Gas Valve on water heater.. HELP!

[Geneman]

Hi brain trust. homeowner help needed. WH just stopped working over weekend . Its not that old ( in fact looks brand .. but its dated/installed 2013). Rheem

gas feed is fine, (the furnace next to it is working fine) as are stove burners

no pilot, no gas hiss at any setting, pilot restart no go.

When pressing pilot button. no hiss or smell of gas,.

I replaced the thermocouple with a home depot generic one. Still nothing.

So it seems that its the gas valve itself?

See pic. how often do these things just go bad ? looks fine to me

Is it worthwhile swapping in a new one ( about $100) before calling the pros?

Are they pretty easy to swap?

THANKS!

[greglepore]

Its not bad to replace. Thermocouple has nothing to do with "no gas" if pilot knob is held down. If there's no drip leg ahead of the valve in the gas line its possible that it ate some debris etc.

[Geneman]

Thanks greg. got it. Just looked online more carefully. these rheem valves are notorious for going bad even when new. yeah it looks pretty simple but getting the part is the problem..

[3rd_gear_Ted]

If it has a ten year warranty, its a whole unit replacement.

[Bugsinrugs]

How does the pilot get lit? Hold down the gas/pilot button and then push a button causing a spark? Or the old fashion way with a long match?

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

How does the pilot get lit? Hold down the gas/pilot button and then push a button causing a spark? Or the old fashion way with a long match?

Looks like the newer type, where you turn the big knob to pilot, press the pilot button down, and then press the igniter to start the flame. Once the thermo coupling heats up enough, the flame will continue to stay lit.

Geneman….did you try the above order to light it?

[McLovin]

Those valves go bad. Like you said, getting the parts can be an issue.
9 year old water heater, if the parts are available and you can swap it yourself it’s probably worth trying. If you have to pay someone to do it, that’s likely a borderline call.

[fintstone]

I have read that you cannot use a universal thermocouple with that Rheem.

[fintstone]

For when you replace the gas valve:

[billybek]

Originally Posted by fintstone

I have read that you cannot use a universal thermocouple with that Rheem.

Hmm. That makes it not quite universal!
You may want to remove the pilot tubing from the valve and re-check gas flow with the selector in the pilot position pressed down.
It is possible that the orifice has become blocked.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by billybek

Hmm. That makes it not quite universal!
You may want to remove the pilot tubing from the valve and re-check gas flow with the selector in the pilot position pressed down.
It is possible that the orifice has become blocked.

True that...but that is apparently what Rheem says. The company selling them calls them "universal" not Rheem. But, like all "universal" items...they do not work in every case.

I will have to look to see where I read that. I can remember whatever I read...but often cannot find where I read it easily.

[fintstone]

https://www.applianceblog.com/mainforums/threads/9g50-3851-rheem-water-heater-richmond-heater-pilot-will-not-stay-on.71648/

[cabmandone]

Did you make sure the ignitor was actually sparking? You won't necessarily hear gas hissing (or at least I won't) when the pilot is pressed down. You definitely won't hear gas when the valve is turned because the thermocouple needs to sense flame in order for the main valve to open.

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Did you make sure the ignitor was actually sparking? You won't necessarily hear gas hissing (or at least I won't) when the pilot is pressed down. You definitely won't hear gas when the valve is turned because the thermocouple needs to sense flame in order for the main valve to open.

Yes, this. If you can get to the pilot, try lighting it with a torch lighter while holding the pilot button down. If it lights and stays lit after you hold the button down for 30 seconds, its not the thermocouple (put the Rheem one back in or get a replacement Rheem). If it doesn't light then its the valve or no gas flow. If it lights but won't stay lit after releasing its the thermocouple or the valve. I just replace the valve on my greenhouse heater because it wouldn't stay lit after button release, but I could see .7 mv on the thermocouple wires. The millivolt pilot valve was likely bad but not a user servicable part.

[Geneman]

HI Everyone. many thanks for all the incredible responses. Well i poked around the net last night and finally found a very easy solution. Turns out there is an additional safety "fuse" that is installed between the thermocouple and the valve itself. the thermocouple goes through this damn thermal fuse for added protection. its not needed. you simple punch this white plastic thing out of the port for the Thermocouple on the valve, then re screw in the thermocouple to the valve. After i did this, i immediately had gas at the pilot, which lighted with the igniter and stayed on.

Thanks again to everyone

Its described here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kOGhJwQTl8