If you discover your water heater shouldn’t be heating water because it ought to, one of many first issues it is best to examine is the thermocouple. A thermocouple is a security gadget that shuts off the gasoline provide to the burner if the pilot gentle goes out. Over time, thermocouples can change into soiled or corroded, which may stop them from working correctly. For those who suspect that your thermocouple could also be defective, you possibly can check it with a multimeter. To do that, you’ll need to take away the thermocouple from the water heater. As soon as the thermocouple is eliminated, you should use a multimeter to check the continuity of the circuit. If the circuit is open, the thermocouple is defective and can have to be changed.
Earlier than you start testing the thermocouple, it is very important flip off the gasoline provide to the water heater. You also needs to enable the water heater to chill down utterly earlier than you begin engaged on it. As soon as the water heater is cool, you possibly can take away the thermocouple by unscrewing the nut that holds it in place. As soon as the thermocouple is eliminated, you should use a multimeter to check the continuity of the circuit. To do that, set the multimeter to the ohms setting after which contact the probes to the 2 terminals on the thermocouple. If the circuit is open, the multimeter will show an infinite resistance studying. This means that the thermocouple is defective and can have to be changed.
If the circuit is closed, the multimeter will show a resistance studying of zero. This means that the thermocouple is working correctly. Upon getting examined the thermocouple, you possibly can reinstall it within the water heater. To do that, merely screw the nut again into place. As soon as the thermocouple is reinstalled, you possibly can flip the gasoline provide again on and light-weight the pilot gentle. If the pilot gentle stays lit, the thermocouple is working correctly. If the pilot gentle goes out, the thermocouple is defective and can have to be changed.
Tips on how to Check a Thermocouple on a Water Heater
A thermocouple is a security gadget on a water heater that shuts off the gasoline provide if the pilot gentle goes out. Over time, thermocouples can change into defective and have to be changed. You possibly can check a thermocouple with a multimeter to see whether it is nonetheless working correctly.
To check a thermocouple, you’ll need a multimeter and a pair of needle-nose pliers.
- Flip off the gasoline provide to the water heater.
- Take away the thermocouple from the water heater.
- Set the multimeter to the millivolt (mV) setting.
- Contact the optimistic probe of the multimeter to the middle of the thermocouple.
- Contact the detrimental probe of the multimeter to the physique of the thermocouple.
- The multimeter ought to learn between 15 and 30 mV.
- If the multimeter reads 0 mV, the thermocouple is defective and must be changed.
- Reinstall the thermocouple within the water heater.
- Activate the gasoline provide to the water heater.
Individuals Additionally Ask About Tips on how to Check Thermocouple on Water Heater
How do I do know if my water heater thermocouple is dangerous?
There are a number of methods to inform in case your water heater thermocouple is dangerous. A method is to examine if the pilot gentle is staying lit. If the pilot gentle goes out steadily, it might be an indication that the thermocouple shouldn’t be working correctly.
One other option to examine if the thermocouple is dangerous is to make use of a multimeter. To do that, you’ll need to show off the gasoline provide to the water heater and take away the thermocouple. As soon as the thermocouple is eliminated, set your multimeter to the millivolt (mV) setting and contact the optimistic probe to the middle of the thermocouple and the detrimental probe to the physique of the thermocouple. The multimeter ought to learn between 15 and 30 mV.
If the multimeter reads 0 mV, the thermocouple is defective and must be changed.
Can I check a thermocouple with a lighter?
Sure, you possibly can check a thermocouple with a lighter. To do that, maintain the thermocouple in your hand and light-weight a lighter. Maintain the flame of the lighter close to the tip of the thermocouple. If the thermocouple is working correctly, the flame will trigger a small voltage to be generated, which you’ll be able to measure with a multimeter.
How do I exchange a thermocouple on a water heater?
To switch a thermocouple on a water heater, you’ll need to show off the gasoline provide to the water heater and take away the previous thermocouple. As soon as the previous thermocouple is eliminated, you’ll need to put in the brand new thermocouple. To do that, insert the brand new thermocouple into the pilot meeting and tighten the nut. As soon as the brand new thermocouple is put in, you possibly can activate the gasoline provide to the water heater and light-weight the pilot gentle.
