Water Heater - Thermal Cutoff Switch | Repair and Replace

How do I test a thermal cutoff switch? In this episode of Repair and Replace, Vance shows how to replace a thermal cutoff switch in a standing pilot water heater. As well you'll see how to test a thermal cutoff switch for continuity. The thermal cutoff switch (TCO) protects water heaters from overheating. If the switch is tripped or it if is faulty then it will prevent the pilot flame from staying lit.

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00:00 Intro
00:33 How it Works
01:42 What You'll Need
02:03 Disconnect the Water Heater
02:28 Continuity Test
03:32 Replace the Switch
04:02 Turn on the Water Heater
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[davidramey]

I really appreciate companies like yours making videos like these

[sashasashasashasasha]

Thank you much for this video. After my thermopile tested OK, I cleaned it per your other video and then tested the thermal cutoff switch. It just needed to be reset by pressing the button in the middle of the switch per your instructions. Worked like a charm and the pilot now stayed lit and the heater kicked on. Thank you again. Saved me hundreds of dollars in repairs. Great quality video with animation and sound. Many blessings!

[michaelthetford]

Is there anyone else that Sub`d just because of the Southing Voice that just bestowed Great Knowledge onto my ears that I didn't even know I needed to know!?

[stevenschmidt]

Exactly what I needed to see to give me the confidence to successfully make this repair on my own. Many thanks 👍

[geoffkrueger]

Awesome, went thru all the videos, this was only one to talk about continuity of the switch. Mine was open, hit the button i didnt know was there and got continuity. Lit it and fired right up. Thank you for the video

[stephaniehebbard]

Hi, I just wanted to say thank you for this video. I just fixed my water heater by pressing the button on thermal switch. Your instructions were so easy to follow. I was so very happy. 💃💃Thanks again.

[mcanderson]

The thermo cutoff switch was giving me zero voltage (Thermopile had 500ma) I did notice something that looked like a plunger on the cutoff switch, but I didn't want to touch it until I confirmed it. This is the only video I saw that pointed that out, and tomorrow I'll be looking forward to the hot shower I didn't have this morning.
Thanks!

[ruarkeng]

Excellent video...clear, concise, informative. Thanks!

[diaflux]

Concise relevant information. Great job on this video.

[BobBlues]

Thank you so much. This video help me get hot water again!!!

[DavidKHill]

Late comer here. Is there a statistic on how often the TCO Switch can fail?
Thanks for the well prepared video.

[guiltyspark]

I’ve replaced my thermal cutoff switch and the burner finally turns on. The problem is the burner stays lit and the light on the control valve goes off. Is that normal operation for the light not to blink on the control valve?

[slowbro]

omg this video saved me! it was just the little reset button

[truxify]

Only took me 4 and a half hours to figure out that I needed to hit this invisible black button to be able to light the burner again. Most would have called the repair man by now. Something tells me that’s how they want it. A little TOO safe if you ask me. To the tune of hundreds of dollars for Ricky to come over and make it work like magic. Maddening

[ddarn]

Should I push in the reset button on the tco before testing with multimeter?

[noonm]

Great video! The thermocouple is good (25mV) and the pilot stays lit, but the main burner won't fire. Could a bad TCO cause this, or is the main gas valve shot? (I pulled the burner assembly and cleaned it with compressed air.)

[enre]

Both wires coming into the TCO switch are of the same colour. How do you know which wire is connected to which terminal?

[leenaluu]

I have an automatic switch. How long it takes to for it to automatically reset?

[brandonkrueger]

Hi there, I click the reset button and get it fired up. About 5 min later, it kicks off? Is it possible my thermocouple is too close to my piolet?

[himsanctified]

Hey folks I'm in need of a Thermal Switch for a Reliance 606 Gas Hot Water Heater. I cracked mine (which I super glued), and think I had an overheat in a recent light up of a dormant HWH. It lit fine the other day and then went out. I assumed that it was the thermocouple when I replaced. Still no go. Leaves me to believe that (aside from it being cracked, it worked fine for my initial relight), that it is the Thermal Switch... unless its the Thermostat now that the Thermal Switch shut off the main thermostat valve.