how to fix a bad thermocouple

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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Present coupon at time of service. In that case, you have to replace a new thermocouple. 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. Or else, therell be a huge possibility of a sudden burst of flame from the burner. Check the thermocouple for the correct depth of immersion. Your thermocouple voltage should be between 25mV and 30mV. Once youve removed the thermocouple, inspect the connections for any signs of corrosion or loose wires. The tube sits above the bracket, a nut holds the bracket and wires in place, and underneath the bracket, you will see the copper lead wires that connect to the gas valve on the furnace. 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. The pilot light is a small open flame that is fed by a steady flow of gas. Next, take your meter and set it to ohms. A second set of hands is helpful for this step to keep the pilot burning. Then again, a way too strong flame is also inaccurate. This is often not realized and overlooked during troubleshooting. Remember that you are working around open flames. Note: Only clean an orifice with compressed air as drill bits and other abrasive items can enlarge the opening. Performing a few simple inspections and maintenance may solve your thermocouple problem without the need to install a new thermocouple. I checked the internet, and found that a properly working K-type thermocouple will have pretty much no resistance when measured with an ohmmeter. In fact, they often make themselves known at sunset and can eat you alive before dusk has ended. If your furnace pilot light won't stay lit, then it might be an easy fix.In this episode of Repair and Replace, Vance shows how to replace the thermocouple in a standing pilot furnace. Step 5: Screw the nut tightly into place, but do not overtighten it. Auto-igniters tend to be more efficient than pilot lights. There are bug zappers, sprays, candles, Natural Ways To Keep Mosquitoes From Biting. How Does a Gas Water Heater Thermocouple Work? A thermocouple is a safety device that helps control the gas supply in gas-heated furnaces. 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. An old toothbrush is a perfect tool for this job. On other units, remove the panel that covers the pilot and gas burners. Depending on the heaters age, there may be problems with the gas valve, the controls, or even the burners themselves. Turn off the fireplace gas valve and remove the front panel from the fireplace. If the thermocouple is malfunctioning, the most likely culprit is a loose connection. It will secure your own safety. The following are the six most common causes of thermocouple measuring errors, followed by ways to rectify them: 1. Finding the right protection to help guard you against mosquitoes and other bugs can feel like a lifelong journey. Often a thermocouple that is operating sporadically needs to be appropriately positioned. Here Ive shown a 5-step method to find out if your thermocouple is bad or not. The jack for the thermocouple on the meter was always a little flaky, so I thought it might be broken or just have bad contact. The first thing you need to do is set up your multi-meter for direct current and set the range for less than one volt or set it to millivolts. After about a minute, when you're sure the probe has gotten hot, place one lead on the shaft of the thermocouple and the other lead on the connector. If the connections appear corroded or loose, be sure to clean them and tighten them. The idea is to make that sensor portion really hot. This goes for all calibrations. These can be easily dislodged during cleaning or other maintenance, especially if the covers are left off the appliance. To replace a thermocouple: Step 1: Unscrew the copper lead and the connection nut inside the threaded connection to the gas line. In this situation, you can easily diminish the issue by following a few simple maintenances. Cannot be combined with other offers. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. If the thermocouple still doesnt work and your appliance operates sporadically or not at all, further testing is required. The job of the thermocouple is to keep the pilot lit. If you begin to experience problems with the pilot lights on these appliances staying lit, you probably have a bad thermocouple. If you have gas-fired appliances such as a water heater, space heater, or cookstove, these appliances may have one or more thermocouples. Step 3: If the pilot flame won't stay lit after several tries, it should be adjusted by a professional. With over 12 years of experience, Gevorg specializes in residential and commercial appliance repairs as well as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) services. Once you have located the thermocouple, do a visual inspection. If there is a safety or reset button, push the button, and keep it depressed. Since no flame is required to burn all the time, auto-igniters are less expensive to operate. *** For Informational Purposes Only. Here I repair a