Weird water heater issue

[TheSiege]

Its not the thermocouple.

What it does, I light the pilot, turn the gas valve from pilot to on and the burner comes on. Just like it should.
Then after about 5-10 minutes I hear a click in the gas control valve and the burner and pilot goes off and I cant light the pilot for a few minutes later. Ideas?

 

[Red Squirrel]

Is there some kind of flame sensor? Maybe it's failed and not detecting flame. Just a very wild guess though. It sounds like thermocouple but I'm assuming you already tried that?

 

[NoTine42]

Does it have a power vent?

A dirty flame arrestor screen?

 

[pcgeek11]

Its not the thermocouple.

What it does, I light the pilot, turn the gas valve from pilot to on and the burner comes on. Just like it should.
Then after about 5-10 minutes I hear a click in the gas control valve and the burner and pilot goes off and I cant light the pilot for a few minutes later. Ideas?

Most likely cause would be the thermal sensor. It thinks the flame is out and cuts off the gas.

 

[skull]

Is your draft hood spilling over? Some newer models have a thermal sensor on the burner cover that trips in situations like that. Most them don't have any flu safeties for some reason yet the government mandated those stupid clappers in case you spill gasoline near it. If the whole burner slowly dies the clapper might of clapped cutting off combustion air.

 

[skull]

I re-read your post. You'd lose the burner a lot faster than 5 minutes if it was the clapper. You need a meter that will do milli volts. If your thermo couple is pushing 20 millivolts and the you hear a click the pickup in the gas valve is bad.

 

[herm0016]

what is the model? i would try a thermocouple first.