Description

The Teledyne Laars W0036901 is the pilot generator for Laars gas pool heaters. It is listed alongside the Jandy Laars Lite and Lite2, Series 2 and Hot Shot heater parts.

What it does

The pilot generator sits directly in the pilot flame. Heat at its tip produces the small electrical current that holds the gas valve open, which is what allows the main burner to light and stay lit. It is a wear part: the output falls off over years of service until the valve will no longer hold.

The symptom to look for

A heater whose pilot lights and stays lit, but whose main burner either never comes on or shuts down soon after lighting, is the classic pattern for a tired pilot generator. Order it by the Laars number rather than by a generic size, since the fitting and length matter.