Water Heaters - Turning on the Heat at the Water heater
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hakers03
10-28-05, 12:57 PM
I am renting a house with an Apollo 5010 gas water heater. A while back the previous owner stopped by and informed us that the HEAT was turned off, that our heat will come from the water heater and that we needed to turn it back on because he had it turned off for the summer. Anyways I just thought there was a switch or knob that was clearly marked so that we can turn our heat on.
As it turns out I was wrong, there are a ton of things to turn and pull and I dont want to mess things up.
My Landlord is completely baffled and doesnt exactly know what I am asking (Im not sure she knows english 100%) Anyways I havent been able to find anything on the web yet until I ran across this forum.
It getting cold out and I could really use some heat. Do any of you know how to turn this on and could give me so input??
Your help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
As it turns out I was wrong, there are a ton of things to turn and pull and I dont want to mess things up.
My Landlord is completely baffled and doesnt exactly know what I am asking (Im not sure she knows english 100%) Anyways I havent been able to find anything on the web yet until I ran across this forum.
It getting cold out and I could really use some heat. Do any of you know how to turn this on and could give me so input??
Your help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
majakdragon
10-28-05, 03:09 PM
hakers03, Welcome to the DIY Forums.
There should be a knob at the control of the heater. It should have printed on it: OFF....PILOT...and ON. There is usually a piece of metal that covers the burner assembly that has to be lifted up and then removed to expose the burner and pilot. Take a fireplace match or even a stick of spagetti and light it. Turn the knob to pilot. Push the knob in and insert the match into the burner assembly until you see the pilot light. Hold the button in for 45 to 60 seconds to let the thermocouple get hot. Then release the button. The pilot should stay lit. Then turn the knob to on. The burner should light. Replace the metal shield and you should be good to go. Check the setting on the control to see how high the temperature is set. Should be in the Medium range. Good luck.
There should be a knob at the control of the heater. It should have printed on it: OFF....PILOT...and ON. There is usually a piece of metal that covers the burner assembly that has to be lifted up and then removed to expose the burner and pilot. Take a fireplace match or even a stick of spagetti and light it. Turn the knob to pilot. Push the knob in and insert the match into the burner assembly until you see the pilot light. Hold the button in for 45 to 60 seconds to let the thermocouple get hot. Then release the button. The pilot should stay lit. Then turn the knob to on. The burner should light. Replace the metal shield and you should be good to go. Check the setting on the control to see how high the temperature is set. Should be in the Medium range. Good luck.
hakers03
10-28-05, 03:18 PM
hakers03, Welcome to the DIY Forums.
There should be a knob at the control of the heater. It should have printed on it: OFF....PILOT...and ON. There is usually a piece of metal that covers the burner assembly that has to be lifted up and then removed to expose the burner and pilot. Take a fireplace match or even a stick of spagetti and light it. Turn the knob to pilot. Push the knob in and insert the match into the burner assembly until you see the pilot light. Hold the button in for 45 to 60 seconds to let the thermocouple get hot. Then release the button. The pilot should stay lit. Then turn the knob to on. The burner should light. Replace the metal shield and you should be good to go. Check the setting on the control to see how high the temperature is set. Should be in the Medium range. Good luck.
I am at work but will try it when I get home, sounds a little difficult. I sure hope not. I have never even heard of such a thing. Is it common that the heat also runs off of the water heater???
There should be a knob at the control of the heater. It should have printed on it: OFF....PILOT...and ON. There is usually a piece of metal that covers the burner assembly that has to be lifted up and then removed to expose the burner and pilot. Take a fireplace match or even a stick of spagetti and light it. Turn the knob to pilot. Push the knob in and insert the match into the burner assembly until you see the pilot light. Hold the button in for 45 to 60 seconds to let the thermocouple get hot. Then release the button. The pilot should stay lit. Then turn the knob to on. The burner should light. Replace the metal shield and you should be good to go. Check the setting on the control to see how high the temperature is set. Should be in the Medium range. Good luck.
I am at work but will try it when I get home, sounds a little difficult. I sure hope not. I have never even heard of such a thing. Is it common that the heat also runs off of the water heater???
majakdragon
10-28-05, 03:39 PM
It is quite common anymore. You have hot water heat supplied by the water heater. Look for a metal "wire" going from the control into the burner. This is the thermo-couple. The pilot burner tube will be just below it.
hakers03
10-28-05, 03:43 PM
It is quite common anymore. You have hot water heat supplied by the water heater. Look for a metal "wire" going from the control into the burner. This is the thermo-couple. The pilot burner tube will be just below it.
Thank you very much for your help. If I have anymore questions i will deffinitly be back. I am not sure what else to do...
Thanks!
Thank you very much for your help. If I have anymore questions i will deffinitly be back. I am not sure what else to do...
Thanks!
majakdragon
10-28-05, 03:56 PM
We will be here to help. Sometimes it takes a little longer but please bear with us.
hakers03
10-28-05, 04:05 PM
One thing I am wondering: Wouldnt the pilot lite already be lit being that we are able to take showers and use our hot water?
Im sorry if this is a dumb question, i just do not know much about these things.
Im sorry if this is a dumb question, i just do not know much about these things.
majakdragon
10-28-05, 04:10 PM
You are correct. I wasn't totally thinking when i answered your question. When the previous owner said he turned off the heat, he probably meant he turned off a recirculating pump that took the water to the heating system. This could be as simple as a wall switch or a breaker in the panel box. Look around the heater for a pump and the wiring. You may see the switch at this location. Sorry I missed that point.
hakers03
10-28-05, 04:16 PM
That would be great. I sure hope so. I will take a look around it...there are just so many things on this water heater that arent on the others...
Thanks!
Thanks!
majakdragon
10-28-05, 04:20 PM
I am sure that it looks different. It has to have a check valve in the cold water supply line to keep the hot water return line from pushing hot water back into the cold water. Then it has a return line to feed the used hot water back into the heater to be reheated. Good system though.