| Water Heater problems I have a gas water heater that keeps going out. I light the pilot and it heats the water up for about 20-30 min, then it just cuts out. Its not a very old water heater. The house I live in is only about 5 years old. I really dont have the money for a repair man as of now so I was wondering if there was anything I could do myself to help fix this problem.. |
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 tp0dyabbazooiePremium
join:2001-02-13
Carnegie, PA
kudos:2 | see if you can find the rating plate on the water heater (usually close to the control) take a picture of it, and post here. if your heater has a date code from 2008, you could have a failing control...
whos the maker, and def. post that rating plate.
-j
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if it aint broke, tweak it!!
currently on FiOS (kick aZZ!) |
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 jack bGone FishingPremium,MVM
join:2000-09-08
Cape Cod
kudos:1 | reply to The_ANoN
Call your gas supplier and ask them to come out and verify it's not a gas supply or pressure problem causing the repeated outages. Once they rule out any issues on their end, maybe they can easily diagnose the problem for you.
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~Help Find a Cure for Cancer~
~Proud Member of Team Discovery ~ |
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| reply to tp0d
The maker is State Select... and Rating Plate? I guess this is what youre talking about? |
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| I guess the maker is State Industries and not State Select.. Anyways, this was they only thing with any type of info on the water heater that I saw.. |
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 mix
join:2002-03-19
Utica, MI | When you say "cuts out," you mean the pilot light eventually goes out right? If so, my guess (and your cheapest fix) would be the thermocouple. Either it needs to be adjusted so it is touching the pilot flame more, or needs to be replaced completely. There are plenty of websites showing how to do this if you google around. |
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| Yes, the pilot light cuts out..and I keep having to light it again and again. I will look into the thermocouple fix.. If that doesnt work out, Ill give the Gas co. a call. |
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tp0dyabbazooiePremium
join:2001-02-13
Carnegie, PA
kudos:2 | I am a service/warranty agent for State industries.
The problem you are having is with a clogged spark arrestor. It probably has lint or dust buildup from running since mid 2006.
The spark arrestor needs cleaned, asap. You can order a free cleaning kit by calling 1800 527 1953, ask for a cleaning kit. They will ask you for your model and serial number. The kit includes a wand that attaches to most any vacuum cleaner, and also includes instructions with pictures.
Problem though, if you keep running it without cleaning it, you -will- damage the overheat switch, and you will need a new pilot assembly (which includes a new overheat switch) to repair it. Thats a tough one. If you can shut it off until you get the cleaning kit shipped in, you`ll save some headaches.
PM me if you have more q's..
edit... heres the cleaning instructions... if you can do this, you can stave off shutting down the heater. (still should be cleaned with the wand) It -does- need cleaned very well, cant hurt to clean it twice. If you have access to a 24" piece of 1/2" copper tube and a 1/2" elbow, you can make a similar wand. I use the copper tube myself.
»www.statewaterheaters.com/cust/F···ean1.pdf
-j
--
if it aint broke, tweak it!!
currently on FiOS (kick aZZ!) |
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| said by tp0d:I am a service/warranty agent for State industries.
The problem you are having is with a clogged spark arrestor. It probably has lint or dust buildup from running since mid 2006.
The spark arrestor needs cleaned, asap. You can order a free cleaning kit by calling 1800 527 1953, ask for a cleaning kit. They will ask you for your model and serial number. The kit includes a wand that attaches to most any vacuum cleaner, and also includes instructions with pictures.
Problem though, if you keep running it without cleaning it, you -will- damage the overheat switch, and you will need a new pilot assembly (which includes a new overheat switch) to repair it. Thats a tough one. If you can shut it off until you get the cleaning kit shipped in, you`ll save some headaches.
PM me if you have more q's..
edit... heres the cleaning instructions... if you can do this, you can stave off shutting down the heater. (still should be cleaned with the wand) It -does- need cleaned very well, cant hurt to clean it twice. If you have access to a 24" piece of 1/2" copper tube and a 1/2" elbow, you can make a similar wand. I use the copper tube myself.
»www.statewaterheaters.com/cust/F···ean1.pdf
Well yeah theres a TON of dust in my unfinished basement.. So it does sound like it needs to be cleaned. I just ordered one of those cleaning kits... Now what to do without hot water for the next few days...
-j
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tp0dyabbazooiePremium
join:2001-02-13
Carnegie, PA
kudos:2 | Like I said, tough one. Better to shut it down now than to burn up the pilot assy (there could already be damage done though). Once you clean it, if you still have pilot outages, its not hard to change the assembly, you can order it thru a website.
edit-- heres the pilot assy if needed
»www.waterheaterparts.com/Advance···=%20&SN=
-j
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if it aint broke, tweak it!!
currently on FiOS (kick aZZ!) |
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harald
join:2010-10-22
Columbus, OH
kudos:1 | And we thought customer service was dead in America!
+1 +1 |
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jack bGone FishingPremium,MVM
join:2000-09-08
Cape Cod
kudos:1 | reply to The_ANoN
Shop that part, look around you can find it cheaper if it's what you need. |
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mix
join:2002-03-19
Utica, MI | reply to The_ANoN
Well if an agent says what the problem is, forget what I said. That is pretty good (or maybe luck) customer service to find someone like that on this message board. |
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| said by mix:Well if an agent says what the problem is, forget what I said. That is pretty good (or maybe luck) customer service to find someone like that on this message board.
Yeah I guess I lucked out, eh? I just hope this cleaning kit resolves the issue.. Thx for all the help everyone.. I will follow up after the kit gets here. |
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| Ok so I cant wait for the kit to get here (I need a shower!), so I went ahead and went one step further and instead of just cleaning out the dust filter area (under the burner), I unscrewed the door and cleaned off the pilot/burner itself and the area around it with a vacuum and brush.. The pic shows what was on it (the pile is about an inch high).. Im proud to say that my water heater seems to be working now as it has been running for about an hour nonstop and the burner flame looks a lot cleaner. The pilot does not cut out anymore either.. I still have my fingers crossed so I hope it keeps working.. Thx for the help again everyone!! |
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tp0dyabbazooiePremium
join:2001-02-13
Carnegie, PA
kudos:2 | If you have that much debris on your burner, you need to shake the flue baffle as well. Shut off the main burner, let it cool. With a set of needlenose, grab the flat piece of metal inside the exhaust at the top of the heater. (directly below the flue pipe and draft hood) Shake the baffle side to side and rotate it at least 90 degrees... if you hear a lot of crap falling down inside, you may need to take the burner out again and clean it. I`ve seen this happen on some heaters that are run out of hot water alot, or it can be the protective wax coating on the steel burning off...
-j
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if it aint broke, tweak it!!
currently on FiOS (kick aZZ!) |
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| reply to The_ANoN
hi The_ANoN, you did really good work .. you are very hardworker to solve problem. you have used very good thing to solve problem own self. |
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