Gas Fire Thermocouple loose connection.

[Laurence Harvey]

Not sure if this is the correct forum but my son had a problem with his ‘Paragon Living Flame’ gas fire in as much as it was failing to flame up properly. The pilot light would ignite no problem but it wouldn’t stay on.

He noticed that the thermocouple connection (thin copper tube) to the main valve was quite loose and when he tightened the nut slightly the gas-fire started to work properly again. Obviously just re-made the electrical connection.

I’d imagine that the thermo-couple nut had probably only ever been finger-tight and whoever replaced it at some time in the past had simply forgotten to nip it up more securely.

Question: can gas escape from that particular connection if the thermo-couple nut isn’t tightened properly?. I assume that the connection is purely electrical and no gas could possibly escape,...but perhaps I assume wrongly.

 

[ianmcd]

no gas can escape, but it is a safety device so not for DIY

 

[Madrab]

+1 ... the thermocouple just runs a very small current to the e-mag at the top of the gas valve and holds the valve open. If the oxy pilot goes out (for whatever reason) the thermocouple cools down the current disappears and the gas valve closes, hence why it's the main safety device

I'd suggest your son gets the fire serviced by a GSR just to be sure the rest of it is ok, it should be performed yearly.

 

[Laurence Harvey]

Many thanks for the replies, very much appreciated;... although the fire has been working properly I was worried that the loose connection had been leaking gas (however small) all the time the fire was lit. I'm relieved that hasn't been the case as it's purely an electrical connection, but nonetheless he'll get it looked at/serviced asap. That's a definite.