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AIR INLET PROBLEM WITH A NEW HOT WATER HEATER WITH SEALED COMBUSTION UNIT

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AIR INLET PROBLEM WITH A NEW HOT WATER HEATER WITH SEALED COMBUSTION UNIT thomas 04-16-2007
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Posted by thomas on April 16, 2007, 3:02 pm
On my natural gas hot water heater, the flame is insufficient to
produce enough heat to reach needed temperature? I've got a one year
old Rheem water heater. Apparently, there is a problem involving the
amount of air that is entering the sealed combustion chamber. There is
sufficient natural gas pressure. No problems with the thermostat, that
has been replaced TWICE. The entire burner assembly has been replaced
and the system is venting properly. Yet the flame, an orange one,
never gets as hot as it should. Since it is a sealed combustion
chamber, there is no way to adjust the intake of air. The inlets are
not blocked, clogged, or otherwise. The heater is in an open basement,
with two feet of open space surrounding it. Two customer service reps
at Rheem say that the combustion shutoff device is likely tripped, and
if that's the case, the only way to remedy the problem is to replace
the unit because the tripped device can not be replaced or repaired.
The manager of the technical department says that if the device were
tripped, there would be no flame at all. What else could be wrong?


Posted by on April 16, 2007, 4:10 pm

> On my natural gas hot water heater, the flame is insufficient to
> produce enough heat to reach needed temperature? I've got a one year
> old Rheem water heater. Apparently, there is a problem involving the
> amount of air that is entering the sealed combustion chamber. There is
> sufficient natural gas pressure. No problems with the thermostat, that
> has been replaced TWICE. The entire burner assembly has been replaced
> and the system is venting properly. Yet the flame, an orange one,
> never gets as hot as it should. Since it is a sealed combustion
> chamber, there is no way to adjust the intake of air. The inlets are
> not blocked, clogged, or otherwise. The heater is in an open basement,
> with two feet of open space surrounding it. Two customer service reps
> at Rheem say that the combustion shutoff device is likely tripped, and
> if that's the case, the only way to remedy the problem is to replace
> the unit because the tripped device can not be replaced or repaired.
> The manager of the technical department says that if the device were
> tripped, there would be no flame at all. What else could be wrong?


Rheem USED to be a good water heater.

If you end up replacing it... Bradford White.



Posted by Bubba on April 16, 2007, 4:27 pm

> On my natural gas hot water heater, the flame is insufficient to
>produce enough heat to reach needed temperature? I've got a one year
>old Rheem water heater. Apparently, there is a problem involving the
>amount of air that is entering the sealed combustion chamber. There is
>sufficient natural gas pressure. No problems with the thermostat, that
>has been replaced TWICE. The entire burner assembly has been replaced
>and the system is venting properly. Yet the flame, an orange one,
>never gets as hot as it should. Since it is a sealed combustion
>chamber, there is no way to adjust the intake of air. The inlets are
>not blocked, clogged, or otherwise. The heater is in an open basement,
>with two feet of open space surrounding it. Two customer service reps
>at Rheem say that the combustion shutoff device is likely tripped, and
>if that's the case, the only way to remedy the problem is to replace
>the unit because the tripped device can not be replaced or repaired.
>The manager of the technical department says that if the device were
>tripped, there would be no flame at all. What else could be wrong?

Your water heater is a POS! That is correct. If your combustion
shut-off closes it CANNOT be repaired. You will get NO flame. NOT even
a pilot. In my opinion the worst combustion device ever thought up is
on your POS Rheem! Make noise and lots of it and get rid of it.
Ive used AO Smith and Bradford-White. Either have done well.
Bubba

Posted by on April 16, 2007, 4:47 pm

>
> > On my natural gas hot water heater, the flame is insufficient to
> >produce enough heat to reach needed temperature? I've got a one year
> >old Rheem water heater. Apparently, there is a problem involving the
> >amount of air that is entering the sealed combustion chamber. There is
> >sufficient natural gas pressure. No problems with the thermostat, that
> >has been replaced TWICE. The entire burner assembly has been replaced
> >and the system is venting properly. Yet the flame, an orange one,
> >never gets as hot as it should. Since it is a sealed combustion
> >chamber, there is no way to adjust the intake of air. The inlets are
> >not blocked, clogged, or otherwise. The heater is in an open basement,
> >with two feet of open space surrounding it. Two customer service reps
> >at Rheem say that the combustion shutoff device is likely tripped, and
> >if that's the case, the only way to remedy the problem is to replace
> >the unit because the tripped device can not be replaced or repaired.
> >The manager of the technical department says that if the device were
> >tripped, there would be no flame at all. What else could be wrong?
>
> Your water heater is a POS! That is correct. If your combustion
> shut-off closes it CANNOT be repaired. You will get NO flame. NOT even
> a pilot. In my opinion the worst combustion device ever thought up is
> on your POS Rheem! Make noise and lots of it and get rid of it.
> Ive used AO Smith and Bradford-White. Either have done well.
> Bubba


AO Smith is ok too.
I just like the Bradford White better, as you can replace the sensor without
replacing the whole pilot assembly.



Posted by danger on April 16, 2007, 5:32 pm
If the thermal release device TRD, detectes high heat it pops, closing the
combustion
air baffle. There is no way you could even get the burner to fire. You may get
the
pilot to light for 10 seconds or so. You DON'T have to replace the tank. You
can hire
a professional to replace the thermal release device, and reset the shutoff
spring.

From what you are saying, your glass has not popped. I would check your
manifold
pressure. Then I would clock the gas meter. Make sure it matches the water
heater
input. It possible the wrong burner orifice has been installed. Rheem has made
this
mistake before. Is the gas piping new? Possible obstructions inside the gas
pipe.

Look for condensation, water that might be leaking from the tank when it is
working.
The moisture could be filling the air vents inside the FVIR tank. Is there a
leak? Or
condensation from over usage? Is there an arrestor shield installed above the
arrestor
plate? Your description is vague.

The tank should heat completely in less then 1 hour. What is stopping the
burner? Did
they check the dip tube? Is there an anti scalding valve installed? Put your
hand on
the relief valve, is is hotter then the hot pipe leaving the ASV? If you close
the
water inlet valve to the water heater and open a hot tap in the house, is there
water?

GSW makes the best water heaters in my opinion. I work on rheem, gsw, ao smith,
bradford white, rannai, general electric, giant and polaris. Giant makes the
worst.
The new Rheem PV tank's have major pressure switch problems. They're on the 3rd
revision now.

Anyway, that's FVIR-101

HAHA


-Canadian Heat



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