How to troubleshoot gas water heater |
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Prevent problemsMaintain water heater and it will last many years beyond warranty. Read manual and links below.How to maintain water heater 1) Read about anode rods 2) Read about stray current corrosion 3) How to flush water heater 4) Inspect for leaks 5) 9 ways to save with water heater 6) Water heater safety precautions 7) Read manual and follow maintenance schedule and precautions |
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2012 Troubleshoot gas water heater starts here: Your manual will have troubleshooting steps SEARCH using Ctrl+F for browser Find feature Water heater manufacturers |
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Links below contain valuable resources for
troubleshooting gas water heater. Recommend also Tank water heater forum Post a question, or Use search feature at tank to find information available nowhere else. Burner will not stay lit Burner flame is yellow |
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Troubleshoot by gas control valve | ||
Adjust temp on Honeywell gas valve Icon gas valve error codes Full service manual Honeywell Gas valve video Bradford White Service manual Bradford White service manual 2 More Bradford White service manuals How to clean burner Kenmore: Temperature settings and error codes How to replace Honeywell gas control valve How to test gas control valve |
ECO limit 199° F How to light Honeywell gas valve Dampered Fury gas troubleshooting codes Induced draft troubleshoot codes Error codes Error codes2 Service manual Power vent water heater issues Sequence of operation How to replace water heater gas valve |
Error
codes and adjust
temp on Intelli-vent gas valve
Troubleshoot Intellivent/ pdf Intellivent service manual Intellivent FVIR trpubleshoot and reset Sample manual Intellivent wiring Power direct vent troubleshoot Sequence of operation Intellivent error codes-troubleshoot How to replace water heater gas valve |
Service manual Service manual 2 American Standard service manual 6Mb size White Rodgers gas control valve replacement pdf Power vent water heater issues Magnet testing How to light gas water heater How to replace water heater gas valve White Rodgers NG replace, install, set temp |
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Suburban water heater service manual Whirlpool energy smart gas water heater manual |
Robert Shaw models Robert Shaw troubleshooting/ pdf General troubleshoot/ pdf Magnet testing Recalibrate gas control/ pdf How to light gas water heater How to replace water heater gas valve |
SIT gas control valve for water heater Larger image How to light and set temperature SIT gas control |
Honeywell electronic water heater controllers |
Power vents: Power vent water heater issues American power vent service manual Anode covered by power vent |
Robert Shaw 120Volt input gas control valve Wiper Control and Gas Valve assembly Triangle pointed upward is 120 degrees F Larger image Error Codes and troubleshoot Guardian power vent Robert Shaw error code Rheem parts list American power flex parts General manual with lighting instructions Replace water heater gas control and FV Check pressure switch, blower, gas control Sequence of operation How to light water heater |
Larger image Clean air intake on AO Smith, State, American, Reliance, Whirlpool water heaters Rheem, Richmond, Ruud, GE heaters require removal of combustion parts to clean arrestor screen inside unit. |
Soot implies dangerous situation Gas may not be buring fully See image on right Soot on top of heater also implies danger. |
Flame should burn clear blue Low gas pressure. Dirty combustion parts. Poor incoming air supply. Inadequate venting. This is dangerous because unburned gas can accumulate inside combustion chamber or inside the flueway. Causing ignition. This situation will overheat combustion chamber and trip ECO, TCO and FV system, causing water heater to stop working. Follow product manual for correct maintenance protocol |
How to read gas meter |
Definitions and formulas/ pdf Pipe size BTU chart Pipe capacity Square footage per BTU |
Pilot tube orifice Clean with compressed air or carburetor cleaner Standing pilot light maintenance |
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Use wire brush to clean burner assembly and combustion chamber. When re-starting cold tank, expect condensation dripping until tank reaches temperature. Example: how to clean combustion chamber |
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Water heater burner assembly with piezo igniter How to clean burner Larger image How to remove burner |
Burner for LP gas is made of cast iron because LP gas burns hotter. Comparison NG-LP Manifold tube and pilot tube are also made heavier to resist pressure & high heat of burning LP gas Example shows rusty burner that has not been cleaned Gas control valve for LP gas will accept left-hand threads for pilot and manifold tubes |
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Larger image NG gas burners are different than LP burners. LP has more pressure and higher temp |
Bradford White Piezo igniter How to test piezo igniter Bradford White gas water heater service manual |
Gas water heater How to remove burner |
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Location of flame sensor and igniter vary by model and brand of water heater. Larger image Hot surface igniter troubleshoot Sand carbon deposits off igniter. Avoid touching igniter |
Larger image Intellivent troubleshoot Manual Power vent surface ignition Tip of flame sensor must be directly in front of burner port. Use a nickle to set 7/64 gap. Natural gas flame sensor will be bent, while propane will be straight. |
Larger image Burner flame is yellow |
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Larger image White Rodgers gas control valve replacement pdf ECO wires/ thermocouple/ manifold tube/ pilot tube/ piezo igniter How to test water heater thermocouple LP heaters have left-hand threads How to install thermocouple when burner must be removed |
Larger image Don't overtighten gas line to control valve or damage to control valve can occur. How to set temperature on gas valves How to replace gas control Replace gas control Operation and safety How to replace Honeywell gas control Buy universal gas control wrench Or make a wrench out of plywood |
Whirlpool resettable TCO thermal switch trips when combustion get too hot. Prevents overheating: Clean burner parts. If pilot or burner is
reveiving any amount of gas, then ECO is not tripped
Test ECO |
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FVIR
water heater: How to repair Rheem FVIR
FVIR troubleshooting guide Symptom of FV failure 'If pilot stays on without problems as long as gas valve is in PILOT position, but you then turn to ON position and main burner flutters and disappears within 30 seconds then 99% chance TRD is tripped.' (On Rheem heaters, look for signs of shattered glass on combustion floor.) Same symptoms can be bad gas control |
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Air
enters combustion chamber from below burner.
