seal burner water heaters. If the probe looks white this is carbon build up. It can keep the probe from getting hot enough to send a signal to the gas valve. Sand it with emery cloth and relight the pilot. It should work for a while but keep a new The thermocouple probe must be in the pilot light flame. The thermocouple must be screwed into the gas valve tightly. Check the pilot thermocouple tube for kinks. Thermocouple replacement is a simple process. you shouldn't have any problems. Always follow all safety rules when working around gas. A universal water heater thermocouple can be found at most hardware stores.
In the guide below I've removed the burner assembly so you can see how the thermocouple is positioned next to the pilot. This is a universal thermocouple kit. It will fit most water heaters. The pic on the left is the water heater burner assembly removed from the water heater. The thermocouple is located next to the pilot head. Turn the gas off to your water heater. Set the temperature control knob (on the gas control valve)to the Turn the on/off pilot control knob to the off position. Remove the outer and inner burner assembly access panels. Remove the thermocouple from the gas control valve using a 3/8 in. end wrench (see picture above). Reach into the burner compartment and pull the thermocouple out of A hard tug should do it. If you can't pull it out, skip the next step and scroll down this page for instructions to remove the burner assembly. Got the thermocouple out? To install the new one, use a
flashlight so you can see and slide the probe into place. The tip of the probe should be 1/8 to 1/4 in. pass the pilot head. Attach the other end to the gas control valve. Ok, you've disconnected the thermocouple from the gas control valve but can't get it freed from the You'll have to remove the water heater burner. Using a 7/16 in. end wrench disconnect the pilot supply tube from the gas control valve. Remove the burner supply tube using a 3/4 in. end wrench or Remove the burner assembly from Now you can remove the thermocouple with a pair of pliers.Slide the new water heater the tip of the probe 1/8 to 1/4 in. pass the pilot head. Be sure that the end of the burner assembly fits into the slot that holds it in place (see picture).When your finished check all connections for gas leaks. With your water heater thermocouple and burner assembly installed your ready to light the pilot light.