Incredible Water Heater Pilot Wont Light Ideas. If the pilot light won't light after multiple attempts, you may have a mechanical failure. Some water heaters have a separate button for pilot mode, usually a red one, which you’ll press and hold.

When relit, the water heater pilot light flame should wrap around the thermocouple bulb. You should realize that there are usually many reasons for this problem. It fails to send a signal to the gas valve to open up, meaning gas does no flow to the pilot and burner.