SP20172 FV sensor shuts off gas and trips air shut-off |
Rheem uses glass vial that cannot be replaced How to fix Rheem TRD If system is tripped, the bulb glass is visible on floor of combustion chamber. |
FV
system: When water heater is exposed to flammable
vapor, and the vapor ignites
inside combustion chamber, the FV system immediately
shuts off air supply to combustion and prevents a flashover or
explosion inside the room. Each water heater has a different design. Call manufacturer for instructions for replacing or resetting FV. FVIR troubleshoot guide Rheem water heater parts list 2006 Rheem parts list 2010 |
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Read more2 Read more3 | |||||
Raise water heater 18" off floor to avoid flood damage and flammable vapors |
Help
prevent FVIR event by installing gas water heater at least
18" off the floor. #1) Make sure there is adequate fresh air, and that air is clean and list free, and does not have trace chemicals. #2) Always turn off gas to water heater when painting with oil-base paint or oil-base varnish, and when cleaning with solvent-based products, and when pouring gasoline etc. For example when storing gasloine near water heater, the water heater should sit minimum 18" off floor, gasoline should be tightly capped, and do not pour gas to fill gas tank in same room as water heater. |
Larger image Read pdf Attic ventilation is needed for gas water heater. Increase ventilation to water heater |
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If gas valve is connected
to electricity, the outlet polarity must be correct Water heater must be grounded. Poor ground can prevent flame. GFCI circuit can cause short cycling. If outlet is not dedicated or has GFI, other loads such as florescent lighting can cause short cycling. Unplug cord. Test for continuity between ground prong on plug and manifold tube on gas valve. Connect water heater to different outlet. Test outlet with circuit analyzer |
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How to set temperature on gas valves | |||||
If you maintain the tank: keep chemicals out of same room, attach bare copper ground wire between hot and cold pipes, flush tank each 6 months, clean burner each year as shown in manual, read the manual entirely for specific information about your model, and inspect/replace anode rod every 2-3 years then basic 6-year tank can last much longer. |
How
to test water heater vent. Let main burner operate for 5 minutes. Then put match near vent hood. Smoke from match should get sucked into vent Water heater vent test/ pdf Checking the draft Read more at Tank |
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See larger During typical water heater combustion, hydrogen content of fuel is burned and the result is hot gases. One of these hot gases is steam or water vapor. Adequate venting or air draw up vent is required so gases vent outside. When there is inadequate draw, the water vapor cools and condenses on inside wall of vent pipe. This condensation water is acidic (pH 3-5) and corrosive. It will corrode steel metals and other materials. Improper venting causes water to drip down vent into combustion chamber of gas water heater. Parts inside combustion chamber rust. Holes develop in bottom of water heater. Inspect combustion chamber for rust and water. If steel vent pipe is not venting, the vent pipe will rust and get holes, or joints will fall apart. This situation causes hot gases to enter home and poses serious risk of odorless CO poisoning. Simple test for proper venting: Pipes are not rusted or covered with white condensate. No water on top of tank. Burner inspection does not show excessive rusting. Light match under vent pipe and see if smoke immediately draws upwards. If smoke does not draw, then call plumber. |
Flue
Pipe Safety Read manual for flue pipe clearances so hot vent pipe does not touch or come near combustibles. Rusted flue pipe -or-water on top of gas water heater could indicate serious problem. Call a plumber if you are uncertain. Check pipes and flexible connectors for leaks. If water coming from flue pipe: 1. Vent cover could be missing > rain water entering flue (replace cover) 2. Flue pipe clogged with bird nest or come apart or damp from improper venting: danger of odorless Carbon Monoxide poisioning Serious danger from CO poisoning, a plumber should be called if you are uncertain about vent pipe water leak Read troubleshooting at forum See u-tube video Read about CO detector How to replace anode rod |
Minimum
distance of vent pipe from window Side-wall vent pipe must be 4 feet away from windows and doors. And 3 feet away from inside corners. Larger image with more information Power direct-vent clearances Venting a gas water heater Conditions where outdoor air supply is needed |
How to flush gas water heater |
9 ways to save with water heater |
See basic 120V and 240V water heater circuits |
Drop wire from attic |
Replace circuit breaker |
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Wire nuts and how to twist wire |
How to wire off-peak water heater |
How to install gas water heater |
Hot water circulation system |
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9+ ways to save with water heater |
Motorized shut off valve |
Clean sediment from tank |
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Contactors |
Anode rods |
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My art website |
Intermatic trippers and parts |
Do it yourself water heater |
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Low hot water pressure |
Atwater water heater resources |
Leaking water heater |
Remove water heater from attic |
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Remove old element |
Water heater safety precautions |
How to wire Cooper 277 |
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