Water Heaters - Power vented WH won't stay on-- FIXED IT
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janieliza
01-31-09, 01:55 PM
This blog is about my "engineer" husband's ability to fix things.
We called American about the water heater and they sent parts for the gas valve to be replaced TWICE. The pilot eventually would stay on (I think the silver tube on the right of the temp valve got crimped and was not feeding gas to the pilot - this was their fix for the power vent sucking out the flame when the vent comes on. ), but the burner would not stay on after about ten minutes. The power vent was on, but for two weeks now we couldn't get it to heat the water. But my ENGINEER got busy today... replaced a leaking water connection... took the power vent loose at the top after the American guy told him that there is a pressure switch in the power vent that connects to the gas valve by a clear plastic tube... the third method for it to fail apparently. Well, he left it ajar and lit the pilot, turned on the temp valve... and it never shut down. So now the American guy is sending a new pressure switch for the power vent. So, for all you folks who can't keep their pilot lit and can't get the burner to stay on... check that there is no crimp in the silver tube below on the right of the temp set and then loosen the housing on the power vent... it is the white plastic 3inch pipe. Leave it loose but not removed. It seems to equalize the pressure so the bad switch will work. Also... check that pipe all the way to the outside to be sure no small animal has lodged himself in there. IT WORKS!
We called American about the water heater and they sent parts for the gas valve to be replaced TWICE. The pilot eventually would stay on (I think the silver tube on the right of the temp valve got crimped and was not feeding gas to the pilot - this was their fix for the power vent sucking out the flame when the vent comes on. ), but the burner would not stay on after about ten minutes. The power vent was on, but for two weeks now we couldn't get it to heat the water. But my ENGINEER got busy today... replaced a leaking water connection... took the power vent loose at the top after the American guy told him that there is a pressure switch in the power vent that connects to the gas valve by a clear plastic tube... the third method for it to fail apparently. Well, he left it ajar and lit the pilot, turned on the temp valve... and it never shut down. So now the American guy is sending a new pressure switch for the power vent. So, for all you folks who can't keep their pilot lit and can't get the burner to stay on... check that there is no crimp in the silver tube below on the right of the temp set and then loosen the housing on the power vent... it is the white plastic 3inch pipe. Leave it loose but not removed. It seems to equalize the pressure so the bad switch will work. Also... check that pipe all the way to the outside to be sure no small animal has lodged himself in there. IT WORKS!