Comments on: Troubleshooting Guide for Flame Guard and Flame Lock Water Heaters

By: Redwood

Redwood — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 22:06:03 +0000

Hi Loyd,

I agree it probably is the gas valve that has gone bad.
They had a number of problems with the gas valve as well.
I would call American Water Heaters at their 1-800-999-9515 help line and see about getting parts.

Redwood

By: Loyd

Loyd — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:07:02 +0000

I ran across a related but different situation with one of these units.
I does have the thermocouple adaptor. I replaced the thermocouple. The unit would light and work for while. but after about an hour
the burner would just shut off even though it had not reached set point. And the pilot could not be re lit. I even tried an external
thermocouple heated from an external source and the pilot would not stay lit. On at least a couple of occasions, after sitting cold for
24 hours, the pilot would light normally. I am convinced that problem is the thermostat (gas valve). Is it possible that there is and
intermittent connection inside the valve? I am pretty sure this is the case. I checked the thermocouple adaptor with a meter and
it had continuity. I think this unit is about 5 or 6 years old.
I am not impressed with this unit!!
Yes I did check the combustion air screen. Yes it worked fine for five years!!

By: Redwood

Redwood — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:31:31 +0000

Hi Randy,
Glad to hear you got it working and the article helped you out.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you and hope it keeps on working.
Redwood

By: Randy

Randy — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:15:29 +0000

Thanks for your website, man. My water heater went out last night. I found your website at work today. Never worked on a water heater, but seemed simple enough. The thing is three years old so I was crossing my fingers hoping that it was a “B” model. It was. I had picked up a new thermocouple on way home for 7 bucks. Figured if I was going to work on it, I would replace it. I took the thing apart, cleaned the screen and burner, replaced the thermocouple, reassembled and fired it up. Nice blue flames and no sensor trip. Took about an hour. Saved a few hundred bucks. I will check the flame periodically from now on.

By: Redwood

Redwood — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:36:02 +0000

Hi Steve,
Good to hear you have hot water again so quickly and easily.
I missed the “what is it part” in your last post yes that is a recirculation line and pump.
It is a good thing to have. Hopefully, your hot water lines are insulated instead of acting like a radiator heating your home.
Are there any controls on the recirculation system like a timer? Some newer recirculation systems are using occupancy sensors these days.

Thanks for posting,
Redwood

By: Steve Garrison

Steve Garrison — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:47:30 +0000

Houston. We have ignition! Lowes keeps the kit in stock. All you need is to supply model and serial number. The what is it part I referenced is a hot water recirculator pump – quick hot water to the tap. Thanks for the help.

By: Redwood

Redwood — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:47:06 +0000

Hi Steve,
The initial “FG” version before the burner enhancement kit is installed has a double duty thermocouple that in addition to the pilot flame detection has a “one-time thermal fuse” built into the thermocouple. Once tripped the thermocouple had to be replaced and they were not readily available, which presented problems mainly the class action. American Water Heaters used a left handed thread to prevent installing a non fused conventional thermocouple.

Once the burner enhancement kit is installed in essence your “FG” becomes a “BFG” with the thermocouple still providing the tripping signal in the event of an “FVIR Event” or, clogged flame arrestor, but, the burner enhancement kit and the “BFG” models have a reset button which hopefully does the trick. Sometimes it doesn’t and moves on to other problems like the gas valve.

I hope this helps,
Redwood.

By: Steve Garrison

Steve Garrison — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:52:45 +0000

Looking at the parts close up, I see nothing that looks like the “one-time” fuse referenced in the manual and your webpage. Is it integral to the thermocouple assembly or is it in the valve control assembly?

I posted pictures to my website here. I have a device connected to my water heater that I don’t see on the representations of a typical water heater setup. Would appreciate if you could “name it”.

http://www.alexcomp.com/waterheater/waterheater.html

By: Redwood

Redwood — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 05:25:25 +0000

Hi Steve,
I believe they still send the kit out without any problems by what I have heard.
I believe they are not fussy at all about sending the kit to the homeowner in fact I’m shocked that they have such a liberal attitude about letting just anybody work on a gas appliance. I surprised they haven’t landed in court on that one yet!

If the flame arrestor was very dirty I’d say that is definitely the problem and the burner enhancement kit will take care of it.
Some have had gas valve problems as well.

Thanks for commenting,
Redwood

By: Steve Garrison

Steve Garrison — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:04:13 +0000

My Craftmaste heater is FG1H5040T3NOV – probably indicates manufacture around 2003. Went from functioning perfectly to complete failure to heat and inability to light pilot. Very glad to find your site as it seems “on point” and I feel I’m on the road to a solution. My hypothesis is that years of inattention, (my bad), resulted in a blockage of the air inlet screen. This caused a “tall flame event” and resulted in an opening of the one-time fuse in the special thermocouple. I gather the class action has ended but calling them, I have the number, may result in an upgraded kit coming to me – are they fussy about sending to the homeowner? I’ve looked at the manual, http://www.uscraftmaster.com/manuals/BFGmanual.pdf, and believe I will have no problem.

My only other hypothesis would be a completely clogged pilot tube and orifice but I consider this unlikely. Is there another possible explanation other than bad thermocouple, (understand this completely shuts the pilot and manifold tubes), or clogged pilot tube?

I found a wholsealer who purports to sell a very inexpensive thermocouple for the Flameguard units but doesn’t make much sense if mine is original and incorporates the special, one-time breaker.

Thanks in advance for any wisdom you can offer….