Author Topic: No hot water, gas is burning  (Read 1485 times)

MeNeedsSomeHelp

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No hot water, gas is burning
« on: November 12, 2018, 05:05:19 PM »
First part of bath my daughter had hot water.
During the rinse, only cold water.
The water heater burner is working as you can see from the picture.

The water heater is about 4 years old.

Replace the thermal couple?

Your help is appreciated!
« Last Edit: November 12, 2018, 05:10:22 PM by MeNeedsSomeHelp »

MeNeedsSomeHelp

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Re: No hot water, gas is burning
« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2018, 10:55:41 AM »
In the morning we did have hot water.
I haven't found any leaks.
Everyone swears they hadn't run the laundry recently.

Some research on the internet suggested it could be a bad drip pipe, but given the age it is unlikely.
I was a little surprised that the color of the flame was very red and orange instead of blue.
Is this normal?

Any suggests on what I could assert?

Kahooli

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Re: No hot water, gas is burning
« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2018, 03:57:07 PM »
COuld be a bad fuel/air mix (your color), but you shouldn't adjust it without an EGA. Even a bad AFR wouldnt leave you with a huge delta, so yes check your thermocouple - theyre cheap anyway.

AccidentalMiser

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Re: No hot water, gas is burning
« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2018, 04:33:50 PM »
What brand/model is the water heater?  Tank?  How large?

Yes, your fire looks funny.  Do you have a CO/CO2 detector in the house?

In a conventional WH, the thermocouple simply acts to keep the pilot light burning.  If the pilot gets extinguished, the heat to the TC is eliminated, the TC stops making its little bit of current and the gas valve shuts.  This prevents the pilot light gas from remaining on and blowing up your house when the gas leak reaches an ignition source.

If it's a tankless, then the TC may have additional functions. 

What is a drip pipe?  Do you mean drip leg on the gas supply that keeps sediment out of your gas valve?  Or do you mean the dip tube which carries cold water to the bottom of your water heater from the water supply? 

Given your symptoms, I can almost guarantee it's your DIP tube.  Your flame still looks funny.

MeNeedsSomeHelp

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Re: No hot water, gas is burning
« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2018, 09:19:31 PM »
I meant to type dip tube instead of drip tube.  (Sorry for the confusion.)
I have a CO detector in the basement (where the water heater is located) and upstairs.
The water heater is a GE 50gal.
I took another picture of the burn with the phone closer.
It does look better, but not perfect.
How often should the burner be cleaned?

Papa bear

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Re: No hot water, gas is burning
« Reply #5 on: November 13, 2018, 09:24:55 PM »
Ok dumb question here - did the temperature dial get bumped to vacation mode?


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MeNeedsSomeHelp

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Re: No hot water, gas is burning
« Reply #6 on: November 13, 2018, 10:33:35 PM »
The temperature dial did not get bumped.
It is just above freezing outside.

I double checked and it is just a 40gal.

Syonyk

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Re: No hot water, gas is burning
« Reply #7 on: November 16, 2018, 08:14:20 PM »
A bath tub typically takes 30-50 gallons.  You likely just ran it out of hot water.  Unless this is a specific thing that worked previously and now doesn't, that would be my first guess.