Same-day diagnosis, honest pricing, and a pilot that stays lit
Pilot Light and Thermocouple Repair Katy TX That Gets Your Hot Water Back
When your water heater won't stay lit, you need pilot light and thermocouple repair Katy TX homeowners actually trust. We diagnose the thermocouple, clean the pilot assembly, and test every safety shutoff before we leave. Whether you're in Cinco Ranch or Firethorne, we handle gas and propane units from Rheem, A.O. Smith, and Bradford White. Most no-hot-water calls are fixed the same day you call.
Live dispatcherUpfront optionsBacked workmanship
What's included
What Our Pilot Light and Thermocouple Repair Includes
Every pilot call covers diagnosis, the repair itself, and a full safety check. Here's what's in the standard job and what we quote separately if we find it.
Full Pilot Assembly Inspection
We open the burner compartment, inspect the pilot orifice, tubing, and electrode, and check for soot, scale, or spider webs. A clogged orifice is a common reason a pilot won't light even when the thermocouple is fine.
Thermocouple Testing and Replacement
We measure millivolt output with a thermocouple tester and multimeter. If it reads below 15 millivolts, we replace the thermocouple with an OEM-spec part and torque the connection to the gas valve properly.
Gas Leak and Pressure Check
After the repair, we test every gas connection at the control valve, flex connector, and dielectric union with a pressure gauge and leak solution. If we find a leak, we fix it before we relight the pilot.
T&P Valve and Flue Verification
We test the T&P relief valve for proper operation and confirm the flue is drafting correctly. A blocked flue can cause the pilot to drop out and is a carbon monoxide risk, so we don't skip it.
Relight and Flame Test
We relight the pilot, hold the button for 60 seconds, and watch the flame for stability. You get the final millivolt reading and the water temperature setting written on your invoice.
Old Part Left With You
We leave the failed thermocouple or pilot assembly with you so you can see what came out. If you want us to haul it off, we will, but many customers like having the proof of the repair.
Service overview
What Pilot Light and Thermocouple Repair Katy TX Involves
Pilot light and thermocouple repair Katy TX is a gas water heater service that restores a standing pilot flame and replaces the thermocouple or thermopile that proves the flame is burning. The thermocouple is a small two-wire sensor sitting in the pilot flame. It generates roughly 20 to 30 millivolts, and that tiny current holds the gas valve open. When the sensor weakens, the valve closes and your pilot dies within seconds of releasing the button. We test millivolt output with a multimeter, inspect the pilot orifice for dust and spider webs, and check the gas control valve before recommending any part.
In Katy, pilot failures spike in fall and winter when furnaces and water heaters run together and the burner compartment pulls in more dust. Hard water scale from our area's mineral-heavy supply also corrodes thermocouple threads over time. If your pilot keeps going out, or you smell gas near the tank, call us at (281) 326-6032. We run 24/7 pilot light repair Katy TX calls and stock common thermocouples for Rheem, A.O. Smith, State Water Heaters, and American Standard units so most jobs finish in one visit.
How we workWe verify the cause, compare realistic options, and confirm the repair before we leave.
The service timeline
Our Pilot Light Repair Process
The process flexes to the condition, but these checkpoints keep decisions clear.
Phone Triage
We ask what you're seeing: no flame at all, a flame that dies when you release the button, or a pilot that lights and then quits after a few minutes. That tells us whether you're looking at a dirty orifice, a weak thermocouple, or a bad gas control valve. We book a window and text you the tech's name.
On-Site Diagnosis
The tech shuts off gas, opens the burner compartment, and inspects the pilot assembly. We test the thermocouple with a thermocouple tester and multimeter, check the pilot flame color and size, and look for soot or scale on the orifice. Diagnosis takes 15 to 25 minutes on most tanks.
Repair and Replacement
If the thermocouple reads under 15 millivolts, we replace it. We use a tube cutter and flare fittings, not compression shortcuts. If the gas valve is failing, we quote that separately and let you decide. Pilot tubing gets replaced whenever it's brittle or kinked.
Safety Verification
We relight the pilot, hold the button for 60 seconds, and watch the flame. Then we check the gas connections with a pressure gauge and leak solution, test the T&P relief valve, and confirm the flue is drafting. You get the millivolt reading written on the invoice.
Walkthrough and Cleanup
Before we leave, we show you the new thermocouple, explain how to relight the pilot yourself next time, and note the water temperature setting. We haul off the old part and wipe down the tank area. Total time on a standard thermocouple job runs 45 to 90 minutes.
Tools & methods
Tools and Methods We Use
Purpose-built equipment, used by trained technicians, so the job is done accurately the first time.
Multimeter and Thermocouple Tester
Measures millivolt output from the thermocouple under load. A reading under 15 millivolts means replacement; above 25 means the sensor is healthy and the fault is elsewhere.
Tube Cutter and Soldering Torch
Cuts and re-flares pilot tubing cleanly when we replace a kinked or brittle line. We use flare fittings rated for gas service, never compression shortcuts.
Pipe Wrench and Element Wrench
Breaks loose gas valve connections and heating elements without stripping threads. The right wrench matters on older tanks where fittings have seized from scale.
Pressure Gauge and T&P Valve Tester
Confirms gas pressure at the valve and verifies the T&P relief valve opens at the correct setting. Both are part of our post-repair safety check.
Water Heater Flush Kit and Descaling Pump
Clears sediment from the tank bottom that can block the burner area and shorten thermocouple life. We use it on maintenance calls and when scale is visible.
Use cases
When Katy Homeowners Call Us for Pilot Repair
These examples show how the service framework adapts rather than forcing every call through one repair.
