Troubleshoot Bradford White FVIR

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Troubleshoot Bradford White FVIR

FV sensor mounted on outside of gas water heater is first layer of protection: The FV sensor is located on front of many water heaters today. The sensor will trip if it senses gasoline vapors in the air. It does not respond to other types of flammable vapors. Research shows that gasoline is the most common cause of fire or explosion caused by water heater. Note: FV Sensor does not prevent the ignition of flammable vapors, the FVIR System is designed to reduce the risk of flammable vapor-related fires. FV sensor is located inside a plastic case to keep it dry and clean... if the sensor is blocked, or has been covered with dust, leaves, water etc, it will not function. The sensor must have continuity, so a small current of electricity can pass through the sensor and signal to gas control valve that all is ok. The FV sensor is easily tested using multimeter and easily replaced by plugging new one into terminal slots. Buy: Flammable sensor kit Resource: How FV sensor works How to test FV sensor
Bradford White FVIR resistant water heater 1) Flame arrestor has large openings that reduce chance of dust and lint causing problem. 2) Likelihood of dust and lint clogging flame arrestor is reduced by the height of combustion air inlet located on side of tank FVIR forum discussion Bradford White Icon gas control valve features	Large air intake reduces dust and lint problems
	"In the case where trace amounts of flammable vapors are present in the air flowing into the combustion chamber, the vapors are harmlessly ignited by the burner / pilot flame. If flammable vapors are in sufficient quantity to prevent normal combustion, the burner/pilot flame is shut down. Should the flammable vapors continue to the burner, the flame arrestor plate prevents the flames from traveling backwards and igniting vapors outside of the combustion chamber. The calibrated, multipurpose thermal switch recognizes this and shuts down the pilot and main burner. This switch also deactivates the burner and pilot in the unlikely event of restricted airflow caused by severe lint, dust or oil accumulation on the arrestor plate." Water heater must be replaced after flammable vapor incident/ read Pg34 service manual Bradford White service manual In event of overheating, or thermal event, the ECO trips and can be reset after cause of overheating is repaired Bradford White flame arrestor Designed to let air pass into combustion chamber. But will 'prevent flames from traveling backwards through flame arrestor and outside water heater' Read pdf

FV systems vary by brand Information given here can be different from your specific model
Rheem Ruud Richmond GE	AO Smith- American-State-GSW Craftmaster-Reliance-Kenmore-Whirlpool	Bradford White -Boch-Lochinvar
Worst choice for DIY repair: Air intake located on side, must remove combustion door and burner to access, requires TRD part and installation inside combustion chamber.. Uses TRD glass vial trigger for overheating event Arrestor screen located under combustion burner Locate arrestor screen by removing burner Clean arrestor screen with compressed air after removing burner. Company may send glass vial. Reset thermal reset on front of unit New gas valve may be needed Rheem Does NOT post service manuals but might supply resources	Best Choice in my opinion: Air intake on bottom Arrestor screen stops acceleration of flames into room Arrestor screen located under combustion burner Locate arrestor screen on bottom of water heater Set water heater on bricks Clean arrestor screen with feather duster/ compressed air on bottom of heater Reset thermal reset on front of unit New gas valve may be needed AOS Posts service manuals Water heater service manuals Troubleshoot flammable vapor Troubleshoot AO Smith FVIR	Good choice/ remove combustion door for access Air intake on side Arrestor screen stops acceleration of flames into room Arrestor screen located under combustion burner Locate arrestor screen by removing burner Clean arrestor screen with compressed air after removing burner Reset thermal reset on front of unit New gas valve may be needed BW Posts service manuals Troubleshoot Bradford White FVIR

What is FVIR or FV or TRD system: Flammable vapor ignition retardation system

When water heater ignites, the heat caused by fire starts to move air upward. This action draws fresh air up from air intake located under combustion chamber. The fresh air on Rheem water heaters enters from louvers located on side of tank near bottom.
In the case of power-vent water heaters, the blower motor draws fresh air into combustion chamber. With atmospherically-vented water heaters, where there is no draft inducing blower on top of unit, the metal vent pipe running up to the roof will create a natural draft upwards, just like a fireplace chimney naturally drafts upwards.
The vent pipe to outdoors creates natural draft upward that pulls fresh air into combustion chamber.

