- 1). Shut off the gas valve to the water heater by turning off the manual gas shutoff valve.
- 2). Turn the gas control valve/thermostat to the lowest setting. Turn the gas control knob located on top of the gas control valve/thermostat to the "Off" position.
- 3). Remove the outer door at the bottom of the water heater to expose the manifold tube, thermocouple and pilot tube. The outer door slips into slots on the body of the water heater and covers the manifold door assembly.
- 4). Take out the two screws that secure the manifold door assembly in the combustion chamber.
- 5). Turn the thermocouple counterclockwise using an adjustable wrench, removing it from the gas control valve/thermostat. Repeat this disconnection for the pilot tube. Turn the manifold tube clockwise to release it from the gas control valve/thermostat.
- 6). Pull the igniter wire from the igniter button, located on the right of the gas control valve/thermostat. Pull the two thermal switch connectors from the control valve.
- 7). Grab the manifold tube and push down to pull the three tubes from the control valve. Pull the manifold door assembly from the combustion chamber.
- 8). Pull the retainer clip from the two-piece wire connector, releasing it from the manifold door assembly. The wire connector holds the pilot tube and the thermocouple in the manifold door. Pull the thermocouple from the pilot assembly and through the manifold door assembly.
- 9). Insert the new thermocouple through the manifold door assembly and into the pilot assembly until it clicks into place. Reattach the two-piece wire connector over the thermocouple and the pilot tube.
- 10
Replace the manifold door assembly into the combustion chamber and reattach the manifold tube, thermocouple and pilot tube to the gas control valve/thermostat. Replace the screws that hold the manifold door assembly in the water heater. Replace the outer door onto the water heater to protect the three tubes. - 11
Push the igniter wire into the igniter and reconnect the two thermal switch connectors to the gas control valve/thermostat. - 12
Turn on the gas shut-off valves and turn the thermostat to the desired temperature. Turn the gas control knob to the "On" position and relight the pilot.
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