Reliance Water Heater 9007876 Gas Thermopile Assembly

Very easy install, fired right up. So pleased with this purchase after having no hot water for several days. Have a Whirlpool water heater and the model number doesn't even come up on their site for replacement parts. Sears couldn't ship one for a month and a half and Lowe's or Home Depot didn't have compatible part. Youtube invaluable with info on diagnosing issues and info on installing this part.

Our pilot light would continuously go out. After looking for the part locally with no success, I jumped on Amazon and there she was. I will say the part number did not match my Whirlpool mfg by AO Smith tank but the picture from the previous review helped me - thank you!! The packaging was great, instructions great. All great and easy to replace. One piece of advice. Once you get it all in place and the pilot light lit, don’t expect the gas to kick on immediately. I freaked out, took the burner back out and then realized, I probably had a tank full of hot water. All I had to do was turn on some hot water in the house. I felt like Clark W Griswold not flipping on the light switch!!

As for ease of installation, it was at first difficult for me since I had never messed with a water heater. I spent lots of time carefully studying the situation and taking pictures for reassembly. Objectively, though, it's just a few screws and wire connections for the Thermopile Assembly. I had to take it back apart the following day since I had made a mistake. The second installation was a breeze and took less than 45 minutes. So, if you are a decent handyman, then go ahead and do it yourself. I saved myself at least $150. I also replaced the gas valve since I did not know what the actual problem was. It costed $126. I spent a total of about $160 on my 7-1/2 year old heater and have good reason to think it will last another 7-1/2 years, especially since no rust was present in the water that I had drained from the tank. Total time invested is about 5 hours including internet research and purchase time plus labor. This would have been at least a $400 job if performed by a trained professional. I wish I had better pictures to offer, but hopefully these will help some.

Water heater was shutting off on a regular basis about once a week to ten days. The pilot worked but wouldn’t stay lit long term. The thermopile was the real issue. The info I read on Amazon said this pilot/thermopile combo was an exact fit for my 50 gallon gas water heater model N50T61-403 and indeed it was. If you have mechanical skills this is not difficult to replace/install.

This replacement thermopile was a straight replacement. The pilot tube doesn't have the 'bulb' fitting in-line like the original did. They have an attachment nut that seems to have a compression element to it. It works with the new 'straight/flush cut' tube. So I have hot water again and I'm happy!

Cool product - lasted 2 months and 28 days. More crap from China.

After a basement flood the water heater burner assembly needed to be removed and cleaned. I rounded off the ferrel nut when removing it and also accidentally crimped the aluminum pilot gas line. This "Reliance Water Heater 9007876 Gas Thermopile Assembly" was used to replace a Kenmore water heater Model #153331651 "9007876 Pilot Assembly w/Tubing and Fittings". Bending the pilot light tubing to match the old one you are replacing it with before installing it is a helpful tip I got from YouTube. The hardest part of the job was having to get my old self down on the floor and back up again several times to complete the job. We are very happy to have hot water again!!! Saved a ton of money going the Do Ir Yourself route. Notes to self: Remember to turn off the gas to the water heater before beginning. Be sure to use proper sized open end wrenches so you don't strip the bolts AND MOST IMPORTANTLY after everything is put back together turn the gas valve back on and check both gas lines for leaks by brushing kids bubble solution (liquid dish soap and water) onto the gas lines threaded connections, if it blows a bubble or if you smell gas, that indicates a leak and you must immediately turn off the gas valve until it is properly repaired.

Original unit repeatedly, at worst times, pilot going out. This unit functions reliably all the time, except during a flood. Dried the entire system, relit, and it worked as well as ever. ;]