Rheem Pilot Light — How to Light, Pilot Assembly Replacement

Lighting the pilot on a Rheem gas water heater is a 30-second procedure for any modern Rheem unit. When the pilot keeps going out, see the related thermocouple page first — thermocouple failure causes ~80% of "pilot won't stay lit" calls. This page covers the lighting procedure and pilot assembly replacement when the issue isn't the thermocouple.

How to light a Rheem pilot — modern units (post-2003 FVIR-compliant)

1. Turn the gas control knob to OFF. Wait 5 minutes for gas to clear from the manifold.
2. Turn the gas knob to PILOT.
3. Press and hold the pilot button (large red button or chrome knob, depending on year).
4. Press the igniter button (smaller button next to the pilot button) repeatedly — every 2 seconds — while still holding the pilot button. Most modern Rheems are piezo-ignite; older units need a long match through the lighting port.
5. Listen for the click and confirm flame through the burner-chamber sight glass (small window at the front of the unit).
6. Continue holding the pilot button for 30–60 seconds after the pilot flame is steady. This gives the thermocouple time to heat and signal the gas valve to stay open.
7. Release the pilot button. Pilot should stay lit. If it goes out, see the troubleshooting section below.
8. Turn the gas knob to ON. The main burner will fire when the thermostat calls for heat.

When the pilot won't stay lit

If you released the pilot button and the flame extinguished:

1. Try again with a longer hold — 60–90 seconds instead of 30. Some thermocouples are slow to heat.
2. Check the pilot flame visually — it should be steady, blue-tipped, and fully envelop the thermocouple sensor tip. If the flame is small, yellow, or beside (not on) the sensor tip, you have a pilot problem. Continue to step 3.
3. If the pilot won't stay lit even with a long hold, the thermocouple is the culprit ~80% of the time. See our thermocouple replacement page — $25 part, 30-minute fix.
4. If the new thermocouple doesn't solve it, suspect the pilot assembly itself. Continue to "Pilot assembly replacement" below.
5. If the pilot assembly is good and the thermocouple is new, suspect the gas control valve. Rare but possible — the magnet inside the valve that holds the gas open with the thermocouple's millivolt signal can fail. Replacement is a pro-recommended job (gas leak risk).

Pilot assembly replacement

Replace the pilot assembly when: thermocouple replacement didn't solve the issue; the pilot flame is consistently small/yellow even after cleaning the pilot tube; the pilot assembly is physically damaged.

Rheem pilot assembly part numbers:

• SP12176C — standard residential gas tank pilot
• SP15013 — FVIR-compliant Performance Plus / Performance Platinum pilot
• Verify with the data plate model number — high-BTU 75G/80G units use a different pilot orifice

Replacement procedure

1. Shut off gas supply, wait 5 minutes for manifold to clear
2. Open the burner access door
3. Disconnect the thermocouple, pilot gas tube, and ignition wire at the gas valve (all three connect to the gas valve in close proximity)
4. Remove the pilot assembly mounting screws (typically 2 screws holding the bracket to the burner chamber wall)
5. Pull the pilot assembly out, noting the orientation of the pilot orifice relative to the main burner
6. Install the new pilot assembly in the same orientation. The pilot flame must direct at the main burner tubes — verify visually before securing.
7. Reconnect the gas tube, thermocouple, and ignition wire at the gas valve
8. Restore gas supply, light the pilot following the standard procedure above

Cleaning a dirty pilot

If the pilot lights but is weak/yellow, the orifice has debris. To clean:

1. Shut off gas supply
2. Carefully detach the pilot tube at the gas valve
3. Use compressed air to blow back through the tube into the pilot orifice
4. Use a thin wire (a paper clip works) to mechanically clear the orifice — gentle insertion, do not force
5. Reconnect, restore gas, relight

Pilot orifice cleaning resolves about 30% of "weak pilot" calls without parts replacement.

Why pilots fail

Common causes of pilot extinguishing on a properly-functioning Rheem:

• Drafts: open basement windows, HVAC return air sucking draft past the pilot. Verify burner access door seals properly.
• Negative pressure: bath fans or kitchen range hoods running while the burner is off can pull combustion air backward and snuff the pilot. Common in tight-envelope new construction.
• Insects: spiders and ants build webs/nests inside the pilot tube. Annual visual inspection prevents this.
• Sustained low gas pressure: if the gas main is undergoing maintenance or pressure regulation issues, the pilot may extinguish. Restores once gas pressure normalizes.

Bottom line

Most "pilot won't stay lit" issues are thermocouple failures — see our thermocouple replacement page. When the thermocouple isn't the issue, pilot assembly replacement is a 45-minute DIY at $60–$120 for the part. For broader troubleshooting see our Rheem troubleshooting hub.