EDIT: Many years later... an update. It turns out this hot water tankwas a dud, and was part or a series of them that had this issue. Themanufacturer replaced essentially everything but the tank itself, andthe pilot light never went out again. Then a couple of weeks ago the tankfailed and flooded my basement.
My just over 2 year old, professionally installed gas hot water tank frequently loses the pilot light. I've had the installer come out 4 different occasions to look, and every time, he's stumped at what the problem could be. He blames it on the pilot light blowing out because of wind gusts, or dust, or starvation or any number of things that are not tank related, and therefore not his responsibility.
As this was my childhood home that I just bought from my parents, I know the previous two hot water tanks lasted a total of 36 years, in the exact location, under the exact same conditions. The pilot light on those two went out exactly once, and that was when gas to the whole neighbourhood was shut off after someone was digging where they shouldn't have been.
Yet, this tank has shut off at least 8 times in under 30 months.
I've recently discovered that it is a limit switch that is causing the pilot light to go out. I can't prove it, but I don't think the tank is getting too hot; the water temp is kept quite low (slightly under 120 degrees), it seems very consistent temp when you use the hot water (aka it not's violently hot from time to time), there is excellent fresh air intake, a smoke test shows the flue is clear, etc.
It's just this little switch that pops:
http://www.johnwoodwaterheaters.com/en/parts_catalogue?part=315358-001&lookup=view
Once I press the the little tab on the top right side of the switch, there's a physical 'click' and then then the pilot light can be lit once more.
I've told the plumber about the switch, and he says that it's impossible that it could be the "high limit" because I'd have to replace the whole gas valve. When I show him that is this little switch, and I can reset it it, he tells me that the switch is not resettable.
So, my question is—besides needing a new plumber—do these little switches ever go faulty? Can this switch, which is 100% resettable just be a lemon? Is it as simple as ordering the part and replacing it by re and re-ing the two screws that hold it in?
The pilot light has gone out 3 times in the the last 3 days, including twice today (once over night when no one was using any hot water!) and each time I have done the following little routine:
Attempt to relight the pilot, with no success. (The light never blinks, and the pilot will not stay lit)
Remove the cover, reset that little switch.
Light the pilot light, and it flashes the light after just a few seconds.
I figure that if I can easily replace the limit switch, I can eliminate it as the source of the issue. If the tank is actually overheating, the new limit switch will pop too, right?
If it helps, the exact model of hot water tank is here:
http://www.johnwoodwaterheaters.com/en/parts_catalogue?part=B4320&lookup=part_list
By the way, sorry for the novel. I've just been so frustrated about this tank, I wanted to make sure I got all the details out. :)
