In effect, new thermocouples were installed into contaminated tubes, causing the degradation of the sensors and generating greater than a 100°F shift in accuracy. In this scenario, thermocouple life, which should have been
close to one year
, was shortened to within a week.
How do I know if my thermopile is bad?
Just like the thermocouple, the thermopile can be read with a multimeter to check if it’s the cause of the problem.
Three hundred millivolts or higher voltage is a
sign of a good thermopile. A reading below 300 millivolts would require you to replace the thermopile.
What causes a thermopile to go bad?
Thermocouple
too tight of too loose on gas control valve
. Tripped TCO, thermal cut off. Not enough fresh air. Bad gas control valve and ECO can cause pilot outage.
How long do Thermopiles last?
Although thermocouples
can last several years
, they don’t typically last as long as the furnace. It’s time to replace the thermocouple if the main furnace doesn’t stay lit. Most hardware and home improvement stores have replacements in stock.
How much does it cost to replace a thermopile?
It’s easy to replace and a new one costs
$5 to $10
. Rather than trying to unfasten the thermocouple inside the water heater’s burning chamber, it’s easier to remove the whole burner and thermocouple assembly.
How do you fix a thermopile?
- Turn off the Gas Supply. …
- Disconnect the Wires. …
- Remove the Manifold Door. …
- Remove the Pilot Assembly and Thermopile Wire. …
- Place the New Thermopile Wire. …
- Feed the Wires Through the Manifold Door. …
- Install the Manifold Component Block. …
- Reconnect the Thermal Switch Wiring.
How do you check a thermopile?
Diagnosing a Thermopile Problem
Just like the thermocouple, the thermopile can be read with a multimeter to check if it’s the cause of the problem.
Three hundred millivolts or higher voltage is
a sign of a good thermopile. A reading below 300 millivolts would require you to replace the thermopile.
Does cleaning a thermocouple help?
The dust, rust, or debris that can form a crust around the thermocouple will also prevent it from detecting the heat that’s required to put it to work. The good news is that
it’s easy to clean
, and even better, if that doesn’t work, it’s simple to replace.
How often do thermocouples need to be replaced?
The thermocouples should last for a long time. According to experts,
a four-year check cycle
is all that is needed.
How do you remove a thermopile?
Watch out: thermopiles and
thermocouples are not interchangeable
. When replacing a temperature sensing device like a thermocouple or thermopile, you should be sure to purchase the proper part.
How much is a thermopile?
It costs
$150 to $250
to replace a thermocouple. It checks to make sure the pilot light is on. It will shut the gas off if it’s not.
What would cause a pilot light to not stay lit?
If your pilot light won’t stay alight, it might be
the thermocouple
. Sometimes dust buildup collects on the thermocouple and blocks the sensor. Try cleaning the thermocouple and then relighting the pilot light. If it continues to go out, the thermocouple might need to be replaced.
How do you replace a thermocouple?
1 cause of pilot lights that won’t stay lit is a worn-out thermocouple. It’s
easy to replace
and a new one costs $5 to $10. … Then unfasten the three nuts that hold the thermocouple and the two gas tubes to the valve. The burner typically sits loosely—or under clips—in the burning chamber and just slides out.
What does a thermopile look like?
A thermopile looks like
a thermocouple
, and does a similar job – sensing temperature, such as a gas flame to function as a safety device. … Externally a thermopile still looks like a single sensing device. Thermopiles are used to measure temperature without having to contact the object being measured.
What does it mean when the thermopile voltage low?
If the thermopile does not generate the correct voltage, the heater may fail to provide you hot water. So, this is what the thermopile voltage low error means. The error means
the thermocouples in the collection cannot generate enough current to power the control panel that we mentioned
.
How many millivolts does a good thermopile produce?
The normal millivolt output is
25 to 35 millivolts
; on some, you may even get up to 35. The other part of this safety pilot system is the electromagnet (power unit).
