tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post2072704000515713997..comments2024-03-27T08:40:31.785-06:00Comments on Clayton Cramer.: Let me rage about hot water heater designs Clayton Cramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03258083387204776812noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post-85891664813410303132015-02-28T03:57:56.868-07:002015-02-28T03:57:56.868-07:00There's a thermocouple that senses the pilot l...There's a thermocouple that senses the pilot light state, and which also controls the gas valve. If it doesn't sense sufficient heat - as in "no pilot light" - it won't allow the valve to open and flow gas, even to the pilot light. It also shuts down all gas flow if the pilot light goes out. This is to prevent a flow of natural gas or propane when it cannot be ignited and burned normally. Otherwise gas could accumulate and lead to an explosion. <br /><br />The one minute hold-down is a manual override to allow gas flow while the pilot light heats that thermocouple. I'm guessing that was the thermocouple your friend's SIL replaced.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post-9271223941545963062015-02-27T22:46:36.922-07:002015-02-27T22:46:36.922-07:00I was trying to do the same thing with my brother ...I was trying to do the same thing with my brother for his waterheater about three years ago. Is your waterheater in a box with an outside door? His was, and it turned out we couldn't see the pilot light because of glare.<br />Windy Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01951254236693386401noreply@blogger.com