If fresh air entering combustion chamber contains flammable vapors such as gasoline, then water heater burner ignites the gasoline vapor.
If unchecked, the ignition of gasoline vapor inside water heater will spread back out into surrounding room causing flashover or explosion that can kill you and burn down house.
With FVIR water heaters, this flashover event is retarded or stopped. So when vapor ignites inside combustion chamber, the FV system senses very high heat and immediately shuts off air supply to combustion chamber.

This prevents flashover or explosion inside room.
Insurance company property and casualty losses prompted FV safety mandate.
Each water heater manufacturer is responsible for developing FVIR system.
Rheem developed system with glass vial that breaks in event of FV event. Water heaters rated over 65,000 BTU do not have FV system. Tankless water heaters do not have FV system. Space heater, open fireplace, gas logs etc do not have flammable protection and each item listed above can ignite vapors and kill you if precautions are not taken.

Resettable TCO on front of combustion chamber. The TCO or thermal cut off responds to overheating inside the combustion chamber, and trips when temperature exceeds set point. This causes gas valve thermostat to shut off gas supply to burner. Troubleshoot TCO

Symptoms of tripped FVIR
1) On Rheem, Ruud, Richmond, GE heaters, look for signs of shattered glass on combustion floor.

2) Symptoms by type of gas control: With Robert-Shaw and White Rodgers gas control valve: If pilot light 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 good chance TRD is tripped.'
With digital-type Honeywell gas control and White Rodgers Intellivent gas controls, there are wires connecting combustion chamber and gas control that will shut off gas to burner and pilot. Pilot will not light. Burner will not light.

3) Caution: Same symptoms can also be bad gas control, low gas pressure, or clogged air intake.
Inspect if air shut-off baffle is tripped upward. Inspect for broken glass. Clean air intake. Avoid dusty atmospheres. If water heater brand is not shown on this page, consult manual for FV information.
Troubleshoot flammable vapor

4) If pilot will NOT light, and there is NO gas available, then ECO can be tripped. Check manual for ECO. Some ECO/TCOs are small button located on front of combustion chamber: this configuration is re-settable after overheating problem is repaired (clean combustion parts and air intake). Some ECOs are located inside gas control thermostat. ECO inside gas control is single-use, and gas control valve must be replaced. Consult manual. Follow maintenance schedule shown in manual for cleaning combustion parts. Test ECO

5) If pilot will not stay lit, then thermocouple might be bad. Test thermocouple.
Read: pilot will not stay lit

	Soot on burner and/or top of water heater indicate insufficient air supply. This causes heat build-up and can trip FVIR. Flame should be clear blue. Yellow flame indicates insufficient air. -Clean air intake -Clean combustion parts and chamber -Check gas pressure -Inspect/ repair vent
1) Do not store gasoline in open container. 2) Avoid dusty atmospheres and give water heater adequate fresh air supply	How to prevent FVIR problems: (and ECO failure and other general water heater problems) Caused by overheating inside combustion chamber ADEQUATE FRESH CLEAN AIR 1) Do not store gasoline or flammables near water heater. Keep gasoline, kerosene in closed containers. 2) Avoid dusty atmospheres and give water heater adequate fresh air supply 3) Turn off water heater when using oil-paints, varnish, spray propellants, shellac, WD-40, thinners, lacquers, hair spray, gasoline, solvents, flammable cleaners, contact cement. Read product label to identify flammables. 4) Install water heater 18" off floor since gasoline vapors gather close to floor. Other flammable vapors do not gather close to floor. 5) Read product labels for flammability and advisories 6) Avoid storing or using chemicals in same room 7) Craft sprays and home project materials are flammable. Read labels 8) Read manual and follow yearly maintenance schedule for cleaning air intake and combustion parts. 9) Make sure vent pipes are working and that combustion parts and top of water heater are not sooty. 10) Don't drop water heater Remove flammables away from water heater Be cautious Explosion inside your home wastes precious fuel, and could burn down neighbor's garage. Buy: Gas safety cans at Amazon
5) Read label for flammable warnings	5) Read product labels for flammable warning: shellac, Kilz, lacquer, varnish, craft spray, floor paint, spray paint, solvents, accelerants, cleaners, etc

FVIR mandates were passed to reduce insurance casualty and property losses.

