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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. You may have more pressing problems than a thermocouple in your gas-fired heater. That was odd. Richmond Water Heater Thermocouple Replacement: The How-To Steps 01. Ive explained everything regarding how to tell if a thermocouple is bad. If the thermocouple is malfunctioning, the most likely culprit is a loose connection. The welded end of the thermocouple probe should protrude at least 1.5 inches (0.0381 meters) into the kiln chamber. If you properly maintain your appliance and thermocouple, the thermocouple can last about 10 years. Fortunately, repairing a thermocouple is a relatively simple process that requires minimal tools and a bit of patience. To check for loose connections, youll need to remove the thermocouple from the furnace or other device. Required fields are marked *. The desired voltage should be around 30 to 40 millivolts. Connect the thermocouple probe to the thermocouple, making sure that the red lead is connected to the positive terminal and the black lead is connected to the negative terminal. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Such as the gas heater, auto ignitor, and pilot light. It should be low, but definitely not a dead short. Start the test by unscrewing the thermocouple from the gas valve. If a thermocouple tests at 25 millivolts or lower, it doesnt have the power to keep a pilot lit and it should be replaced. This is what a cheap K-type thermocouple looks like: Note that the wires to the thermocouple (the little metal ball at the end of the cable there in the upper left corner of the picture) are bare - they can easily be shorted by bending or twisting the wires. A thermocouple is a device that produces a small electric current when it is heated. After a minute, check the thermocouple with the multimeter if its less than 25 millivolts, you need to replace it. 2 However, if you need a professional to do the job, you can pay $120 to $150. Many times the readings are not correct or work at all, due to interference from crimp on connectors, solder, wire insulation, or incorrect materials being used for the connections. Gevorg Grigorian. It's a usually reliable device that works in conjunction with a standing pilot, which is the little flame that, like the Olympic torch, burns while the appliance is in operation. Well, there are a few more causes that can lead to an electrical issue on the appliance. It is often colored silver or red. A good pilot light flame is blue. Now that is working again, it shows about 15 ohms. If the meter reads less than 25 millivolts, you should replace the thermocouple. This is the result of a phenomenon known as the Seebeck Effect. All information is subject to change at any time without notice. The main reason for the decalibration is that the wires can become chemically attacked, which effects the wire composition, mechanical properties of the material and ultimately the temperature readings. If there is a safety or reset button, push the button, and keep it depressed. Be sure to turn off the power to the device before attempting to remove the thermocouple. Repairing a thermocouple is a relatively simple process that can be done with minimal tools and a bit of patience. FIND LOCAL CONTRACTORS. The pilot light is a small open flame that is fed by a steady flow of gas. "Very clear and simple drawings make it easy to learn the basics in a short time. Often the thermocouple connection points are overlooked, but are critical for proper readings. The thermocouple doesnt have wires. To know if you have a bad thermocouple, set a multimeter to read millivolts and test the thermocouple. Ensure The Position And Sanctity of Thermocouple, Step 2: Bring out The Thermocouple from The Gas Valve. Replace the furnace access cover and test the furnace operation by changing the thermostat settings to make sure the furnace turns on and off properly. How To Get Rid Of The Made In China Smell 7 Methods to Try! I took the meter apart, disassembled the jack, tightened the pressure on the spring contacts, and reassembled the whole thing. To bypass the thermocouple: Move the tilts switch wire aside. It agrees to within a couple of degrees of the measured temperature on the soldering station when using the original tip so I figure the meter and the soldering station are at least somewhat accurately calibrated. Turn off the fireplace gas valve and remove the front panel from the fireplace. Set your voltage meter to read voltage (V) in millivolts. Look for a flexible tube plugged into the side of the thermostat. [8] The tube connects to the gas valve below the pilot light. The thermocouple will sit so that the tip of the thermocouple is directly in the pilot lights flame. If the thermocouple wiring is bare, missing insulation and is touch together anywhere between the sensing - probe end, and the connection points, the thermocouple will read at the area where the bare wiring is touching together. If youre still unsure or dont have a working pilot light, test the thermocouple with a multimeter. It should have a yellow tip and cover the tip of the thermocouple. This goes for all calibrations. I disconnected the wires from the plug pins, cleaned more fuzz out of the way, and untwisted the wires. If your thermocouple is coated with a white, chalky material, this may indicate it's not functioning properly. Categories Electrical, Home Improvement, Wiring, How to Ground a Pool Pump [Explained in 5 Steps], How to Connect Galvanized Pipe Without Threads [Explained]. For more specific instructions on operating your multimeter, read the owners manual. Others require that you push the gas valve in to open the valve to the pilot light. A working thermocouple will give a reading of between 25 and 30 millimeters. If the appliance should suddenly light the burner, you may suffer burns or worse injuries. