Pilot light won't....light

[J K]

Hello,

I have an 8 yr old AO Smith water heater with the Honeywell box/controls. A couple of months ago there was no hot water- the pilot light was still on so I did the- turn to very hot for 10 secs, hot for 10 secs, & pilot for 10 secs- it came on right away when I turned it back on. Then a few weeks ago again no hot water, and this time the pilot light was out, but it started right away and turned on right away. 2 weeks later it's out again and this time I cannot get it started after many tries. Still getting a spark...I took that bottom tray with all the goodies in it and everything looks ok- nothing clogged, took that thermocouple/pile(?) off and blew pressurized air through it.
I've changed thermocouples before in the older non-electric versions but even when that didn't fix the problem(these were for apartments so a pro would then be called in) the pilot light would at least light, it just wouldn't stay lit when I'd let go of the button(after a min or so) that I'd press in.
So...should I waste time changing the thermo in this one? I'm seriously considering just getting a whole new WH if there's going to be quite an expense getting it fixed.

 

[Twowaxhack]

You could throw parts at it.

Honeywell strikes again

 

[breplum]

It is worth having a millivolt tester if you want to deal with thermocouples.
That is the only way to know if a thermocouple is bad.

 

[J K]

It is worth having a millivolt tester if you want to deal with thermocouples.
That is the only way to know if a thermocouple is bad.

But has it ever been the case where the pilot won't light at all due to a bad thermocouple? With the newer electronic ignition models that is.
Thanks

 

[arctic bill]

i would just change the thermocouple . it is the problem 99% of the time.

 

[Twowaxhack]

i would just change the thermocouple . it is the problem 99% of the time.

Before Honeywell water heater controls…….I would agree 100%

 

[Mitchell-DIY-Guy]

Or with an 8-year old water heater, change the water heater?
If you start dumping time money and parts into it, when you’re all done you have… an 8 year old water heater and maybe a lot invested in it.
New Honeywell gas controls for water heaters run ~$200-$300.

 

[JeffreyWisc]

You could throw parts at it.

Honeywell strikes again

Pardon my interruption, but seems like a good place to ask...What brand water heater would you recommend?

 

[Twowaxhack]

Pardon my interruption, but seems like a good place to ask...What brand water heater would you recommend?

Here’s my general answer…….The cheapest one you can buy.

In my home I have the basic electric water heater that I can get parts for at every hardware store in America.