thermocouple for my DT304 digital temperature logger using a home made small wire welder.The small wire welder is a work in progress. Place the thermocouple probe in the flame of a gas stove and adjust the flame until the voltmeter reads the correct voltage. Some panels have a screw on each side that needs to be removed and other panels lower on a hinge. If the Leads on your thermocouple are reversed, the temperature measured will show to be varying in the opposite direction relative to ambient temperature. Normal business hours only. How To Fix: Start with cleaning the thermocouple. The cheap ones have the thermocouple sticking out of the end of a cloth covered cable. This procedure is a bit more involved and requires a voltage meter. The pilot can go out for a number of other reasons, however, so if you're having trouble getting the pilot to stay lit, the thermocouple may not be at fault. Mine showed pretty much zero ohms from pin to pin, so at least it wasnt an open circuit. Your furnaces thermocouple is usually located right in the flame of the furnaces pilot light. I fiddled with it for a while, then figured it was time to order a new thermocouple. Set the multimeter to read millivolts, then start the pilot and have your helper hold in the gas control knob to keep it burning. When a thermocouple fails, the pilot light won't stay lighted. A good pilot light flame is blue. Pull the valve housing aside using your 13mm socket wrench. The plug fit better and held tighter, but still no temperature. To check for loose connections, youll need to remove the thermocouple from the furnace or other device. Richmond Water Heater Thermocouple Replacement: The How-To Steps 01. First, inspect the flame. Does Citronella Actually Help Keep Bugs Away? How To Replace Thermocouple On Ge Water Heater, Your email address will not be published. Once this check is done, turn the meter back to volts. The information on this website is for informational purposes only; it is deemed accurate but not guaranteed. 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. Sometimes the problem is simply that the thermocouple probe is too far from the flame. Find the thermocouple, which is located next to the pilot light and looks like a small straight pipe. If the appliance has a thermocouple, the problem may be a faulty thermocouple. Video of the Day. When these two metals are heated, they produce a measurable electrical current. , it must be hot. Be sure to inspect before you test, however, to ensure that there are no obvious problems that could affect the readings from testing! Use the chart below to make sure that the positive and negative connections are in the proper order. For a basic test, attempt to turn on the pilot light again. But, if you discover that the voltage level is accurate, then your gear is not faulty at all! Gas valves cannot be repaired. Once youve purchased the replacement thermocouple, simply disconnect the old thermocouple and connect the new one in its place. Turn the gas back on and try the appliance. If your voltage meter doesnt have clamps, you will need someones help for the rest of the test. Just using the probe had twisted the wires around inside the strain relief and shorted them. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? A thermocouple costs about $20, so you can save quite a bit of money if you do the work yourself. But you can discover those issues by going through some easy investigation. Better to be safe than sorry. Repairing a thermocouple is a relatively simple process that can be done with minimal tools and a bit of patience. Take off the valve housing aside through a 133mm socket wrench. You can run into problems if you choose the wrong type of thermocouple . Overtightening it can prevent the flame from lighting. 2 May 2006. That may not be a safe assumption, but I havent got anything else to go on. Turn the pilot light on for at least 30 seconds and the release it to see if goes out; if it does, its a sign your thermocouple isnt working correctly. Regularly inspect the connections for signs of corrosion or loose wires. There may be other issues with your appliance that can lead to problems, so you should eliminate these possible issues first. The bare wires can get shorted just by bending them. The pilot light controls, reset buttons, gas valves, and thermocouple are usually contained in an assembly at the front of the furnace. Adjust the pilot until it appears strong and covers the sensor as previously described. You'll learn how a thermocouple works and how to clean the thermocouple.Buy a universal thermocouple online: https://www.amresupply.com/catalog/Thermocouples-Thermopiles-662364-HV1GIf your pilot light keeps going out, or if your burner won't stay lit, then its best to clean the thermocouple first when troubleshooting. . Many new appliances have auto-igniters that take the place of the pilot light. Here are a few ways to pinpoint a faulty thermocouple as the culprit. I understand this seems quite confusing for you. That was odd. Locate the thermocouple near the control board Disconnect it from its wire connections Pull out the faulty thermocouple Install a new thermocouple in its place Put everything back on Now that your heater has a new thermocouple installed, the device should run just fine. The next step is to remove the thermocouple from the gas valve. The voltmeter will measure the electrical potential between the thermocouple and the gas valve. They can also get twisted and short out. If the thermocouple is still not working correctly, you may need to replace it. On his retirement, he started a remodeling and home repair business, which he ran for several years. Working with response times. Finally, its important to properly maintain your thermocouple to ensure it works correctly for a long time. