Here is an email I got today:
The pilot to my water heater has shut off for no reason. It won't stay lit, even when I attempt to light it. The type is a Kenmore Mixer 6.Please get back to me asap, and tell me if this is a serious problem or if it is a minor detail that can be fixed at home.Thank you for your time,Fernando D.
Probably because of my post on Fixing a Sears Kenmore Water Softner.
Comments
John (not verified)
Replaced thermocouple
Wed, 2008/08/06 - 17:21Isn't that typical to blame something on someone else (Sears) that you messed-up all by yourself. If you didn't know that you don't need to disconnect the Pilot and gas lines and sensors when replacing the thermocouple then maybe you shouldn't be doing it.
Anonymous (not verified)
Powerniser 6
Tue, 2008/11/04 - 02:20I have the same problem the thermocouple is welded in and you can't take it out without removing the whole LP burner unit. It also the only way it can be replaced. the whole unit or nothing.
Chris (not verified)
In order to replace the
Mon, 2008/11/17 - 14:09In order to replace the thermocouple on my Sears water heater, you do need to disconnect the pilot and gas lines.
Anonymous (not verified)
Sears gas hot water heater pilot light goes out.
Tue, 2009/10/20 - 22:44I have read all these postings and the consensus is that it is probably not the thermocouple. My unit had the same problems. All I did was slip the large grommet that is around the gas intake line back from the heater and it has worked fine ever since. Give it a try before doing any major replacements.
Good Luck
Jackie Graves (not verified)
Sears Power Miser 9 hot water heater
Sat, 2010/01/02 - 08:35I had the same problem with the pilot light not staying on - From reading other comments on this site I believe my problem was caused by a blocked air intake so the pilot light was oxygen starved and would not stay on.
I removed the metal protective housing to access the controls & was able to see that the ignitor was working ok. I followed directions to light the unit & that worked fine. However, once the burner shut off the pilot light shut off too. I pulled out the black plastic mesh screen at the very bottom under the controls. I duct taped the the handle of a foan paint brush to an old window blind wand (you could use a dowel or any other long item to exted the handle of a paint brush, tooth brush or whatever)and dusted the underside of the burner area. It appears there is some sort of air intake "filter" directly under the burner & that must have been clogged. I dusted all toward the opening & vacuumed as best I could with my crevice tool.
I lit the unit again & it seems to be working fine - at least the pilot light is still on since the fix yesterday and I have HOT water this morning.
So try this before you endure the frustrations of Sears Customer Service and the time and expense of what appears to be the trial by error replacements the "experts" say you need! (Another situation where duct tape saved the day - and the shower)
Good luck & Happy New Year!
Brett (not verified)
I agree with the above
Wed, 2010/01/06 - 19:19So after a long day of calling sears, Kenmore, and even whirl pool, I was brought to this thread of blogs and cleaning the filter underneath has seemed an almost toooooooo simple fix that for the most part has been working. My thanks goes out to the Kenmore guy with the southern accent that told me to clean the filter only moments before I read it a line or two down in the thread. So
CLEAN THE STONE FILTER NOT JUST THE BLACK ONE. Ok time to get on with life and a shower.
Anonymous (not verified)
kenmore power miser 9 water heater
Sun, 2010/05/30 - 18:20you're awesome, jackie! did exactly what you recommended, and wa la, pilot stayed lit! turned it to "on" and burner lit up! thanks again for the advice and money savings!
Phil (not verified)
black mesh screen
Fri, 2011/04/08 - 01:08hello where exactly is this screen and how do i pull it out look EVERYWHERE cant see it
Anonymous (not verified)
Great post. It worked.
Thu, 2011/07/07 - 12:08Great post. It worked. Thank you very much
Anonymous (not verified)
Thanks!
Mon, 2011/04/11 - 08:55Thank you for your suggestion. I slipped the rubber gromet and the unit is working now. I also called Sears at 1-877-800-5804 and they are sending a kit to clean the flame arrestor screen free of charge and directed me to a website that has a video and pdf file on how to clean the screen.
http://hotwater101.com/
Thank you for your help. This problem has really been frustrating. Slipping that gromet is keeping my kids with hot water until I can get that kit.
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