EASY FIX! Hot Water Heater Pilot Light Won't Stay Lit or On? How to fix waterheater in 1 minute 

The reason your jiggle works is because the end of that copper wire is positioned right next to the flame , the flame heats the end of the copper wire ( it’s a thermocouple ) but we are keeping it simple if the distance between copper wire and flame is to far apart it won’t ignite ... so get it really close like 1/4 of an inch closer or closer , use a flashlight to guide you while you bend the wire . Please be careful and read the instructions for re-ignition as you could singe your eyebrows if you fill the chamber with gas or cause an explosion ..written by veteran plumber ( be careful )🙏

4:25 is where the weird trick is shown. Thanks for another great video!

Skip to 4:20 for the solution

You know what, Buddy? *You are* a Licensed *WaterHeaterition* to us & don't you forget it! Stay Up, King!

Laying on the concrete floor, looked up "pilot won't stay lit" found you and the rest is HISTORY. THANKS A MILLION

Thank you so much my guy. you have no idea how relieved I felt when your method worked!! 2021 almost 2022 and this video is still viable asf.

"I am not a licensed water-ician" lol

I had been having all kinds of problems with my pilot light going out and having to relight it every day. It finally got where it wouldn't light at all and I was about to tear into it to find out the problem when I saw your video. I had my doubts about what you said to do, but decided to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised when it lit and haven't had it go out since. Thanks for the tip and saving me the headache of taking it apart!

THANK YOU!!! I’m almost 70 and female. I’ve always loved machines and have lit the pilot previously. Hubby and I got a new a/c on Monday and my pilot light went out when the gas was turned off for installation. I tried to light the pilot light; but, to no avail. Your tip about the copper tube was priceless inasmuch as mine was, apparently, clogged. I tapped it and, voila, I was in business. I thank you and the old gods for hot water. I loved seeing a normal lay person tackling this job! Kudos!!!

You need a new thermalcoupling

You save my $200, saved our families' 3 no shower day. No I worship you.

Dude I owe you a Beer. You were the only one on RU-vid who solved my problem. I thought no freaking way ! Bend the copper wire my ass. SMH worked like a charm.

Holy shit balls... I have NEVER been able to light the pilot! I'm so freaking impressed right now. Thank you. One less thing I have to wait for someone else to do for me. #BOOM

After 2 hours of working on it and about to go buy a whole new water heater, I tried and it worked. Dude, you rock!

it did not work at all...are all of the comments from NPCs? :(

You’re awesome! I was getting frustrated kept trying different things and watching different videos, about to give up until I came across your video! It worked on the first try! Thank you so much you’re a life saver I was losing my mind! 😀

You are a genius. Know that you’ve helped hundreds of people. You’ve brought relief to many people, you should be rewarded.

Hey are you gonna bend that copper wire ever so slightly or what ?

That little "metal thingy" you were talking about that senses the heat is called a thermocouple. You can easily test the thermocouple and there are plenty of great videos on how to do it. The fact that you have burn marks on the exterior of your water heater suggest that flame is being blown around. You might want to deal with that draft.

Seriously watched a dozen other videos and tried every trick in the book. This little oddity worked for whatever reason. Voodoo. Thank you for posting!

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Yeah I promise you are the man

Sir, I can't thank you enough! I am in my 60s and somewhat crippled up. I have been trying to get my pilot and water heater going for 4 days. I can't tell you how difficult it was for me to get down on the floor and back up. 😒 It has been so frustrating to be without hot water. Your little trick worked for me and I am so very very grateful!! God bless you! 🙂🤗

love Lifey Guy's attitude and energy.. great vid! thx! (I'm about to try his trick :D)

Came home to take a shower and no hot water. Sure enough the pilot light was out. Tried to keep it lit using the manufacturers method and it would go out no matter how long i held the pilot button down. Tried your method and sure enough on the first try she’s blazing away and heating up the tank as i type this. Thanks for the upload!

Couldn't believe it wiggling that copper wire worked on my water heater to. Bravo

I tried that it didn’t work, I ended up replacing the copper thermal coupler, it was around ten bucks. This video helped find the problem though 👍

I simply must add my own experience - it worked exactly as described. A slight jiggle of the copper thermocouple wire moved it ever so closer to the pilot light and helped to ensure it stayed on. Our Columbia Gas technician couldn't get it lit, and I also couldn't get it lit with the (remote) help of a handy man friend walking me through it, but just adjusting that wire a tiny bit made it work without even needing to hold the value open button manually for the full minute.

Ur trick makes alot of sense but one suggestion u don't need a fire matches to lighted on u can just use the tiny red button next to the the one ur pressing down and that what the electric wire for send electric shock to generate a flame its called the ignitor

Amazing!!! I was convinced this wouldn't work, but holy cow, it worked just as you described. Thank you so much.

Dude, it REALLY works. Thanks a million!!!

It worked! I was just like you said, on my back, 1-minute, repeat repeat repeat and found your video. Jiggled the copper wire and success! Wife is happy too!