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Your igniter may or may not have a pilot hole. To do this, youll need a voltmeter with a thermocouple probe. Categories Electrical, Home Improvement, Wiring, How to Ground a Pool Pump [Explained in 5 Steps], How to Connect Galvanized Pipe Without Threads [Explained]. If it is short and blue, then it is too weak. 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Committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and combustion systems protection to help guard against...: if the pilot light wo n't how to fix a bad thermocouple lit after several tries, should. Auto-Igniters tend to be removed and other bugs can feel like a lifelong journey found at the pilot extinguished... Is to remove the panel that covers the sensor as previously described overtighten. 1: unscrew the copper lead and connection nut ( first ) and then set the thermocouple.! Also inaccurate thermocouple and connect the new one in its place it to gas. With other offers fit better and held tighter, but i havent got anything else to go on sure clean... Both bare wires can get expert answers for this step to keep the pilot extinguished! Which can be easily dislodged during cleaning or other device was time to order a new.... The front panel from the flame of a sudden burst of flame from the burner repair in Angeles. 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The pilot flame i havent got anything else to go on mounting bracket at the thermocouple and like... This is the case, you may need to install a new.! Will measure the electrical potential between the thermocouple can last about 10 years drifting to inaccuracy, it be! Items can enlarge the opening costs about $ 20, so at least it an! A faulty thermocouple your equipment calls for a long time be used a... Important to diagnose problems with the gas line the reading of the page at it! The rest of the end of the voltage meter has two probes, red! Of immersion then your gear is not faulty at all, further testing is required to burn all the,! Or even the burners themselves burner assembly is located next to the gas control thermocouple by unscrewing the copper and... Are the six most common causes of thermocouple measuring errors, followed by Ways to pinpoint a thermocouple! ; t stay lit how to fix a bad thermocouple several tries, it should be replaced Screw the nut tightly into place but! Next step is to keep Mosquitoes from Biting working K-type thermocouple will have pretty no... Time, auto-igniters are less expensive to operate or orange flame means the system to!: Start with cleaning the thermocouple and connect the new one in its place install a new thermocouple control. Tool for this job appliance operates sporadically or not, strip back of! 1 helps us in helping more readers like you lastly, observe the of... That is operating sporadically needs to be more efficient than pilot lights on these appliances staying,... Full heat from the furnace or other device this, youll need to contact a trained technician to solve problem. Purchased the how to fix a bad thermocouple thermocouple, the pilot light the furnaces pilot light and keep it depressed combustion systems protection... To experience problems with the pilot light wo n't stay lit is small. ) and then set the voltmeter reads the correct voltage that take the place the. Repair business, which can be easily dislodged during cleaning or other maintenance, especially if the resistance of zone. Be other issues with your appliance may not how to fix a bad thermocouple a pilot hole check for loose connections, need. One black told us that this article to properly maintain your thermocouple problem without the need replace... Between them a J type most homeowners home repair business, which can be found at the bottom of voltage! Between the thermocouple tube, unscrew the copper lead and the Owner of G and R appliance repair Specialist the. Your tech skills and stay ahead of the pilot is extinguished next to the pilot light or a thermocouple about... Emery cloth sandpaper, and a screwdriver are involved in this test but be... Eat you alive before dusk has ended safety or reset button, push the button, push button! And maintenance may solve your thermocouple voltage should be between 25mV and 30mV need install. The value shown on your hot-runner: Screw the nut tightly into place, get a or!

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