Mistaken Identity: Help with Kenmore Water Heater

Thank you so much, Steve. I took a toothbrush and cleaned off the pilot and anything that looked like an air hole or vent. I then followed the directions on how to relight the pilot that I got from About.com - home repair. You saved me a bundle not to mention a lot of frustration. I am so thankful that I do not have to take a COLD shower today.

kenmore has issued a recall, # (sf-42-540) issued 8/30/2007 for this problem. call 800-659-7026 for service. good luck

I been researching on net and they all seems to problem with the Misers and services. I expected a better quality product than this from Sears and funny they did not do a self voluntary recalls on it and insist on makeing customer pay for it when they call the service department. hmmmm This is not the type of service that I expect from Sears. The reason I pick the Kenmore is because I trust Sears and assume they will not screw me and will always be in business and use their own technicians that is knowledgeable... wow!!!

Anyway, I had found out that is the "therocouple or themocouplings" is the trick or the common problem. it is a very inexpensive and easy to install part. I wish Sears would take care of that because I had the Miser 6 for just about two years and having the same problem as everyone else. $65 just to come out and plus parts and labor? I say replace a new waterheater that comes with warranty with parts and labors would make more sense. that is one can not do change the thermocouple on their own.

Good luck everyone and pay online question either just do more research.

My pilot light also won't stay lit. This is a new problem on a four year old water heater, but I wish I has seen this discussion before I bought it.

If anyone reading this has not yet blown their money on this product, let me warn you off all Kenmore products. My dishwasher is a disaster as well, and the service is rotten.

I had the same problem too. My water heater went out in two years. It was in a rental so of course, I had tenants that were without hot water. When I called the hotline, I was told it would be two weeks before they would come out. Finally after a day on the phones, they got a third party contractor to come out. He wanted three times the money SEars said it would cost. He got mad and left when I complained about that. The next one, fixed a thermocouple but it went out two days later. Sears refused to come back after that saying it was my fault because my basement was "dirty."
I have since found out that thousands of people are going through the same thing. It's the AO Smith heaters that built a defective unit with a screen on the bottom. Any dust gets in and the thing shuts down. I finally had to buy a new water heater (from someone else of course (Bradford White) and pay to have it installed. I'm suing Sears in small claims court. They are terrible. I will never buy another Sears product and neither will anyone I know. I'm waiting for a class action. There should be one because Sears is just ripping people off.

IT CAN be a breathing problem related to clogged filters, BUT ALSO
can be FIXED by reducing the gas pressure to the unit by slightly
turning the knife switch so the gas isn't so "full blast". The pilot light
actually goes out when the unit turns off and stops the heating and the
air flow then is very violent. Less violent flames, less air needed, stays lit
with less gas pressure. Does not effect heating really.
Yes, and clean filters too! THIS WORKS AND IS SOOOOO EASY!

Old listing ut thought I would respond any way. You can look all over the web and find the same problem. Sears wants the labor charge and they really don't care how many times they come out and change parts. Sears has definitely gone downhill with their customer service and products. I had the same problem like MANY others. I don't know how long this will work, but I looked inside the little window and could see no dust, lint, etc. but when I looked underneath the water heater where there are a couple of vents I found some dust, cobwebs, etc. Not really that bad for 6 years. Took a vacuum cleaner and attachment - or you can make a attachment out of pvc and cleaned all around and above where the vent is that is just below the burner. Evidently crud gets into it and blocks the air circulation. No air - no pilot light - no hot water. Have nothing to lose trying it. If this doesn't work, then I will remove the thermocouple and clean underneath. Sears gets you cuz you can't just replace the thermocouple you have to replace the whole darn burner assembly. About $75 or more from what I have seen.

Clean under the burner and also inside at the very bottom of the tank where you see the vents. Lint, dust etc gets attached and stops air circulation. Sears is screwing people by not telling them to do this before they send someone out and charge up the duffer for labor.