[VAC] Re: Fw: Water Heater continued

[Jim Dunmyer <jdunmyer@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Don,
  If you've replaced the thermocouple and are sure that it's good, then 
I'd begin to suspect the gas valve itself. Now, here's the rub:

Unless you can get an identical replacement valve, you're going to have 
a bit of replumbing to do. Chances are, the solenoid is bad, but I doubt 
very much if you could get a replacement. The companies are entirely too 
concerned about liability to sell such stuff, their answer is "replace 
it with a new one". And, it might be something else in the gas valve, 
but I don't know what it'd be.

One more test that you might try: grab your propane torch and hold it on 
the thermocouple once you have the thing all fired up. That would test 
to see if you truly DO have enough flame/heat on it.

A good HVAC guy has a tester that goes in series with the thermocouple 
so you can see what's going on during actual operation.

                                 <<Jim>>