"Paul in Boise" wrote in message
ups.com...
it looks pretty easy to remove the pilot light for cleaner but how do
clean it once it's out. Thanks again!


BTW, this heater was new with the house in 1994.


Try all the suggestions received.

With a 10 year old heater the control valve could be bad. They aren't worth
replacing. They cost almost as much as a new heater IF you can even remove
the old one from the heater.

If you take apart the pilot to clean it replace the thermocouple at the
same. Now you are gambling $6 and 2-3 hours against the cost of a new
heater.

Remove the pilot assembly. Remove all the ash and crud from the pilot
burner with a stiff tooth brush (wire preferred).
Take it apart. Give the pipe a good BG. Inside of the burner there is an
orifice. The look varies but what it is a very tiny hole through which the
gas passes. When held up to a strong light you should see a perfect circle.
Most likely you won't. Your job is to clean the hole so that when sighted
against a strong light you see a perfect circle. You MUST NOT enlarge the
hole by using a needle or item to big to clean it. I have had good luck
using a single strand of wire from a twisted galvanized wire (such as
antenna guy wire). You need to use something about half the size of the
point on the safety pins that the dry cleaners send back on your clothes.
When you see the perfect circle the lint or dust has been removed. The
pilot should burn higher and wider than it did before you cleaned it.

Test all connections that you loosened with a solution of 1 tablespoon of
dish soap to 16 ounces of water. If any connection blows bubbles tighten
till it does not. Don't confuse the tiny bubbles from the soapy water as
being a leak. They will grow if you have a leak.

As always you accept this mission at your own risk. The information provided
is believed accurate but your are responsible for the final determination as
to the accuracy and or the results.

Colbyt