| Residential Electric Troubleshooting Table | ||
| Nature of Trouble: | Possible Cause: | What/How to Service: |
| No Hot Water | Manual switch turned off | Turn to ON |
| Blown fuse at breaker | Replace or reset | |
| High limit switch tripped | Manually reset ECO button | |
| Upper thermostat defective | Check and replace | |
| Upper element defective | Check and replace | |
| Grounded thermostat | Check and replace | |
| Thermostat out of calibration | Check, tighten and replace | |
|
Improper wiring
|
Check and replace | |
| Not Enough Hot Water | Thermostat set too low | Increase thermostat setting not to exceed 120 degrees |
| Defective lower element | Check and replace | |
| Defective lower thermostat or miswired thermostat | Check and replace | |
| Improper wiring | Rewire per wiring diagram | |
| Loose wiring | Check and tighten | |
| Improper heating elements | Check wattage and replace | |
| Scale formation on heating element | Check elements; clean or replace | |
| Thermostat not flush with tank | Position thermostat so back touches the tank | |
| