No hot water after a leak?

You are probably on to something with your expand theory. The pilot plays on a device called the thermocouple. a safety device that sends a message to your gas valve via mille amps that a pilot is present and gas will be ignited. Often when the heater is shut down this device becomes finicky. They are available in most home stores and the only real difference is length, so too long is better than too short. Just before you go through all that be sure after re piloting your heater originally the gas valve dial was turned from pilot to operate or use .