Water Heaters - Need help with Temp adjustment on a BW

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dgbehrends
10-09-08, 10:23 PM
Hello and thanks for reading.
My water heater is a 50 gallon Bradford White Model # MITW50L6BN12
The temperature is set a little to high for my liking so I read the manual and removed the thermostat cover per the instructions.
My question is this.
Where is the temperature adjust screw?

The picture in the manual looks nothing like the thermostat. It shows a screw in the center bottom with the words very hot and hot labeled underneath the screw. I don't see this on my thermostat. What I see instead is a plastic Honeywell module bolted to the metal gas valve. This module has an on/off switch on it. There are several screws on the metal gas valve one of which looks like the temperature adjust (half inch wide with a straight slot for turning) screw but there is nothing near it printed that would suggest it controls temperature. The manual says to turn it clockwise to get the temperature down. This isn't a set it and test it right away kind of thing so I was hoping for a pointer in the right direction. I can snap a few photos if that would help.


dgbehrends
10-10-08, 09:39 AM
I'm guessing its the big screw in the "top" picture. If so, does twisting it clockwise mean I will lower my water temp? Thanks.

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/2525/waterheatertempoct08topfg1.th.jpg (http://img252.imageshack.us/my.php?image=waterheatertempoct08topfg1.jpg)http://img252.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/6381/waterheatertempoct08bacwz4.th.jpg (http://img508.imageshack.us/my.php?image=waterheatertempoct08bacwz4.jpg)http://img508.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2864/waterheatertempoct08botld1.th.jpg (http://img258.imageshack.us/my.php?image=waterheatertempoct08botld1.jpg)http://img258.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/2476/waterheatertempoct08mangu3.th.jpg (http://img379.imageshack.us/my.php?image=waterheatertempoct08mangu3.jpg)http://img379.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

furd
10-10-08, 12:31 PM
None of those pictures show the thermostat. Remove the cover on the tank that is to the right of the gas valve, the same cover that has the instructions. There may be some fluffy fiberglass insulation under it. If this water heater has any connection to electrical power (like for a draft fan) disconnect it before proceeding to remove the fiberglass if present. Take a picture and post it if the thermostat is not readily visible.


Gunguy45
10-10-08, 12:37 PM
And it looks like the cover is held on with "security torx head" screws.

Pretty odd for a residential unit. Is this a commercial building?

dgbehrends
10-10-08, 02:19 PM
And it looks like the cover is held on with "security torx head" screws.

Pretty odd for a residential unit. Is this a commercial building?

Its a residential home, and I believe based off the Model number that this is a residential water heater.

None of those pictures show the thermostat. Remove the cover on the tank that is to the right of the gas valve, the same cover that has the instructions. There may be some fluffy fiberglass insulation under it. If this water heater has any connection to electrical power (like for a draft fan) disconnect it before proceeding to remove the fiberglass if present. Take a picture and post it if the thermostat is not readily visible.

Thank you furd.
The manual said take off the cover on the right side of the gas valve. Well there was a cover on the gas valve, and that's what I removed (only two screws). Depending on how you look at it, it could have been the right side of the gas valve. There is also a cover on the water heater itself, also on the right of the gas valve. This cover blended in very well to the tank, so I didn't even notice the single screw holding it on. Once I removed this cover, then the picture in the manual matched the thermostat. Good thing I didn't take apart the gas valve. Kaboom!!!
Here is the picture after I adjusted it. In this case I needed to turn the dial counterclockwise to lower the temperature.

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/2420/bwthermostatgy9.th.jpg (http://img410.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bwthermostatgy9.jpg)http://img410.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

Hopefully I won't get socked in the noggin by my wife after she takes a cold shower tomorrow morning. ;)

Gunguy45
10-10-08, 03:49 PM
Oh duh I didn't even see the cover on the tank. I meant the cover on the side of the gas valve itself...jeez.

It's not my fault, sunspots or something were messing with my connection...lol

Glad ya got it adjusted...