There is no reason except lawyers why lighting a gas water heater pilot is so hard it takes an HVAC professional to do it.
It turns out that the pilot orifice was a bit clogged. Cleaning it out made it easier to light. Apparently the odorant used to warn you about gas clogs the orifices with time; apparently as you get to the bottom of the LP gas tank, the odorant becomes more prominent.
Modern pilot light systems are sensitive to dust and should be cleaned every so often. A good time is when the heater is drained and flushed every 1-3 years depending on water hardness.
ReplyDeleteWhich reminds me...I need to practice what I preach!
I suppose so.
ReplyDeleteThis issue looms large for my family because my paternal grandfather accidentally killed himself in the early '40s trying to light one. My father was 11, it was really terrible.