RE: [VAL] Water heater

["Eddie Huffstetter" <eddiehuffstetter@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Especially if it is the original, Clean the entire valve assembly. You do  
not have to try to remove the complete valve to do this. I can be carefully  
disassembled, cleaned with Autozone cheapy carb cleaner, and reassembled.  

First, try gently removing the thermocouple from the valve assembly, clean  
with a cue tip the receiver of the couple with WD 40 sprayed up into it as a  
wash and the cue tip as a scrub. Do the same for the thermocouple. Then  
follow both with liberally scrubbing with regular rubbing alcohol. Both of  
these things will remove the white film of corrosion that keeps the milivolt  
connection from being good. Before reassembly, put some kind of grease on  
your cue tip and liberally coat the female up in the control, and the male  
end and threads of the thermal couple. Use vasoline if that is what is  
handy. This step is important. Remember, Grease is a hydrocarbon. It will  
promote conductivity, stop corrosion, stop moisture, and like carbon on your  
starter and alternator brushes, excellently help conductivity. The bases of  
bulbs in all new cars are oozing with a white grease for this purpose.  

DO NOT GIVE UP on your lp controller or system! LPG is dirty...it is laden  
with distillates. Over the years the distillates will collect in all valves.  
It looks like gooey molasses. It gums up everything in time and is simple to  
clean out and off of everything. The copper and steel lines and fittings,  
often aluminium and pot metal, all eventually pass tiny flakes. These flakes  
collect in the tiniest places such as orfices very small for the Lpg. Just  
clean, clean, and be careful not to introduce any dirt.  

Disconnect your feed line and rapidly blow-out the line by quickly opening  
and closing your lp bottle. Be sure NOT to do this in an inclosed space near  
any flame as LPG is heavy, falls, will not dissipate, and loves to hover  
around vehicle bodies that provide a static envelope environment. Check all  
reconnections under pressure with soapy water in a spray bottle BEFORE you  
light anything.  

I hope any of this helps. Sorry to be so wordy. Use common sense and care  
around all flamables of course.  

DO NOT GET THE CARB CLEANER ON ANY RUBBER PARTS OR SPRAY ON YOU! IT REMOVES  
ALL PAINT. IT WILL RUIN ALL RUBBER. IT WILL BURN YOUR SKIN AND EYES! If you  
do (and you will) get it on yourself, tough it out...do not wash with  
anything. Blot gently any off of you without rubbing. Wait a few moments  
until it evaporates and all will be fine, even your eyes! Wear eye  
protection of some sort.  

-Eddie-