From their start over 135 years ago to today, Bradford White's goal is to deliver high quality, superior products made by American craftspeople. Today they proudly employ over 2,300 people at their American facilities. You can always count on the performance and reliability of their Built to be the Best products.

Water Heater Troubleshooting

Pilot Will Not Light 
1. No incoming gas or too low gas pressure. Turn on gas supply and/or check line pressure 
2. Gas control knob set to wrong position. Set combination/thermostat gas valve to correct position 
3. Pilot light button not being fully depressed when attempting to light pilot. Fully depress pilot lighting button. 
4. Pilot orifice or pilot tube is obstructed or kinked. Clean, repair or replace. 
5. Pilot electrode not sparking to pilot. Verify correct electrode position. Replace pilot assembly. 
6. Piezo igniter not functioning. Replace Piezo igniter. 

Pilot Will Not stay lit when button is released 
1. Poor thermocouple connection at combination thermostat/gas valve. Check connection at combination thermostat/gas valve. Proper tightness should be finger tight plus ¼ turn. 
2. Thermocouple not fully engaged in pilot assembly bracket. Inspect thermocouple to ensure that it is fully engaged into pilot bracket. 
3. Pilot flame is not fully enveloping the thermocouple “hot” junction. Adjust tip of thermocouple to be fully engulfed by pilot flame. 
4. Weak or defective thermocouple. Check thermocouple and replace if necessary. 
5. Open ECO on combination thermostat/ gas valve. Check ECO continuity and replace combination thermostat/gas valve if necessary. 
6. Defective magnet in combination thermostat/gas valve. Check magnet operation and replace combination thermostat/gas valve if necessary. 
7 Resettable thermal switch has opened. Determine cause of switch activation. To reset, depress button on resettable thermal switch located on inner door. 

Pilot will light but the main burner will not come on 
1. Combination thermostat/gas valve set too low for desired water temperature. Adjust temperature dial on combination thermostat/gas valve. 
2. Combination thermostat/gas valve temperature is satisfied. Check temperature dial setting on combination thermostat/gas valve. 
3. Insufficient gas supply or low gas pressure. Check gas supply and line pressure. 
4. Combination thermostat/gas valve has wide differential or is out of calibration. Check combination thermostat/gas valve for proper operation, replace if necessary. 

Pilot goes out periodically (after heating cycles, once a day, once a week etc.) 
1. Insufficient combustion air supply. Verify adequate combustion air is available to the unit. Check and clear Jacket slot openings of any dirt, dust, restrictions or other obstructions. Inspect flame arrestor plate and clean with stiff bristled brush and/or vacuum to remove any debris accumulation. 
2. Incorrect, clogged vent system/ vent terminal or location. Check venting for proper sizing and proper operation. 
3. Inconsistent gas supply or gas pressure. Check gas supply and line pressure. 

Not enough hot water 
1. Combination thermostat/gas valve set too low for desired water temperature. Check dial on combination thermostat/gas valve. 
2. Cold inlet water temperature is very cold. Extremely cold water going into the heater will decrease the amount of hot water produced. It may be necessary to temper incoming water supply. 
3. High demand periods. Adjust high demand usage. 
4. Incorrectly sized water heater for application. Contact Plumbing professional. 
5. Combination thermostat/gas valve is out of calibration/not functioning. Check combination thermostat/gas valve for proper operation, replace if necessary. 
6. Out of spec dip tube is diluting hot water with cold water. Inspect dip tube and replace if necessary.