Pilot won't stay lit
A thermocouple that no longer produces enough voltage, a dirty pilot, or a draft — tested, not guessed.
Pilot Light & Ignition Repair in Clarksville, TN
A gas heater that won't light, or a pilot that dies overnight, leaves you cold — and relighting it blindly can mask the real fault. We test the whole ignition chain and fix the part that actually failed.
Clarksville, TN · Mon–Fri 7AM–7PM · Sat 8AM–4PM · 24/7 emergency dispatch
Clarksville Water Heater Repair
Ignition is a chain, and any weak link breaks it
On an older gas heater, a standing pilot flame heats a thermocouple, which signals the gas valve that it is safe to open. On a newer heater, an igniter or hot-surface element lights the burner on demand, and a flame sensor confirms the flame exists. In both designs, several parts must agree before gas flows — and when one drifts out of spec, the heater simply refuses to light, or lights and then shuts down. That refusal is a safety feature working as designed, not a nuisance to bypass.
Repeatedly relighting a pilot that keeps going out, or holding a gas valve open by hand, is how a small part failure becomes a gas-safety incident. If a pilot will not stay lit after one careful relight following the manufacturer's instructions on the unit, stop and call us. The test that finds the fault — thermocouple output, igniter resistance, flame-sensor signal — takes minutes with the right meter.
What this visit covers
- Thermocouple output testing and replacement
- Pilot assembly cleaning and adjustment
- Hot-surface igniter and spark-igniter testing
- Flame-sensor cleaning and signal testing
- Gas-valve operation check
- Draft and venting check where a draft keeps killing the pilot
Drafts are an underrated pilot killer in Clarksville homes: a heater in a garage or utility closet near a frequently opened exterior door, or a flue that backdrafts on windy days, can blow a pilot out repeatedly even though every part tests fine. We check the heater's surroundings, not just its components, before declaring a part faulty.
Don't Ignore These
Signs your ignition system needs repair
Burner clicks but never lights
Igniter failure, gas-supply interruption, or a control fault. We test the igniter before condemning the valve.
Burner lights, then shuts off
Flame sensing failure: the heater thinks there is no flame and shuts gas off for safety. The sensor is the usual suspect.
Upfront & Simple
How a ignition repair visit works
1
Safety check first
Gas connections and venting are checked before any ignition work.
2
Test the chain
Thermocouple, igniter, flame sensor, and gas valve are tested in order.
3
Replace the failed link
Only the part that fails its test is replaced.
4
Prove reliable ignition
We cycle the heater several times and confirm it lights and stays lit.
Honest Pricing
What affects the cost of pilot light and ignition repair
Thermocouples, igniters, and flame sensors are small parts with modest labour; gas valves cost more and are the least common cause, which is why we test before replacing one. If your heater is old enough that its gas valve is obsolete, we will tell you that plainly rather than charging for a hunt that ends in replacement anyway.
You approve one price before any work begins — no surprise line items, and no work starts without your say-so. If a repair stops making sense next to the age of the unit, we will say so plainly and talk through replacement instead of pushing a repair.
Clarksville Plumber Repair Pro
No hot water? Talk to a Clarksville tech now.
Tell us what your water heater is doing — or not doing — and we will get a visit booked. You approve the price before any work begins.
Good To Know
Pilot Light & Ignition Repair in Clarksville, TN — FAQs
Can I relight my own pilot light?
If the unit's instructions are clear and you are comfortable, one careful relight is fine. If it goes out again, or you smell gas, stop and call us — repeated failures mean a part or draft problem.
What is a thermocouple, and why does it fail?
It is a sensor that produces a small voltage when heated by the pilot flame, telling the gas valve the pilot is lit. Heat cycling wears it out over years, and its output simply drops below the threshold.
Why does my heater click but not light?
The igniter is sparking or glowing but gas is not reaching the burner, or the burner is not catching — gas valve, supply, or igniter positioning. Testing separates those quickly.
Is a pilot problem dangerous?
A heater that refuses to light is protecting you. The danger comes from bypassing safety controls or repeatedly releasing unburned gas into the room. Never bypass a safety device.
Do tankless heaters have pilot lights?
Most modern tankless units use electronic ignition, not a standing pilot. Their 'won't ignite' faults are igniter, flame-sensor, gas-supply, or venting issues — same testing approach, different parts.