Water Heater Control
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Water Heater Control
When I fire up the gas water heater in our Travel Trailer with the tempreture selector set at low the burner lites as it should but if I slide the tempreture selector over to the middle or hot side the burner shuts off but the pilot remains on. With it set at it lowest setting the water is very very hot.
I checked the owners manual and it says the lever set at left is low and set at right is high. If someone could explain this I would appreciate it.
It is an Atwood with a White Rogers control and the unit is gas only not electric.
I checked the owners manual and it says the lever set at left is low and set at right is high. If someone could explain this I would appreciate it.
It is an Atwood with a White Rogers control and the unit is gas only not electric.
#2
Join Date: Feb 1998
Location: The Shake and Bake State USA
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Hello: mandlay and Welcome to the Do It Yourself Web Site.
Before suspecting the problem is the control, lets start a simple diagnostic process first.
Turn off the entire heater at the control knob. Rotate it to off. Allow the water temp time to drop back the ambient temp.
Once that happens, usually a day or so later, relight pilot with temp control in the in low temp range setting. Allow several hours to pass allowing time to recoop water to selected temp.
When the selected temp is reached and the burner has cycled off, check water temp. Turn the temp select dial to highest selectable temp. Note if burner turns on or not.
If the burner fails to fire up and the water temp is very hot, over 160 + degrees or so, temp control is likely defective.
If the burner does fire up, allow it to remain on. Check water temp at a faucet at this time. Use thermometer if possible. Should be approz 110 -120 range. Note the water temp at this point.
Than allow burner to cycle off at the new temp highest setting. Test water temp. Should not exceed 140 - 160. Some temp loss may occur based on the distance to faucet, etc.
The test is to help determine if the control is defective or not. Would be of no benefit to replace a functioning control which is not the direct cause of the problem.
The manuals explaination of the selection settings are based upon a properly working control. The problem description provided may or is likely to indicate the burner is shutting off on the high limit safety device.
Test above is intended to determine the exact cause. Once you have completed the testing, use the reply button to add the updated final results of the testing. Further help can be provided.
Before suspecting the problem is the control, lets start a simple diagnostic process first.
Turn off the entire heater at the control knob. Rotate it to off. Allow the water temp time to drop back the ambient temp.
Once that happens, usually a day or so later, relight pilot with temp control in the in low temp range setting. Allow several hours to pass allowing time to recoop water to selected temp.
When the selected temp is reached and the burner has cycled off, check water temp. Turn the temp select dial to highest selectable temp. Note if burner turns on or not.
If the burner fails to fire up and the water temp is very hot, over 160 + degrees or so, temp control is likely defective.
If the burner does fire up, allow it to remain on. Check water temp at a faucet at this time. Use thermometer if possible. Should be approz 110 -120 range. Note the water temp at this point.
Than allow burner to cycle off at the new temp highest setting. Test water temp. Should not exceed 140 - 160. Some temp loss may occur based on the distance to faucet, etc.
The test is to help determine if the control is defective or not. Would be of no benefit to replace a functioning control which is not the direct cause of the problem.
The manuals explaination of the selection settings are based upon a properly working control. The problem description provided may or is likely to indicate the burner is shutting off on the high limit safety device.
Test above is intended to determine the exact cause. Once you have completed the testing, use the reply button to add the updated final results of the testing. Further help can be provided.
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Gas water heater control
First I would like to thank you for taking the time to share your experience on diagnosing the problem. I have preformed the following test and results noted:
Turned and left unit off for 3 days before running the following tests.
1. Relighted pilot and set temp control in the low range setting, took 45 minutes and unit shut off, checked water tempreture and it was 140 degrees.
2. Turned temp selector to highest selectable setting and burner did not turn on, also tried lever in mid point and burner did not turn on.
3. Ran hot water at the faucet to displace water in tank with cold water and burner would only turn on with lever in the lowest selectable setting, Checked water tempreture after burner turned itself off and tempreture was 140 degrees.
Are there additional test which I can preform or have I diagnosed that the Temp Control is defective.
Turned and left unit off for 3 days before running the following tests.
1. Relighted pilot and set temp control in the low range setting, took 45 minutes and unit shut off, checked water tempreture and it was 140 degrees.
2. Turned temp selector to highest selectable setting and burner did not turn on, also tried lever in mid point and burner did not turn on.
3. Ran hot water at the faucet to displace water in tank with cold water and burner would only turn on with lever in the lowest selectable setting, Checked water tempreture after burner turned itself off and tempreture was 140 degrees.
Are there additional test which I can preform or have I diagnosed that the Temp Control is defective.
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Congratulations
Hello: Mandlay
Helping is not a problem, it is a pleasure...
Thank you for following the diagnostic testing procedure to a "T"
And for a well explained and described reply indicating the final results.
Amazing what a good exchange of information in a communication can make.
Based on the test results, 3 possibilities come to mind and may exist.
#1 Possibility)
The control is set internally to not allow any temperature above 140 to be reached. (Internally, may be the temp set tab behind the control knob.)
FYI ONLY & CAUTION NOTE*:
Behind every control knob is a tab on which the control knob is attached.
*CAUTION NOTE:
That tab is adjustable but not even a pro dares to attempt setting or resetting it. That would be a calibration. Which is not done by anyone I am aware of for liability reasons and time consumption. >>>Not adviseable nor recommendable to attempt any adjustment to the tab.Possible But Not LikelySee Above, The Control Pre-setting
Helping is not a problem, it is a pleasure...
Thank you for following the diagnostic testing procedure to a "T"
And for a well explained and described reply indicating the final results.
Amazing what a good exchange of information in a communication can make.
Based on the test results, 3 possibilities come to mind and may exist.
#1 Possibility)
The control is set internally to not allow any temperature above 140 to be reached. (Internally, may be the temp set tab behind the control knob.)
FYI ONLY & CAUTION NOTE*:
Behind every control knob is a tab on which the control knob is attached.
*CAUTION NOTE:
That tab is adjustable but not even a pro dares to attempt setting or resetting it. That would be a calibration. Which is not done by anyone I am aware of for liability reasons and time consumption. >>>Not adviseable nor recommendable to attempt any adjustment to the tab.Possible But Not LikelySee Above, The Control Pre-setting
Last edited by Sharp Advice; 04-21-04 at 04:52 PM.