That is always proving the flame.
Gas water heater pilot light igniter.
There are two options either have a new piezo igniter installed by a licensed plumber or have a licensed plumber attend your home or office and re light the burner with a barbeque lighter as seen in the image below.
You should be able to see it above or next to the gas supply line for the pilot light.
When the water heater pilot light goes out first try relighting it following the directions on the water heater label.
A standing pilot ignition system has a pilot light assembly and a thermocouple or thermopile.
This video provides step by step instructions for replacing the igniter and flame sensor on ao smith gas water heaters.
The most common reason for replacing.
When trying to light the heater be sure to put the gas valve on the water heater in the pilot position and hold down on the pilot button.
The other tell tale sign is the wire that runs from the gas valve to the igniter.
It is common on fireplaces and older cheaper furnaces and water heaters.
A pilot light is always burning while using a small amount of gas either a water heater is running or not.
The water heater pilot light is a small flame that ignites the gas burner on your water heater.
While continuing to hold down the pilot button press down on the igniter button three or four times.
It s a small blue flame that burns petroleum gas to produce heat.
Don t panic just because the piezo igniter has seized up and is no longer working there is still life to be had out of your hot water service providing the tank hasn t ruptured.
The pilot light is the heart of your water heater.
Most water heaters do not have any wires attached to the gas valve.
The two thermocouple and thermopile are different but produce the same result.
Without this flame there would be no heat and thus no warm water.
A water heater igniter has a sparking tip that is directed at the location of the pilot light.
Once there is a need for heating or call from a thermostat a gas control valve releases the gas into the main burner and the pilot light ignites the gas.