Many household appliances can cause flashover and explosion of hydrocarbon fuels
Fireplace
Tankless water heater
Hybrid electric water heater
Oven
Stove
Space heater
Gas logs
Faulty wiring

Tank-type gas water heaters are located in garages and storerooms where flammable vapor storage is probably more likely to happen. People are more likely to clean a paint brush using gasoline while in a garage, rather than in the kitchen or family room.

3) Turn off water heater burner and pilot when using flammables

4) Set water heater 18" off ground

6) Clean air intake regularly
FVIR cleaning

7) Check if flue has proper draft by lighting match

See if smoke drafts immediately upward.
The smoke should not linger. It should draw upwards quickly.
If vent does not have draft or if furnace vent is blowing out of water heater vent each time furnace turns on, then vent pipes must be repaired.

All gas appliances must vent out of house to avoid CO poisoning.
Read checking the draft

Larger image

Power vent models
FVIR troubleshoot for Intellivent gas control valve
Resettable FVIR
Clear flammable vapors from area
Turn off power to water heater for 10 seconds
Within 10 seconds of restoring power, press both temperature adjust buttons simultaneously (blue and red triangles) until the green vacation LED begins to blink.
When Vacation begins to blink, release temperature adjust buttons
Again, within 10 seconds, press both temperature adjust buttons simultaneously until the vacation LED is on steady without blinking ( 5 second delay)
Release temperature adjust buttons, the microprocessor will clear FV lockout and normal operation will resume

AO Smith Effex water heater has resettable FVIR system
Same steps shown above are entered in control box located near top of heater.
Most water heaters need to be replaced 2012, but the manufacturers are working toward resettable FVIR.
And manufacturers have moved to conditional limited warranties that might require professional installation and yearly maintenance. Read the manual and specification sheet BEFORE buying. Call the manufacturer.
Troubleshoot gas control valve thermostats

Troubleshoot by type of GAS control valve
Troubleshoot by type of gas control valve

14 things needed for gas water heater & .pdf resources

What you need for operation of gas water heater.
General troubleshoot
1) Basic parts and operation
2) Adequate incoming air supply ... issues: closed doors, tightly insulated house, very hot attic.
3) Adequate air supply getting to burner... issues: dirty vent screen, dirty environment, maintenance.
4) Thermal cutoff ... TCO ... issues: failed part, maintenance, vent.

5) Flammable vapor lockout .... issues: exposure to vapors, bad FV sensor, failed FV system,
6) Fuel supply to gas valve thermostat ... natural gas and propane are different ... issues: wrong gas, low pressure, moisture in pipe, undersized gas meter, supply line too small for BTU rating.
7) Gas valve thermostat regulates fuel supply ... issues: not enough gas, failed thermostat, failed gas control valve.

8) Fuel supply from thermostat to burner ... issues: maintenance, thermocouple-thermopile, gas control valve.
9) Clean and replace burner ... issue: periodic maintenance requires burner inspection, cleaning, and possible replacement

10) Functioning thermopile-thermocouple-pilot light ... issues: misalignment, failure of part.
11) Ignition of fuel supply by pilot light or hot surface igniter ... issues: pilot light, piezo igniter, electrode.

12) Power vent water heater troubleshoot ... issues: pressure switch, blower, blower sequence from gas control, outlet polarity
13) Venting combustion byproduct .... issues: vent in disrepair, other vents in house drawing air

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