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Access the Heating Element — Access Your Gas Water Heater's Pilot Light

Beginner45 mins

Part of project

How to Relight a Gas Water Heater Pilot Light: A Step-by-Step Guide · Step 1 of 5

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In this video

Locate the exterior access panel for your water heater. Open the panel and find the small black plastic cover that protects the electric heating element's terminals. Using a screwdriver, remove the three small screws that hold this cover in place and set the cover and screws aside.

Goal: Expose Element Terminals

  • Keep the small screws in a safe place so they are not lost.

Used in this video

  • Screwdriver (Tool Type: Hand Tools, Screwdriver Type: Phillips) — Removing the screws from the heating element cover.
13.3K views1532 minutes
Roger Wakefield Plumbing Education

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FAQs

What should I do immediately if I smell gas at any point during this relighting process?

If you detect any gas odor, stop immediately. Turn off the main gas supply valve to your water heater and evacuate the area. Do not attempt to continue the relighting process, and contact your gas company or a qualified plumber for professional assistance to locate and fix the leak.

I've lit the pilot, but it goes out as soon as I release the control knob. What's the problem?

This common issue typically points to a faulty or insufficiently heated thermocouple. Try holding the control knob in for the full 60 seconds (or even a little longer) to ensure the thermocouple has enough time to heat up. If the pilot still won't stay lit, the thermocouple may be dirty, misaligned, or need to be replaced.

Do I need the specific Husky screwdriver and Scripto lighter mentioned, or can I use different tools?

No, the specific brands mentioned are just examples. Any standard Phillips or flathead screwdriver that fits your water heater's access panel screws will work. For lighting the pilot, any long-reach lighter, such as a BBQ lighter or even a long wooden match, is suitable.

The project is marked 'beginner' and '45 minutes,' but I'm finding it difficult or it's taking much longer. What should I do?

The difficulty and time estimates are averages; it's perfectly fine if it takes you longer, especially if it's your first time. If you're struggling with any step, feel unsafe, or simply can't get the pilot to light after several attempts, don't hesitate to pause and call a qualified plumber for assistance. Safety is paramount.

Transcript
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that the power is completely turned off you're going to go ahead and remove this little black cover right here. That's where your heating element is going to be. In order to do that you're going to have this little screw right here and you're going to remove three of those at least there's three on mine. I want to remove those so that I can get the cap off. To say some time I've already removed the screws to make this a little easier to get to a little quicker. But anyway that's how we remove that to get that out of the way so that we can get to the heating element. This is going

Auto-generated transcript. May contain errors.