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There are often a number of different causes for the same condition,
so be sure to check them all -- even after you have identified
the main reason for the problem. Some may be on the verge of
developing, while others may develop right after you have fixed
the primary cause. So play it safe...CHECK ALL CAUSES!
We
recommend that you rely on an experienced professional plumbing
and heating contractor for water heater installation and maintenance.
TO FIND SOLUTIONS, CHOOSE FROM THE LIST
OF PROBLEMS BELOW:
RETURN TO TOP
| BURNER
WILL NOT IGNITE |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
Excess primary air
|
Adjust air shutter to reduce
air supply -- if supplied |
No gas
|
Check with utility |
Dirt in main burner orifice
|
Clean orifice -- check for source
of dirt and eliminate |
Dirt in gas lines
|
Notify utility -- install dirt
trap in gas line |
Venturi clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
Pilot line clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
Main burner line clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
Defective thermocouple lead
|
Replace with new thermocouple
lead |
Defective thermostat
|
Replace |
Defective magnetic valve
|
Replace entire control |
Thermostat set too low
|
Turn temperature knob to desire
temperature |
Heater installed in confined
space
|
Provide ventilation by use of
louvers in wall or door |
RETURN TO TOP
| BURNER
FLAME FLOATS -- LIFTS OFF PORTS |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
Excess primary air
|
Adjust air shutter to reduce
air supply -- if supplied |
High gas pressure
|
Check with utility |
Flue clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
Heater installed in confined
space
|
Provide ventilation by use of
louvers in wall or door |
Heater not connected to flue
|
Provide and connect to proper
flue |
Excess draft
|
Check source and correct |
Cold drafts
|
Check source and correct |
RETURN TO TOP
| BURNER
FLAME YELLOW -- LAZY |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
Insufficient primary air
|
Adjust air shutter to increase
air supply -- if supplied |
Insufficient secondary air
|
Provide ventilation to heater |
Low gas pressure
|
Check with utility |
Dirt in main burner orifice
|
Clean orifice -- check for source
of dirt and eliminate |
Venturi clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
Flue clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
Main burner line clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
Heater installed in confined
space
|
Provide ventilation by use of
louvers in wall or door |
Heater not connected to flue
|
Provide and connect to proper
flue |
RETURN TO TOP
| BURNER
FLAME NOISY |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
Excess primary air
|
Adjust air shutter to reduce
air supply -- if supplied |
High gas pressure
|
Check with utility |
Excess draft
|
Check source and correct |
RETURN TO TOP
| BURNER
FLAME TOO HIGH |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
Insufficient primary air
|
Adjust air shutter to increase
air supply -- if supplied |
Insufficient secondary air
|
Provide ventilation to heater |
High gas pressure
|
Check with utility |
Heater not connected to flue
|
Provide and connect to proper
flue |
RETURN TO TOP
| BURNER
POPS WHEN TURNED ON OR OFF |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
Excess primary air
|
Adjust air shutter to reduce
air supply -- if supplied |
Low gas pressure
|
Check with utility |
Dirt in main burner orifice
|
Clean orifice -- check for source
of dirt and eliminate |
RETURN TO TOP
| FLAME
BURNS IN VENTURI |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
Excess primary air
|
Adjust air shutter to reduce
air supply -- if supplied |
Low gas pressure
|
Check with utility |
Dirt in main burner orifice
|
Clean orifice -- check for source
of dirt and eliminate |
Defective thermostat
|
Replace |
RETURN TO TOP
| PILOT
WILL NOT REMAIN LIT |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
Excess primary air
|
Adjust air shutter to reduce
air supply -- if supplied |
Low gas pressure
|
Check with utility |
High gas pressure
|
Check with utility |
No gas
|
Check with utility |
Dirt in pilot burner orifice
|
Clean orifice -- check for source
of dirt and eliminate |
Dirt in gas lines
|
Notify utility -- install dirt
trap in gas line |
Flue clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
Pilot line clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
Thermocouple lead connection
loose
|
Tighten snug with fingers, then
take 1/4" turn with wrench |
Defective thermocouple lead
|
Replace with new thermocouple
lead |
Defective magnetic valve
|
Replace entire control |
Cold drafts
|
Check source and correct |
RETURN TO TOP
| HIGH
OPERATING COSTS |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
High gas pressure
|
Check with utility |
Dirt in main burner orifice
|
Clean orifice -- check for source
of dirt and eliminate |
Venturi clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
Flue clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
Thermostat set too high
|
Turn temperature knob to desire
temperature |
Sediment or lime in tank
|
Drain-check to see if water treatment
is necessary |
Heater too small for job
|
Install adequate heater |
Wrong piping connections
|
Correct piping-dip tube must
be in cold inlet |
Leaking Faucets
|
Repair faucets |
Gas leaks
|
Check with utility -- observe
safety instructions |
Excess draft
|
Check source and correct |
Cold drafts
|
Check source and correct |
Return circulating lines
|
Recommend change to one pipe
system |
Long runs of exposed piping
|
Insulate |
Hot water piping in outside
walls
|
Insulate |
Heater stacking
|
Install adequate heater -- install