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); How to Fix a Thermocouple on a Water Heater? Sometimes the sporadic movement of the thermocouple can also shake its position. How To Replace Thermocouple On Ge Water Heater, Your email address will not be published. The procedure for lighting a standing pilot always includes lighting the flame, then manually holding in the gas valve to keep the flame burning and give the thermocouple time to heat up. Once this check is done, turn the meter back to volts. Before starting the job you must turn off the appliance. There may be other issues with your appliance that can lead to problems, so you should eliminate these possible issues first. If the resistance measurement shows an open circuit, look closely at the thermocouple itself. If it is mashed or one of the wires is broken off right at the thermocouple then youre going to have get a new one - that kind of thing cant be fixed. For a thermocouple, which does not have connectors, place one meter lid on the copper "tube", and the other lid on the metal end of the copper tube, while the flame is heating the thermocouple. If the thermocouple doesn't function after cleaning it, it would be best to replace it with a new one. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Some thermocouples will look slightly different, so check your furnace manual. Mine showed about 0.1 ohms when it wasnt working. On some gas valves opening the pilot valve may require turning and holding the gas valve control to the left or right. Question: How do you bypass a thermocouple? I recently bought a new soldering iron, and have been familiarizing myself with it and learning what temperature it takes to do what. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 100,018 times. Several things can cause the thermocouple to fail to operate properly. What should I do if my thermocouple is coated with a white powder? Normal business hours only. In this task, youll need to heat the thermocouple. Get out of the house, leaving the door open, and call the gas company or the fire department immediately to report a leak. Generally, thermocouples have no wire connections. Then again, a way too strong flame is also inaccurate. Finally, we will count the voltage level in the upcoming segment. Take the two leads from the meter and touch themthe meter should read zero. The pilot should heat the top 7/8" of the thermocouple with a clean (blue) flame. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? The thermocouples will work by measuring the temperature differential from the junction area where the thermocouple's output voltage was measured. Measure the resistance from pin to pin on the plug. Maybe itll help, maybe it wont. Make sure that the wiring is protected with insulation and is not damaged or broken anywhere in the circuit. Make sure that the wiring is protected with insulation and is not damaged or broken anywhere in the circuit. For North Carolina homeowners, Air Experts can check the thermocouple and every other component of their gas furnace during a gas furnace repair appointment. Working with response times. Once I got all the fuzz from the cloth covered wires out of the way, I could see that the bare wires inside had been twisted around and shorted out. You can also eliminate obstructions in the pilot tube as a possible cause by turning off the gas, unscrewing the pilot tube from the gas valve and blowing compressed air from a can through the tube. link to Does Citronella Actually Help Keep Bugs Away? Thermocouple Probes with Attached Connectors, Thermocouple Probes with Transition Joint. Only professionals have the parts and legal licensing to replace a gas valve. A quick look at Amazon and other places showed Id be waiting a couple of weeks for one to be delivered, so I decided to take a closer look at the thermocouple. It can be a pressing problem in your gas-fired heater. 1 cause of pilot lights that won't stay lit is a worn-out thermocouple. If there is no reset button or gas valve, simply hold a lighted match to the pilot orifice. You will need a wrench, multi-meter, and a flame source, like a candle or a lighter, to perform the test. A functioning thermocouple should also show a few millivolts DC when hot. This is often not realized and overlooked during troubleshooting. Then attach a voltmeter between the thermocouple and the gas valve. Step 2: Locate your thermocouple. Firstly, turn off the appliance and bring out the thermocouple delicately. If the thermocouple is working, you should be able to measure 30 to 40 millivolts of voltage at the connection end of the tube when the pilot flame is on. It should be low, but definitely not a dead short. Carefully remove the thermocouple from the gas valve by loosening the copper connector. It's possible to replace the thermocouple without removing the burner assembly, and many repair people do this. How to Survive an Encounter with an Ostrich, Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, https://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/water-heater/how-to-fix-a-water-heater-pilot-light/view-all/, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/furnace-troubleshooting-2/, https://www.familyhandyman.com/heating-cooling/furnace-repair/do-it-yourself-furnace-maintenance-will-save-a-repair-bill/view-all/, https://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/valves/how-to-locate-your-gas-shutoff-valve-and-water-shutoff-valve/view-all/, https://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/water-heater/how-to-replace-a-water-heater-thermocouple/view-all/, https://www.sensorsmag.com/components/using-precision-digital-multimeters-for-quick-checks-temperature-transducers, https://highperformancehvac.com/how-test-thermocouple-multi-meter/, https://heatinghelp.com/systems-help-center/thermocouple-testing-procedure/. A thermocouple lasts for an average of 10 years, and you need to replace yours if there is too much rust on it. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Your email address will not be published. Expires 04/30/23 *Available with approved credit. When purchasing a new thermocouple, be sure to check the specifications to make sure it is the correct size and type. The cheap ones have the thermocouple sticking out of the end of a cloth covered cable. Your igniter may or may not have a pilot hole. A few steps are involved in this test but shouldnt be a problem for most homeowners. And the worst part is that you can have a bad thermocouple without even knowing. This device is manufactured in a variety of styles, models, and technical specifications. Learn about the Maintenance and Handling of Thermocouples, Email:
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