CCat
Purrplexity
Premium
join:2005-12-06
Wonderland
 ·RoadRunner Cable
·WOW Internet and C..
| reply to jack b
Re: Gas Water Heater Question
@EG, Nothing dripping on the pilot.
@ jack b, I agree...One more observation. I can light the pilot and fire the burner. Once the tank gets hot and the main burner turns off so does the pilot.
I did find the same WH at Lowes. Dimensions are all the same too.
This may be a straight swap without having to redo the piping (or very little).
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Sometimes My Mind Wanders.....Other Times It Leaves Completely! |
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Langning
Premium
join:2003-04-28
Marlborough, MA
 ·Verizon FIOS
| reply to bemis
said by bemis  :tp0d's picture looks exactly like my water heater--except that I also have a control on the gas line to activate a power vent. Does your setup look like mines? |
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CCat
Purrplexity
Premium
join:2005-12-06
Wonderland
1 edit | No...There is no electrical run to the WH. It works strictly off the thermo couple and the temp sensor.
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Sometimes My Mind Wanders.....Other Times It Leaves Completely! |
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jack b
Gone Fishing
Premium,MVM
join:2000-09-08
Cape Cod
clubs:
·Comcast
| reply to CCat
What it sounds like is happening here is the tiny pilot burner orifice has microscopic debris lodged in it from impurities carried in the gas itself over the years, and that is causing the pilot flame to have become very soft. And now, it doesn't take very much turbulence to blow the pilot flame out such as when the main burner extinguishes itself.
It's almost impossible to clean (successfully), and if you ream out the opening while trying to clear it, that can make things even worse.
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~Help Find a Cure for Cancer~
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CCat
Purrplexity
Premium
join:2005-12-06
Wonderland | Best explaination Ive heard. But...time for a new one. |
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Juan2
@swbell.net
| reply to CCat
There were many Whirlpool heaters that were a pain in the nether regions since the thermocouple had left hand threads so that a standard (cheap) thermocouple would not work. Other than that, the normal thermocouple is VERY economical ( $5) and usually easy to replace.
Many of the other answers were good, but I must say that on my own water heater that the valve assembly had a severe buildup of calcium deposits on the in-tank sensor. I replaced this valve assembly (after trying all else) and results are good.
I must say this job is quite difficult (Requires very large wrench to remove valve body). I removed thermocouple, pilot feed & main feed with 3/8, 7/16 & 3/4 End wrenches. Be very careful (or hire someone) this can be dangerous for neophytes! |
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socalblitz
audit the Fed
Premium
join:2008-07-31
Fullerton, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to CCat
There are 100's of complaints about Whirlpool Gas Water Heaters purchased from Lowes on the sites below:
»www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowne···ers.html
»www.terrylove.com/forums/showthr···p?t=4362
There is also a class action lawsuit. |
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CCat
Purrplexity
Premium
join:2005-12-06
Wonderland | That explains a lot...Thanks |
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Boomerang86
Got FUD?
Premium
join:2002-10-18
VampireState
clubs:
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 ·VOIPo
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| reply to CCat
said by CCat :...As of this morning its still working. I probably will just try replacing the thermo couple and see if that fixes it, if not I'll probably just replace the WH seeing that its 14 yrs old. Wow, fourteen years? You've been on borrowed time with that unit for a while now. Normal life span for a conventional HWH is 7-12 years. Time to go shopping.
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Don't pay ME back, pay it forward. |
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scooper
join:2000-07-11
Youngsville, NC | I've got a '92 / '93 40 gallon electric heater that's been in continuous service...
Yes, I'm holding my breath on when I have to replace it... |
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Zen6
@rr.com
| reply to jack b
Borrowed time is not a good place to be. My 13yr old tank went 2 weeks ago while I was out shopping, came home to ruined Christmas ornaments, and 1" of water covering the floor. It is best to change these things before they ruin everything on the basement floor. I also will get a sizable tax credit for my new tank, so now is a good time to replace, and do not go with a cheap one as they are not eligible for tax credit. |
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scooper
join:2000-07-11
Youngsville, NC | If mine DOES start leaking - no biggie - it's sitting outside in a gas water heater enclosure - I'll just be watering the yard... |
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jinjimbob
Troy Mcclure
join:2001-11-13 | reply to CCat
Our propane one is on its 16th year now, but we do have a water filter and softener which really helps. |
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Bobcat
Premium
join:2001-02-04
Bedminster, NJ
 ·Verizon Online DSL
1 edit | reply to Zen6
said by Zen6 :
I also will get a sizable tax credit for my new tank, so now is a good time to replace, and do not go with a cheap one as they are not eligible for tax credit.
I looked at the Energy Star site, and they say that only the tankless models qualify for the tax credit.
quote:
Gas, Oil, and Propane Water Heaters with an Energy Factor of at least .82 - OR - a thermal efficiency of at least 90%. There are several types of gas, oil, and propane water heaters (storage tank, tankless, gas condensing), but only tankless can currently meet the criteria...
There is no tax credit for electric storage tank or electric tankless water heaters.
»energystar.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/···qid=5703 |
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