relief valve |
| Dip tube in hot water outlet |
Remove and replace in cold water
inlet |
RETURN TO TOP
| INSUFFICIENT
HOT WATER |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
Low gas pressure
|
Check with utility |
Dirt in main burner orifice
|
Clean orifice -- check for source
of dirt and eliminate |
Thermostat set too low
|
Turn temperature knob to desire
temperature |
Sediment or lime in tank
|
Drain-check to see if water treatment
is necessary |
Heater too small for job
|
Install adequate heater |
Wrong piping connections
|
Correct piping-dip tube must
be in cold inlet |
Leaking Faucets
|
Repair faucets |
Cold drafts
|
Check source and correct |
Return circulating lines
|
Recommend change to one pipe
system |
Long runs of exposed piping
|
Insulate |
Hot water piping in outside
walls
|
Insulate |
| Dip tube in hot water outlet |
Remove and replace in cold water
inlet |
RETURN TO TOP
| SLOW
HOT WATER RECOVERY |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
Excess primary air
|
Adjust air shutter to reduce
air supply -- if supplied |
Insufficient primary air
|
Adjust air shutter to increase
air supply -- if supplied |
Insufficient secondary air
|
Provide ventilation to heater |
Low gas pressure
|
Check with utility |
Dirt in main burner orifice
|
Clean orifice -- check for source
of dirt and eliminate |
Venturi clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
Flue clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
Thermostat set too low
|
Turn temperature knob to desire
temperature |
Sediment or lime in tank
|
Drain-check to see if water treatment
is necessary |
Heater too small for job
|
Install adequate heater |
Wrong piping connections
|
Correct piping-dip tube must
be in cold inlet |
Excess draft
|
Check source and correct |
Cold drafts
|
Check source and correct |
| Dip tube in hot water outlet |
Remove and replace in cold water
inlet |
RETURN TO TOP
| OVERHEATED
WATER -- STEAMING |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
High gas pressure
|
Check with utility |
Defective thermostat
|
Replace |
Thermostat set too high
|
Turn temperature knob to desire
temperature |
Heater stacking
|
Install adequate heater -- install
relief valve |
RETURN TO TOP
| DRIP
FROM RELIEF VALVE |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
Thermostat set too high
|
Turn temperature knob to desire
temperature |
Sediment or lime in tank
|
Drain-check to see if water treatment
is necessary |
Excessive water pressure
|
Use Pressure reducing valve and
pressure relief valve |
Surge from automatic washer
solenoid valve
|
Install blind pipe air cushion |
Heater stacking
|
Install adequate heater -- install
relief valve |
RETURN TO TOP
| EXCESSIVE
RELIEF VALVE OPERATION |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
Thermostat set too high
|
Turn temperature knob to desire
temperature |
Excessive water pressure
|
Use Pressure reducing valve and
pressure relief valve |
Surge from automatic washer
solenoid valve
|
Install blind pipe air cushion |
Heater stacking
|
Install adequate heater -- install
relief valve |
RETURN TO TOP
| THERMOSTAT
FAILS TO CLOSE |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
Defective thermostat
|
Replace |
Defective magnetic valve
|
Replace entire control |
Return circulating lines
|
Recommend change to one pipe
system |
RETURN TO TOP
| CONDENSATION |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
Excess primary air
|
Adjust air shutter to reduce
air supply -- if supplied |
Dirt in main burner orifice
|
Clean orifice -- check for source
of dirt and eliminate |
Flue clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
Heater installed in confined
space
|
Provide ventilation by use of
louvers in wall or door |
Heater not connected to flue
|
Provide and connect to proper
flue |
RETURN TO TOP
| COMBUSTION
ODORS |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
Excess primary air
|
Adjust air shutter to reduce
air supply -- if supplied |
Insufficient primary air
|
Adjust air shutter to increase
air supply -- if supplied |
Insufficient secondary air
|
Provide ventilation to heater |
High gas pressure
|
Check with utility |
Dirt in main burner orifice
|
Clean orifice -- check for source
of dirt and eliminate |
Venturi clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
Flue clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
Heater installed in confined
space
|
Provide ventilation by use of
louvers in wall or door |
Heater not connected to flue
|
Provide and connect to proper
flue |
RETURN TO TOP
| SMOKING
OR CARBON FORMATION |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
Insufficient primary air
|
Adjust air shutter to increase
air supply -- if supplied |
Insufficient secondary air
|
Provide ventilation to heater |
High gas pressure
|
Check with utility |
Dirt in main burner orifice
|
Clean orifice -- check for source
of dirt and eliminate |
Venturi clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
Flue clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
Defective thermostat
|
Replace |
Defective magnetic valve
|
Replace entire control |
Heater installed in confined
space
|
Provide ventilation by use of
louvers in wall or door |
Heater not connected to flue
|
Provide and connect to proper
flue |
RETURN TO TOP
| PILOT
FLAME TOO SMALL |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
Low gas pressure
|
Check with utility |
Dirt in pilot burner orifice
|
Clean orifice -- check for source
of dirt and eliminate |
Dirt in gas lines
|
Notify utility -- install dirt
trap in gas line |
Pilot line clogged
|
Clean -- check for source of
trouble and correct |
RETURN TO TOP
| PILOT
FLAME TOO LARGE |
|
REASON
|
REMEDY |
High gas pressure
|
Check with utility |
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