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Home Repair - - If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Otherwise look here.
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Posted by ron.brickley on February 23, 2006, 1:17 pm
Hi,
I have an A.O. Smith gas water heater with power vent. I'm the third
owner of this house and the water heater is probably original (13 years
old). I've noticed a couple of problems in the past few months. The
first problem is that about a month ago the pilot light went out twice
in a few days timeframe. I was able to re-light it, with a little
trouble getting it to stay on (I didn't do the one minute test of
holding down the pilot after I lit it to see if it stayed lit) and it
hasn't been a problem since. I guess the next time I'll try the test.
Anyway the main problem is that the burner is not kicking on when I run
out of hot water. To get it to come on I have to unplug/replug in the
blower for the vent. Obviously I have to remember to do this once
every day/few days. Is that a sign of a bad thermostat or could it be
something else? I have a home warranty with a $50 co-pay, but is this
something I should/could fix myself?
thanks,
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Posted by Speedy Jim on February 23, 2006, 2:24 pm
ron.brickley@gmail.com wrote:
show/hide quoted text
> Hi,
>
> I have an A.O. Smith gas water heater with power vent. I'm the third
> owner of this house and the water heater is probably original (13 years
> old). I've noticed a couple of problems in the past few months. The
> first problem is that about a month ago the pilot light went out twice
> in a few days timeframe. I was able to re-light it, with a little
> trouble getting it to stay on (I didn't do the one minute test of
> holding down the pilot after I lit it to see if it stayed lit) and it
> hasn't been a problem since. I guess the next time I'll try the test.
>
>
> Anyway the main problem is that the burner is not kicking on when I run
> out of hot water. To get it to come on I have to unplug/replug in the
> blower for the vent. Obviously I have to remember to do this once
> every day/few days. Is that a sign of a bad thermostat or could it be
> something else? I have a home warranty with a $50 co-pay, but is this
> something I should/could fix myself?
>
> thanks,
>
The Power Vent heaters must "prove" the draft inducer fan
is actually coming on before opening the Main gas valve.
I will go out on a limb and speculate that your heater is
failing at that point for one reason or another and then
locking out. Unplugging then resets the circuitry.
In short, it's more than a simple DIY homeowner problem
and you *may* be ahead to call the warranty folks .
Jim
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Posted by Joseph Meehan on February 23, 2006, 3:05 pm
ron.brickley@gmail.com wrote:
show/hide quoted text
> Hi,
> I have an A.O. Smith gas water heater with power vent. I'm the third
> owner of this house and the water heater is probably original (13
> years old). I've noticed a couple of problems in the past few
> months. The first problem is that about a month ago the pilot light
> went out twice in a few days timeframe. I was able to re-light it,
> with a little trouble getting it to stay on (I didn't do the one
> minute test of holding down the pilot after I lit it to see if it
> stayed lit) and it hasn't been a problem since. I guess the next
> time I'll try the test.
> Anyway the main problem is that the burner is not kicking on when I
> run out of hot water. To get it to come on I have to unplug/replug
> in the blower for the vent. Obviously I have to remember to do this
> once every day/few days. Is that a sign of a bad thermostat or could
> it be something else? I have a home warranty with a $50 co-pay, but
> is this something I should/could fix myself?
> thanks,
The pilot problem is not likely a big issue, likely a thermocouple.
The other one is a bit more of a problem. Without the manual I don't
think I would try to fix it, especially since you are talking about a water
heater than is 13 years old.
It might be worth the $50 co-pay, especially if they take care of both
problems (about $10 for a thermocouple.) But I would not put any real money
into it at this point and any leak is likely to be the end of it.
--
Joseph Meehan
Dia duit
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Posted by PipeDown on February 23, 2006, 6:17 pm
show/hide quoted text
> ron.brickley@gmail.com wrote:
>> Hi,
>> I have an A.O. Smith gas water heater with power vent. I'm the third
>> owner of this house and the water heater is probably original (13
>> years old). I've noticed a couple of problems in the past few
>> months. The first problem is that about a month ago the pilot light
>> went out twice in a few days timeframe. I was able to re-light it,
>> with a little trouble getting it to stay on (I didn't do the one
>> minute test of holding down the pilot after I lit it to see if it
>> stayed lit) and it hasn't been a problem since. I guess the next
>> time I'll try the test.
>> Anyway the main problem is that the burner is not kicking on when I
>> run out of hot water. To get it to come on I have to unplug/replug
>> in the blower for the vent. Obviously I have to remember to do this
>> once every day/few days. Is that a sign of a bad thermostat or could
>> it be something else? I have a home warranty with a $50 co-pay, but
>> is this something I should/could fix myself?
>> thanks,
> The pilot problem is not likely a big issue, likely a thermocouple.
> The other one is a bit more of a problem. Without the manual I don't
> think I would try to fix it, especially since you are talking about a
> water heater than is 13 years old.
> It might be worth the $50 co-pay, especially if they take care of both
> problems (about $10 for a thermocouple.) But I would not put any real
> money into it at this point and any leak is likely to be the end of it.
> --
> Joseph Meehan
> Dia duit
Nice thing about a home warranty, if they decide it is not servicable, you
get a brand new one to replace it. Hopefully it is a part you can't
replace. In your case it may be a sensor or control module.
I got a brand new garage door opener because the gear box split open.
IMHO, worth the $50
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Posted by hallerb@aol.com on February 23, 2006, 6:40 pm
yeah with such a old water tank its very likely to just be replaced,
since parts are likely scarce and disturbing the tank will likely
result in a leak. too bad it just didnt start dripping that would get
you a nice new one.
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>
> I have an A.O. Smith gas water heater with power vent. I'm the third
> owner of this house and the water heater is probably original (13 years
> old). I've noticed a couple of problems in the past few months. The
> first problem is that about a month ago the pilot light went out twice
> in a few days timeframe. I was able to re-light it, with a little
> trouble getting it to stay on (I didn't do the one minute test of
> holding down the pilot after I lit it to see if it stayed lit) and it
> hasn't been a problem since. I guess the next time I'll try the test.
>
>
> Anyway the main problem is that the burner is not kicking on when I run
> out of hot water. To get it to come on I have to unplug/replug in the
> blower for the vent. Obviously I have to remember to do this once
> every day/few days. Is that a sign of a bad thermostat or could it be
> something else? I have a home warranty with a $50 co-pay, but is this
> something I should/could fix myself?
>
> thanks,
>