If you wrap something that won't burn from the floor up about 4 to 6"s around the heater it will block the air from blowing out your pilot

I just lost power in Texas because of the snowstorm and I was bummed out about having to buy another heater and I can’t believe IT WORKED!!!!!

I thought to myself, "this sounds so stupid", but I tried it anyway. Guess what? It worked! I don't know why, but it worked. Follow-up: it quit again about a week later so I'm guessing this is just a temporary fix. But, if nothing else, it gives you extra time to get a new thermocouple.

Wow.. Just tried this and it worked like a charm!! Hot shower today lol, thanks man!!

Wow dude I never comment on videos and I have too on this one. Worked flawlessly. I was about to tape my finger to the button and take a nap lol. Thank you so much

It worked first try. But after a while it was out again and the trick didn't work a second time. Darnit.

I thought you were nuts… turns out you’re totally right ! Saved me so much frustration. Thank you !!!

I've turned to RU-vid to fix cars, vacuum, dryer - you name it and this is hands down the best hack, tip or fix I've ever come across! Took a minute and saved me hours! Thank you!

Dude it worked for me. I was skeptical until i tried your method. Thanks for sharing it was very helpful. I Would of giving up before discovering thats all that it was. I dont have patience for trial and error so thanks to you i have hot water again.

Thou are a gentleman and a scholar! You just saved me a lot of frustration!

Hazzah!!! Thanksgiving miracle!!! You just saved the day. Many blessings to you my friend. Mahalo!

Thank you. That actually worked. I had a suspicion it was the thermo coupler. On these newer tanks it doesn't seem obvious how to get the cover off to get to the coupler. Wiggling it from the outside of the unit. Wow! It worked. Nice video.

Thanks man I really appreciate it! I was pretty skeptical but it actually I was starting to get irritated with you because you took so long to get to the point but after the pilot light stay lit I couldn't be more grateful! Thanks again!!

Glad to know I'm not the only one who talks to my pilot light! "Oh please please pleeease!" 🙈😂

Didnt work for me😥

Thank you. You are a saint. Ours has been off since last night and this is what got ours back on. Thank you so much!

Yas!!!!!’ It worked. Thank you so much! Almost had an epic blow out with the husband over frustration building up. He wanted to take the hot water heater and throw it thru the window Hahahaha. Worked perfectly. Thank you again!

Thank you so much it worked👌

wow cant believe it. thank u so dang much ❤ 💯 i did not think it would work. wow. im amazed. been taking ice cold showers for over 2 months. smh.

You are a lifesaver!!! I have an 18 month old Rheem water heater. The pilot light kept going out. I called Rheem and explained the problem, so Rheem sent me a new gas regulator which I installed. Had to turn off the gas, no big deal, drain the water heater (pain in the butt), install the new gas regulator, hook up all the gas lines again and the pilot still kept going out! I called Rheem back and asked if the gas regulator could be faulty. They wanted to send me a new thermo couple, I don't know why they didn't do that in the first place!?! I couldn't wait for the thermo couple from Rheem, as we've been without hot water for a week now. So, I went to Home Depot and bought a thermo couple; installed it and the pilot still kept going out! I fired up my computer, went to youtube and found a ton of people showing how to change a faulty thermo couple if your pilot fails to light.....I kept searching and found you..... I immediately went out to the garage, lit the pilot, waited 60 seconds and then moved the copper wire "ever so slightly" and it worked. Thank you!!!

Bro this actually helped me thanks man 🙏🏽🙏🏽

Dude, this worked perfectly - MULTIPLE TIMES!! Nice job. thank you

This is why you want to have a professional. This water heater is operating Dangerously. Observe the charing above the burner compartment on the paint. That is a sign that exhaust is coming out of the bottom of the water heater. Attic exhaust fans or whole house exhaust fans are notorious for causing carbon monoxide poisoning. I hope that you have a carbon monoxide detector in the house.

Holy fuck!!!!! It worked!!!!!! Lol your the man dude lol haha

I tried your trick and it worked but quickly failed for some reason. Then I noticed the copper thermocouple wasn't very tight into the thermostat. I tightened that and Praise God it worked! Hope this helps someone.

Thaaaaank you! Just did that trick and WAHALAAAA! 👌👍

During the process of getting a new furnace installed, our water heater pilot went off. I spent about an hour on the ground watching it go off the second I let go of the button. I was about to give up but found this video and it worked on the first try. I love RU-vid! Thank you so much for sharing!

I believe you have a loose connection on the thermocouple, tightening it a tad will make a better connection and possible achieve the same result but lasting longer The thermocouple produces voltage and if it is not tight enough or has some corrosion at the tip, the voltage will be lower and internally won't latch the switch you are pushing to keep the pilot light on by bending the tubing you are making a better connection, sort of like having a loose wire you move it around to make it connect

Omg I was like this has to be a joke this is not going to work and lord behold it worked, I spent about an hour trying to get the polit lit I even called my neighbor over and we tried so he suggested I go to RU-vid so I want to say thank you for you insight.

excellent...it worked😁 subbed and belled thanks✌

I havent tried it but still gave you a like bc I liked your video haha

Omg how..... i cant believe this worked for me

Bro you just saved me and my wife and baby’s life!!

