For those who prefer not to attempt a DIY repair, hiring an HVAC technician is a safer option. The cost for a professional furnace thermocouple replacement usually ranges from $80 to $150, depending on your location and the specific HVAC company.
The thermocouple on a water heater is what relays the gas control valve once the pilot light is lit to trigger it to turn on. The part is rather small and inexpensive, but replacing it requires the expertise of a professional plumber for safety reasons.
The average cost to repair or replace a thermocouple is $100–$250.
The short answer is that plumbers typically service water heaters, whether it's gas or electric. An electrician may also be able to fix an electric hot water heater, assuming the problem is electrical.
The best way to verify that you need a new thermocouple is to see if your pilot light is lit. If the pilot light can't hold ignition, that means either a problem with the gas supply or, more likely, the need for thermocouple replacement.
Replacing a thermocouple is a relatively easy fix that can take less than two hours. This guide reviews how to replace a thermocouple to ensure gas appliances stay in good working order, as well as how to relight a pilot light.
The Pilot Lights But Won't Stay Lit
If the flame lights and goes out when you release the gas control knob after holding it in for the recommended 20 to 30 seconds, that's the sign of a thermocouple malfunction.
In general, a licensed plumber is the better person to call when you experience initial hot water heater troubles. However, there are plumbing-specific situations in particular that indicate that it is better to call a plumber than an electrician. Those situations include: Strange noises coming from the water heater.
Damage to the protective sheathing or the wire itself can result in inaccurate readings or complete failure. Overheating: Each thermocouple is designed to operate within a certain temperature range. Operating beyond this range can damage the thermocouple's materials, causing them to degrade faster than normal.
Can a Water Heater Work Without a Thermocouple? Unfortunately, your water heater will not function properly without a thermocouple that is in excellent condition. As we mentioned earlier, when the thermocouple is not working, you won't have any hot water.
The thermocouple is a safety device designed to shut off the gas valve if the pilot light goes out. Although, if your thermocouple is old, worn, damaged, wrongly positioned, or malfunctioning, it could have wrongly shut off the gas valve and prevented your pilot light from staying lit.
Thermocouples are relatively affordable components, typically ranging from $10 to $30, depending on the brand and quality. However, keep in mind that DIY replacement requires knowledge of furnace systems and gas connections, and improper installation can lead to safety hazards.
Sometimes, you'll just need repairs, but serious issues call for replacement. For example, a 30-year-old water heater certainly needs to be replaced, but a younger one with a minor problem may be able to get by with some simple repairs.
Thermocouple – $20 to $150
Repairs typically cost about $150 to have it done professionally, though a new thermocouple itself only costs about $20 on average.
The first call you should make when you notice problems with your water heater is a licensed plumber. These professionals are trained in a wide range of aspects related to water heaters, from wiring to piping, heating elements, anode rods, and gas lines.
Thermocouples can be used for a wide variety of applications in the food and beverage industry including Clean-In-Place sensors, Penetration Probes, Oven Control, Food Chain Monitoring, Hotplate Control and Monitoring and Steam Kettle temperature control.
It's easy to replace, and a new one costs $5 to $10. Rather than trying to unfasten the thermocouple inside the water heater's burning chamber, it's easier to remove the whole burner and thermocouple assembly.
When you have a thermocouple that is going bad on your water heater, the most obvious sign will be a pilot light that always seems to be going out. If you light the pilot light but then find it extinguished less than a week later, you'll need to closely examine the thermocouple.
Temperature sensor and thermocouple errors can be caused by various factors, such as mechanical damage due to physical stress, abrasion, or corrosion; electrical interference from nearby sources of electromagnetic radiation; wiring problems like loose, broken, or mismatched connections; calibration issues that cause ...
If so, you're probably wondering how much a maintenance visit will cost you. The cost of water heater maintenance ranges from $75 to $300+, depending on the following factors: What the plumber checks during a maintenance visit. Whether you choose a single visit or an annual maintenance plan.
But for the most part, you should call a licensed plumber for all hot water heater problems.
Electrician vs plumber: Salary
Electricians and plumbers earn similar wages, with an average annual income of $60,000 for electricians and $59,000 for plumbers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Can I clean my thermocouple instead of replacing it? If the thermocouple tip is only lightly corroded or covered in dust/debris, cleaning may restore functionality. But if you find any cracks, bent wires, or significant corrosion pitting on inspection, replacement is the safest option.
The thermocouple is what controls the unit's main gas valve. If the pilot is out or the thermocouple doesn't detect the heat from the pilot flame, the gas valve won't open and the unit won't ever turn on. Although the thermocouple is fairly sensitive, it needs to directly touch the pilot flame to work properly.