 TheTacticalCoyote
I Aim To Misbehave
Team Member
Joined: Mar 2009  UT, USA
 
 Posts: 2012 Feedback: 100% (84) |
Posted: 7/14/2012 1:17:51 AM
THE IMAGE ABOVE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT |
|
|
vbfg135
Lover of Mayhem
Team Member
Joined: Nov 2008 NM, USA
Posts: 5724 Feedback: 100% (73) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/14/2012 1:30:34 AM
|
|
|
ydididothis
Member
Team Member
Joined: Jan 2009 MO, USA
Posts: 490 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/14/2012 2:20:48 AM
Originally Posted By vbfg135:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_does_a_thermal_couple_work Thermal coupling needs replaced. Maybe, depends if it has a internal combustion chamber or not, if it does it could be a clogged vent on the bottom of the heater, snuffing out the pilot light. If that's the case, get a new gasket assembly first, take it apart and use a spray bottle with water and dish soap to clear the debris on the vent, put back together and fire it up. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/14/2012 1:48:25 PM
Is it possible there is a high limit safety switch that shuts down heater if it gets near boiling point, that would mean thermostat has gone bad. May be if you lower thermostat to low it may stay on
GOOD LUCK |
|
|
TheTacticalCoyote
I Aim To Misbehave
Team Member
Joined: Mar 2009 UT, USA
Posts: 2019 Feedback: 100% (84) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/14/2012 9:10:32 PM
[Last Edit: 7/14/2012 9:11:29 PM by TheTacticalCoyote]
So my water heater is in an utility closet and I lit the pilot light again and I left the door open to the utility closet to check on it occasionally and now it has been running just fine. Once I closed the door it snuffed out the pilot light again. But I re-lit it and now running fine again.
Thoughts?  |
|
|
fxntime
Member
Team Member
Joined: Jan 2003 MI, USA
Posts: 47443 Feedback: 100% (6) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/14/2012 9:13:31 PM
What kind of water heater? Make and age of it. Is it a Whirlpool?
If it has a flame anti roll out screen, it's likely plugged and overheating. |
|
|
TheTacticalCoyote
I Aim To Misbehave
Team Member
Joined: Mar 2009 UT, USA
Posts: 2020 Feedback: 100% (84) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/14/2012 9:49:32 PM
It is a State Select made in 2004. I just checked it again and the pilot light was off. And the door was left open.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/14/2012 9:51:34 PM
[Last Edit: 7/14/2012 9:56:12 PM by MrHold]
Cut a hole in door, or is there a way to get outside air to closet for heater to have combustion air. I have this problem when customers put there pool heater in a shed or garage and screens get clogged up with dust and lint.
P.S. Get a CO2 detector right NOW your life may depend on it! |
|
|
TheTacticalCoyote
I Aim To Misbehave
Team Member
Joined: Mar 2009 UT, USA
Posts: 2022 Feedback: 100% (84) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/14/2012 10:08:52 PM
There is a vent that goes from the closet to outside. I live in a condo on the top floor. If I do have an opening to the burner will there be any adverse effects?
|
|
|
|
Posted: 7/14/2012 10:15:59 PM
Originally Posted By TheTacticalCoyote:
There is a vent that goes from the closet to outside. I live in a condo on the top floor. If I do have an opening to the burner will there be any adverse effects? picture would help |
|
|
TheTacticalCoyote
I Aim To Misbehave
Team Member
Joined: Mar 2009 UT, USA
Posts: 2023 Feedback: 100% (84) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/14/2012 10:34:17 PM
 |
|
|
fxntime
Member
Team Member
Joined: Jan 2003 MI, USA
Posts: 47445 Feedback: 100% (6) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/14/2012 10:43:33 PM
Screen on he bottom is plugged with dust or animal fur, you'll need a flexible brush that can get under it to clean the screen off. It's possible that it may also need a thermocouple also.
|
|
|
TheTacticalCoyote
I Aim To Misbehave
Team Member
Joined: Mar 2009 UT, USA
Posts: 2027 Feedback: 100% (84) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/14/2012 11:07:33 PM
[Last Edit: 7/14/2012 11:08:02 PM by TheTacticalCoyote]
Air filter has been cleaned (it was pretty clogged) and I am going to see how this does before I switch out the thermocouple. And there is a label on the water heater that says I should clean the air filter once every six months.
 I will start doing that now. |
|
|
ydididothis
Member
Team Member
Joined: Jan 2009 MO, USA
Posts: 496 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/15/2012 12:27:36 PM
Originally Posted By TheTacticalCoyote:
Air filter has been cleaned (it was pretty clogged) and I am going to see how this does before I switch out the thermocouple. And there is a label on the water heater that says I should clean the air filter once every six months. I will start doing that now.Yep, if it's not that screen there is another one the inside of the burner chamber under the burner. |
|
|
|
BlammO
Onomatopoeia incarnate
Team Member
Joined: Jan 2002 TX, USA
Posts: 6280 Feedback: 100% (2) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/15/2012 12:49:29 PM
I know little about gas water heaters, but had this exact experience when I moved into this house a year ago. I dicked around with it for weeks, thinking there was just air in the gas line from it having been shut off. Then I called the landlord who called the mfr (GE in this case) and found out that there's a glass "fuse" in there. If the gas is turned off, the fuse will often break. The first time it happens (as it did for the previous tenant), the mfr will send a free replacement fuse assembly. The second time, they replace the entire water heater. I now have a new water heater.
There should be an 800 number on the unit somewhere. Find it and call that number. Anything else is just wasting time. |
|
|
ydididothis
Member
Team Member
Joined: Jan 2009 MO, USA
Posts: 497 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/15/2012 1:47:04 PM
Originally Posted By BlammO:
I know little about gas water heaters, but had this exact experience when I moved into this house a year ago. I dicked around with it for weeks, thinking there was just air in the gas line from it having been shut off. Then I called the landlord who called the mfr (GE in this case) and found out that there's a glass "fuse" in there. If the gas is turned off, the fuse will often break. The first time it happens (as it did for the previous tenant), the mfr will send a free replacement fuse assembly. The second time, they replace the entire water heater. I now have a new water heater. There should be an 800 number on the unit somewhere. Find it and call that number. Anything else is just wasting time. State water heaters don't have that. |
|
|
|
AR-10
Eye don't know.
Team Member
Joined: Nov 2001 IA, USA
Posts: 10172 Feedback: 100% (6) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/15/2012 4:34:15 PM
If the humidity is high, when you fire up the water heater the cold water in the tank will cause condensation on the outside of the inner tank that holds water. The condensation runs down the outside of the tank and drips on the burner and the pilot light.
That MIGHT be your problem. |
|
|
TheTacticalCoyote
I Aim To Misbehave
Team Member
Joined: Mar 2009 UT, USA
Posts: 2038 Feedback: 100% (84) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/15/2012 4:45:39 PM
Originally Posted By AR-10:
If the humidity is high, when you fire up the water heater the cold water in the tank will cause condensation on the outside of the inner tank that holds water. The condensation runs down the outside of the tank and drips on the burner and the pilot light. That MIGHT be your problem. Humidity is pretty low here in Utah. Thanks though. The burner is still running strong. |
|
|
|
Posted: 7/16/2012 12:06:58 AM
change thermocouple if you haven't already
|
|
|
|
TheTacticalCoyote
I Aim To Misbehave
Team Member
Joined: Mar 2009 UT, USA
Posts: 2067 Feedback: 100% (84) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/18/2012 10:03:09 PM
My water heater has still been working great and all I did was clean out the air vent. Thanks to all for your help.
|
|
ARCHIVED
" - substandard