Gas Smell in a Cane Island Garage
A homeowner smelled gas near the water heater and the pilot wouldn't light. They shut off the gas valve and called us. The flex connector had a pinhole leak from corrosion. → We replaced the flex connector and dielectric union, leak-tested every joint with a pressure gauge, and confirmed zero readings. The pilot relit on the first try and the gas smell was gone.
Landlord Emergency in Elyson
A property manager called on a Sunday with a tenant who had no hot water. The Bradford White pilot was out and the tenant had already tried relighting it three times without success. → We dispatched a tech the same afternoon, replaced the thermocouple, and verified the gas valve was holding. The tenant had hot water by 5 p.m. and the manager got the invoice by text.
Problems we solve
Pilot and Thermocouple Problems We Solve in Katy
Most pilot failures fall into a handful of patterns. We've seen them all, and we know which ones are a quick fix and which point to a bigger problem.
Pilot won't stay lit after releasing the button
We test millivolt output, replace the thermocouple if it's under 15 millivolts, and verify the new one holds the valve. Most jobs take under an hour and restore full hot water the same day.
Pilot lights but goes out within minutes
We clean the pilot orifice, check the flue draft, and test the gas valve. If the valve is dropping out, we quote a replacement and explain the cost difference versus a new tank.
Smell of gas near the water heater
Call us and get everyone outside first. We leak-test every gas connection with a pressure gauge and solution, repair the leak, and confirm zero readings before we relight the pilot.
Yellow or lazy pilot flame
We clean the burner and orifice, check the gas pressure, and verify the flue is pulling air correctly. If the gas valve is misregulating pressure, we replace it and retest combustion.
Pricing process
Pilot Light and Thermocouple Repair Pricing
$150 - $600 depending on scope
Thermocouple vs. gas valve
A thermocouple is a $15 to $40 part and an hour of labor. A gas control valve is $120 to $250 for the part alone and takes longer to install. We test both and tell you which one you actually need.
Tank age and condition
On tanks over 12 years old, seized fittings and corroded threads add labor time. If the tank is also leaking or heavily corroded, we'll give you a repair-versus-replace number so you can decide.
Access to the burner compartment
Tanks in tight closets or behind stored items take longer to service. Garage installs with clear access are the fastest. We'll tell you on the phone if access will affect the quote.
Customer reviews
What Katy Customers Say
★★★★★
“Pilot went out Friday night and we had family in town. Called Saturday morning and a tech was here by noon. He tested the thermocouple, showed me it was reading 8 millivolts, and swapped it out. Total was under $200 and the flame has held for three months. Straight shooter, no upsell.”
★★★★★
“Our Bradford White kept losing the pilot every few days. Two other companies told us to replace the whole tank. Katy Water Heater Repair found a cracked pilot tube and a dirty orifice, fixed both, and charged a fraction of a new unit. That was last winter and it's still running.”
★★★★★
“I manage three rentals and one had no hot water on a Sunday. They answered, walked me through the relight over the phone, and when it still wouldn't hold they came out that afternoon. Replaced the thermocouple and checked the gas valve. Fair price and they texted me the invoice.”
Why does my pilot light keep going out in Katy TX?
A weak thermocouple is the cause in about 70% of cases; the rest are dirty pilot orifices, drafts, or a failing gas control valve. Katy's hard water scale and fall dust load both shorten thermocouple life. We test millivolt output on site and replace the sensor if it reads under 15 millivolts. Most relights hold after that.
How much does thermocouple repair cost in Katy?
Typical 2026 pricing for thermocouple replacement in Katy runs $150 to $280, including the part, labor, and safety testing. If the gas control valve is also bad, expect $350 to $600. We quote the full job before we start, and the diagnostic fee is credited toward the repair when you approve it.
How do I relight my water heater pilot in Katy Texas?
Turn the gas knob to Pilot, press and hold it down, and click the igniter until the flame catches. Hold the knob 60 seconds after the flame lights, then release and turn to On. If the flame dies when you let go, the thermocouple is bad and needs replacement. Don't keep trying if you smell gas.
Who repairs pilot lights near me in Katy?
We do. Katy Water Heater Repair handles pilot light and thermocouple work across Katy, Cinco Ranch, Firethorne, Elyson, and Waller County. Call (281) 326-6032 and we'll book a same-day or emergency slot. Our techs are state-licensed and carry parts for Rheem, A.O. Smith, and Bradford White tanks.
Related services
Related Services
Leaking Tank Repair
A pilot that won't stay lit sometimes points to a leaking tank or a corroded fitting near the burner. We pressure-test the tank and connections, then repair the leak or quote a replacement if the steel is too far gone.
Tankless Flush and Descaling
Tankless units don't have standing pilots, but they do have flame sensors that fail from scale. Our descaling service uses a descaling pump and solution to clear the heat exchanger, which keeps ignition reliable and extends unit life.
Tankless Unit Repair
If your tankless heater won't ignite, the fault could be the igniter, flame rod, or gas supply. We diagnose with a multimeter and pressure gauge, then repair the specific component instead of replacing the whole unit.Ready when you are
Get Your Pilot Light and Thermocouple Repair Katy TX Today
Cold water and a dead pilot won't fix themselves. Call (281) 326-6032 and we'll dispatch a licensed tech with the parts to get your flame back. Same-day and emergency slots available across Katy, TX.
Talk with the local team
Request Pilot Light and Thermocouple Repair
Phone is the fastest way to reach us. Call (281) 326-6032 and you will talk to a person who knows water heaters, not a call center. We answer 24/7 for emergencies and schedule standard repairs Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Most calls in Katy get a same-day window.