H/W Pilot

On 8/22/2018 11:12 AM, Rob snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com wrote: ...

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What is the present exhaust configuration? Double or single wall (B or C)?

Have just simple baffle/rain shield on the well house heater that is quite effective here in SW KS where 35 mph "is just a stiff breeze"...

The water heater vents thru the chimney in the old house so it's never been a problem.

You are in better shape anyway. Chimney caps help considerably and getting the crap makes a difference too.

At 15 years you may be needing a new one soon anyway. That seems to be the life of them.

You mean something like this:

On 8/22/2018 11:32 AM, "\"Retired"@Home.com wrote: ...

That's what OP was asking about but minimum 5" which would be huge for just a WH...I've never seen directional for 3" which would be what I'd expect has...

Indeed 35 MPH is a mere Stiff breeze here (CT) as well. We dread the arrival of tropical storms, and worse hurricanes. We have raised our house. Thus we have not had house water damage, during our15 years of such recurring storms (and many more loss of W/H pilot lights)

Alas I am not familiar with a "simple baffle/rain shield" ? In our CT area, the noted "Hi" winds can be from most any direction. Does you "item" adapt to 360 degree Hi winds?

I agree, I may soon need a HW replacement. Alas EVER TAXING Danny Malloy "forced" us to move from CT and establish Florida as our state domicile. Thus we now only live in CT for 5 summer months. I am hoping that the HW heater lasts for a few years

On 8/22/2018 12:05 PM, Rob snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com wrote: ...

No, it's just a baffle with a rain shield over the top of a variety that was "dime a dozen" 50 year ago when the well house was built; I didn't see identically the same thing in a quick search but I'd think any of those available would like serve the purpose if you now just have an open stack.

Being round, it offers the same protection from all directions automagically and just breaks up the air flow so don't get a direct blast down the flue strong enough to blow out the pilot.

Have you removed the pilot light and made sure it's clean, orifice is open? Any chance it's the thermocouple is weak and that's the problem? All the water heaters like that I have seen have an opening at the top where the exhaust goes out, where additional air can enter. You'd think that would tend to limit how much air volume can make it all the way down to the pilot light.

On 8/22/2018 1:03 PM, trader_4 wrote: ...

He mentioned above he had put in a new TC and cleaned stuff up...altho not sure he mentioned whether actually used tip cleaner on the orifice itself, they're pretty small...

Don't live where the wind blows much, huh?! :)

When it "gets up and howls" it may not matter...even with the baffle on the well house heater, every once in a while it still gets snuffed.

I posted a couple years ago my replacing the "wild pilot" on it for a new safety control valve and just last year added the monitor to let me know from a distance if the temperature drops below (say) 45 F so know it's out before freezes up without having to walk out there to check...

I'll be gone before Malloy, but I'm leaving full time. Should be gone in October.

We have nor'easters here regularly. They can have gusts to 50 or so. Went through Sandy that was a hurricane until it just came ashore, probably ~70 mph gusts. That tore a lot of shingles off, but the WH stayed lit. He says 35+ is enough to blow his out, so IDK.

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A lot depends on the installation -- location of the exhaust, height above roof, other obstructions for ways to create tunnels, etc., etc., etc., ... Quite possibly some of those factors are more to blame than the actual wind speed itself.

Undoubtedly there are particular units that are more susceptible, too, just owing to vagaries of details of particular design/configuration.

What's different out here on High Plains is that wind can blow 30-50 from sunup to sundown for days on end...with no actual storm in sight.

DOE did a canvass for wind generation locations a number of years ago using NOAA weather stations for their data source. The highest average wind speed location in the database turned out to be Dodge City, KS, a location about 80 mi from us. I've compared the local airport readings to Dodge over a number of years and we're almost always a little bit stronger than they are as are somewhat farther west...didn't make the DOE list because isn't NOAA site.

This place has them down to 4". Would oversizing be an issue? Couldn't he just slip it over the existing exhaust?

I did just replace the thermocouple - after another high wind extinguished the pilot, could not re-light.

I did not (unaware of your most valid suggestion) clean/clear the pilot orifice - wish I had thought of that! Even with a small brush cleaning, the pilot now seems "Mor Robust" than before.

Ed

I enjoy you frequent postings, on this board.

In Florida, you will have MANY CT as neighbors. I would stay year round, but the summer heat/ humidty is a bit much

That item, which I had NOT seen, could be most useful -thanks for the info/ link (as was also sent by another poster)

I was unaware that the lack of taping. on the exhust pipe joints would be a significant issue. Easy "fix" to try!!

I was totally unaware of such options - thx