Gas Water Heater With Easy Clean Fvir
Raise water heater 18" off floor to avoid flood damage and flammable vapors
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Water heater stand
When lighting water heater, if you have NO gas or pilot light but burner goes out when knob turned to ON ... then FV system is suspect.
Some water heaters have FV system that is tripped by variety of different problems including flammable vapors.
a) Push in TCO located on front of combustion chamber Troubleshoot TCO.
b) Keep air intake screen, or flame arrestor screen clean. Dust and dirt can clog screen. Install heater in clean environment free from dust and chemicals. Laundry room, craft room, shop, chemical store room are not good location for FV water heater.
When air intake is clogged, vent is obstructed, or incoming air supply is reduced, the air flow slows down. Same amount of gas is being burned but heat is retained inside combustion chamber instead of venting up flue. The overheating trips TCO and can trip FV system.
Solution for FV lockout event varies by brand and model, and by gas control valve. Try cleaning arrestor screen first. Push in TCO reset on front of combustion chamber.
Gas control valve may need to be replaced. FV sensor may need to be replaced. Part replacement depends on model and brand.
c) Keep combustion parts and chamber clean. Lazy yellow flame, instead of clear blue flame, and sooting on the burner surface indicate incomplete combustion. Explosive gas can accumulate. Can trip FVIR.
d) To prevent FV lockout and combustion problems: Perform maintenance shown in product manual, and keep air intake clean, allow plenty of fresh air, avoid dusty-dirty environments, and avoid flammable vapors.
Help prevent FVIR event by installing gas water heater at least 18" off the floor.
#1) Make sure there is adequate fresh air, and that air is clean and list free, and does not have trace chemicals.
#2) Always turn off gas to water heater when painting with oil-base paint or oil-base varnish etc, and when cleaning with solvent-based products, and when pouring gasoline etc.
For example when storing gasoline near water heater, the water heater should sit minimum 18" off floor, gasoline should be tightly capped, and do not pour gas to fill gas tank in same room as water heater or other gas appliance.
Gas appliance can ignite flammable vapors
Resistance means the system will resist ignition of flammable vapors... but not 100% guarantee Gas water heater FV guidelines
1) understand FV lockout Troubleshoot FVIR
2) correctly install product (clean environment, plenty of fresh air) How to install gas water heater
2) regular maintenance to avoid problems How to clean combustion chamber
3) access to service manuals from manufacturer gas water heater troubleshoot manuals
4) turn off gas water heater when working with flammable vapors,
5) install electric water heater if you have high risk environment such as workshop for race cars, cleaning solvents, paint & lacquer, or have a dusty dirty environment (laundry room, attic, crawlspace etc) How to install electric water heater
Resources
How to troubleshoot gas water heater
How to install gas water heater
How dangerous is gasoline and gas water heater
Arrestor screen stops flames from spreading
There are 3 basic types of lockout.
1) First one is overheated combustion chamber due to inadequate air draw, improper installation, dirty dusty environment that clogs air intake screen, lack of proper venting, dirty combustion parts from lack of cleaning or maintenance etc.
The flame begins to turn yellow instead of crisp blue... the venting of gas byproduct slows, yet same amount of fuel is being burned.... the combustion chamber overheats.
Result lockout.
2) Second is actual flammable vapor sucked into combustion chamber that causes ignition of fuel and overheated combustion chamber.
Most instances require cleaning, and/or part replacement.... but actual repair steps vary by model, age and brand water heater since the FVIR systems have evolved over the years since FV mandates came into effect.
Resource: example service manual for Intellivent:
AO Smith Intellivent troubleshoot and FVIR test/ pdf
Troubleshoot intellivent gas control valve
Thermostat probe and ECO on gas control valve thermostat
Thermostat on gas water heater is built into the gas control valve temperature probe.
Normally this is a single use item... so if water is overheated inside tank because the thermostat has gone bad, then the ECO trips, and gas control valve must be replaced.
Things that can affect failure of thermostat include age, defective manufacture, build-up of sediment etc.
Resource:
How to replace thermostat or gas control valve on gas water heater
TCO thermal cut off located front of combustion chamber
TCO thermal cut off is a resettable thermal switch located on front of combustion chamber that can be reset after some high temperature events inside the combustion chamber.
TCO trips when combustion chamber exceeds temperature set point.
One thing that would cause the thermal switch to trip is overheated combustion chamber because air intake screen is clogged with dust, or inadequate air supply.
Dust clogs screen, so there is less air for venting, but same around of gas is burning inside combustion chamber, and overheating situation occurs.
Resource:
Troubleshoot incoming air supply
Source: http://waterheatertimer.org/Who-makes-the-most-easily-resettable-FVIR.html
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