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Brand new GE water heater won't stay lit when I let up on th

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wsdad
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Joined:	Mon Mar 12th, 2007
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Posted: Tue Mar 13th, 2007 05:27 am

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Problem:

My brand-spanking-new GE water heater pilot light won't stay lit when I let up on the red button.

Questions:

How do I tell if the safety magnet is bad? What is it and how does it work?

How do I tell if the thermostat's single use gas shut-off has opened? What is it and how does it work?

How do I tell if the combustion shutoff device has tripped? What is it and how does it work?

Is there any way to test these things or should I call a "qualified service technician" to replace my gas control and combustion device. If there's something else going on, I'd like to diagnose it before throwing parts at it (it'll take a lot of time to get a plumber out here).

Clues:

I held the red piolet button down for 2 minutes, then 4 minutes, then another 4 minutes.

The thermocouple is not loose. The flame hits it squarely.

I think it's unlikely the thermocouple is bad. I just bought the heater 2 days ago and it worked all night and part of the next day.

I double checked my connections before going to work the next day and found water had seeped out the hot water outlet for a few hours. I don't know if this is a clue that matters or not. It was still wet today.

The red temperature adjusting knob fell off. It had a crack in it. Maybe it got squashed, but the metal stem seemed unharmed. I turned it back and forth (while it was still working the first night) and the main burner lit and went out. It seemed to turn smoothly.

It's sitting in a wide open garage - no flammable chemicals or gas fumes. Just a bunch of harmless books and two bicycles. The garage door has been down and it hasn't been windy. Plenty of combustible air.

If you hesitate to suggest something to a novice over the internet, I'd like to give it a shot anyway, if that doesn't seem to arrogant. While I've repaired only 8 water heaters, I've repaired countless appliances (Washers, Gas Dryers, Refrigerators, etc.) for 8 years and hospital equipment for 8 years. I like to imagine myself mechanically inclined. I don't mean to boast. I'm just letting you know I'm willing to try difficult things.

I don't mind voiding the warranty if I can get it fixed quicker myself.

Thanks for you help. You guys seem pretty smart from what I've already read.

Last edited on Tue Mar 13th, 2007 05:28 am by wsdad

eleent
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Posted: Tue Mar 13th, 2007 05:35 am

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Hello: This will only answer your questions indirectly, but the heater is under warranty. The supplier will send out someone to service or replace the heater if they cannot make it work. Stick with the service technician and see what's done. In addition to learning what fixes it, you'll get to see the troubleshooting process as it applies to your heater

Offer coffee and cookies to the tech

Yours, Larry

wsdad
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Posted: Tue Mar 13th, 2007 05:41 am

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That's a good idea except I don't want to wait on someone to come to the house. There's a whole herd of in-laws coming over.

armits
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Posted: Mon Jan 28th, 2008 02:34 pm

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I am having the same problem with my [highlight= #ffff88]brand [highlight= #88ffff]new [highlight= #88ff88]GE [highlight= #ff88ff]water [highlight= #ff8888]heater. The gas pilot will not stay lit.

The [highlight= #88ff88]GE [highlight= #ff88ff]water [highlight= #ff8888]heater was installed in October of 2007. It is model number PG40T09AVH00. It was manufactured in May of 2007.

I am unsatisfied with this [highlight= #88ff88]GE [highlight= #ff88ff]water [highlight= #ff8888]heater and want it replaced with a quality product. Would the others on this forum who have also had problems please let me know the process you followed to get satisfaction from [highlight= #88ff88]GE? Please? Thank you in advance.

-Scott

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