Whirlpool water heater pilot light does not stay lite

I have a Lowe's Whirlpool water heater. I've experienced the same problems as I've seen described here. My pilot light started going out several times a day. It was not such a big deal, the tank is well insulated so the water would stay warm - I'd just re-light the pilot before going to bed and before going to work. That worked well for about three days, but the problem got progressively worse until it just would not light at all. I replaced the thermocouple with a Honeywell universal thermocouple that I got at Home Depot - that did not solve the problem. I'm very handy, so I decided instead of going through warranty service and having to wait three or four days for replacement parts, I'd buy a new gas valve at Lowes and try that. It cost $54.00 and it worked. By the way, I put the original thermocouple back in and the pilot light stays lit - it was definitely the gas valve and not the thermocouple in my case. It was a real pain to do since I had to drain the tank, but it only took about three hours total. From what I've read, these things last anywhere between six months and two years. That's ridiculous, but at least I have hot water now. If you are reading this because you are considering purchasing a Lowes hot water heater, DON'T!!! I started my search for a replacement gas valve at Home Depot, but they don't stock them. Lowes had 8 on the shelf. That tells you something right there - the water heaters Home Depot stocks don't need to have the gas valves replaced before the tank wears out - there's no demand for the valves so Home Depot doesn't stock them. Lowes probably sells 8 of them a week - all the boxes were shiny and new, not dirty and dusty like some items get when they sit around in home improvement stores.

I purchased my Whirlpool hot water heater at Lowes 04/2008. The pilot light started going out in June 2009. I called customer support and spoke with a lady from India who was difficult to understand. She said it was the gas valve. I could pick up the part at Lowes and send off the receipt to get reimbursed or I could have Sear's come out and replace it four days later. I bought the part and put it on. However, I removed the plastic covering on the metal rod probe (thermostat). I didn't know to keep it on as the imbeciles who designed them didn't put that in the instructions. The part is on without the plastic covering the probe and so far is working better than when I first bought it. I don't know what the plastic covering did for it looked liked part of the packing to keep it from getting damaged. Oh well the first one lasted 14 months if the next one lasts 14 months then it really doesn't make much difference. Whirlpool is junk.

THE THERMOCOUPLE GENERATES A SMALL ELECTRICAL CURRENT IN MILIAMPS TO ACTIVATE WHEN HEATED , MAKE SURE YOU HAVE IT ADJUSTED PROPERLY IN THE FLAME PATTERN , AND THE CONNECTION IS CLEAN AND TIGHT AT THE POINT OF CONNECTION TO VALVE , IF YOUR SURE THIS IS DONE COULD HAVE BAD VALVE ( very rare for new valves ) usually proper adjustment since you added new therocoupling)

Solution: Don't replace a gas valve unless you are sure that its the problem. In my case, thermocouple was the problem. I guess whirlpool has already realized that there is something awfully wrong with their thremocouples. At lowe's, free upgrade kits of the thermocouples are available. I upgraded the thermocouple in my water heater and since then its working fine. Solution to my problem turned out to be FREE.

Every time I read about a promblem with a whirlpool water heater pilot going out, no one mentions why the water heater failed in the first place. all 40 and 50 gal. water heaters manufacture after 2003 have a flame arrestor or air intake screen that has to be kept clean or the piot light will fail. vacuum the flame arrestor with a brush every 6 months . good luck

Bought a whirlpool water heater from loew's, 4/08. Having the same problem, i now see from reading all the comments, with the pilot light not staying lit. To top it off this happened christmas eve and no one was available due to the holiday. A contractor came out saturday and put a new thermocouple in with no luck. The guy gave up and said he didn't what else to do, go figure. Sear's is coming out monday, 5 days later, hopefully they'll know what to do, since this seems to be a common problem with whirlpool. NEVER again, from Lowe's and whirlpool.

My Whirlpool pilot will lite but only stay lit about 5 seconds then it goes out. What could my problem be? I understand Whirlpool has had problems in the past with this .