My boiler is slightly different than yours but it worked!!! Thank you so much!!!!! We were told the whole thing needs to be replaced.

Thank you very much! I have been trying to light my pilot for 24 hours and what you said to do worked right away. Again Thank you very much!!!

Mine is set up a bit different than yours, but you taught me not to be so afraid of pushing the pilot button. Now it is working and I didn't even need a match! Thank you! Having your tutorial was like having a handsome and handy hubby in a pinch 🥰

Just tried this and it worked. Thank you! I thought I was going to have to go get another water heater.

I have not tried this yet. Personally, I replaced my thermocouple about 3 times over about 5 years. Haven't needed to for the last 3 or 4 years. Next time I will try this.

OK, so I'm now basking in that same feeling you had in your video when your pilot light stayed on (because MY pilot light stayed on, first time after I tried your fix, and my water is heating rightnow)!!!!! Looking forward to a hot shower today! I'll echo someone else's comment: you're a professional water heaterationist TO ME! Thank you for this simple fix!

Bro I think you just saved me $400, youre awesome

Thanks man this worked. Found out the reason this works is sometimes the thermo couple shifts a tiny amount and doesn't get heated by the pilot light. By moving the Coupler copper wire a tiny amount it might shift it back into getting heated and generating electricity.

This was like one of those recipe websites where the author talks about her Aunt Rebecca's childhood before getting to the cooking instructions, but great trick nevertheless! Thank you.

I can’t believe that this really worked.... Amazing 😉

Thank you so much, Lifey guy! you just saved me from cold shower and a lot of my money!

Man, what a life saver. This video literally just prevented me from filing a claim with my home warranty. Thank you for sharing the knowledge.

Most helpful video I've ever watched on RU-vid. Thank you so much.

It works!

Don't know why it worked but it does. Thanks a ton

Wow! Worked like a charm on the first try. Glad I found your video. Thank you!

I just did your trick and it worked!! 🙏 thank you

Ever so slightly! Lol love it thank u

"I'm not a licensed Water-Heateritican.."😄

Your freakin amazing omgoodness I stood there pushing the button for 20 min and I wanted to rip my hair out when the flame went out 😫and I moved the copper wire and presto we had light ahhhhhhhhh lol

I held it for a minute and it still went off. I then tried 5 minutes. I gave up after holding it for 3 hours and just called the water-tician.

My thermocouple device is not working properly, I believe you have the same issue.

Manipulating the thermocouple like that may alter the voltage enough to get you in range but getting to that point generally means your thermocouple is failing. I know because I just replaced mine today. A quick run to the home center, $12 part and about a half hour of work and you have a long term fix in place. There are plenty of instruction videos on RU-vid for thermocouple replacement :)

Thank you sir! You saved me. I was just about to buy a new hot water heater. God bless brother!

Thank you so much it works for me..... you save me some money....

4:30 for the win. Thank you so much.

6:19 man you were not kidding about that feeling you get when it finally works 🎉😂

Dude, what! It worked! So in my case, the first time I went down there tonight around 5 pm (New Year’s Eve! And Monday Jan 2 is the recognized New Year’s Day holiday-so would’ve been three days wait!)… Anyway, the first time at 5 pm the full flame ignited first try. I put the cover back over it and walked away, but the water was cold an hour later. Checked on it again and the pilot was out. It’s 1 AM and I’ve been trying to relight it every so often to no avail. Tried scrubbing the underside of the furnace to clear the intake. No luck. Was about to give up and came across your video. My furnace doesn’t have a loose inner door or loose tubes/pipes/wires. They’re all fixed in place with rubber stoppers and what not. I tried it anyway with the little wiggle room it provided and it worked! Bless you! Not entirely sure why it worked initially and then went out, and it might go out again for whatever mysterious reason. It’s not at all windy tonight and no attic fan. I’m leaving the outer door off for now, figuring jostling the tubes/pipes/wires may have the opposite effect if I touch them. So we’ll see how long it stays on!

I love the way that you figure this out! I can tell that you’ve spent countless hours touching it and messing with it which is in fact the best way to learn.

Thank you it worked , I almost ran to home depot to buy a new one

It's 10 pm, no hot water, no pilot light so I said, what the heck, I'll try this.. Son of a gun! It worked. Thank you my friend.

Thank yo worked perfectly

Great tip! but too much talking man, you’re right is frustrating and then finding a video of a guy that goes on and on and on just to tell you to wiggle a coper pipe is no fun lol

MAKE: GSW MODEL: G6-60S42N-PV-ES2 Installed: Brand new 2021 (Summer) Hi there, So today I noticed a Single Flash roughly every 3 seconds. Error code states it is... "LOW FLAME SIGNAL (Control continues to operate) So I know what the code means but nowhere does it say how to correct it. What should I do? What I have done so far:... I noticed that there were some items and boxes stored in close proximity to the water heater tank, so I removed everything to allow maximum airflow. What else can I do?

Wow! Thank you sooo much. This 100% worked for me.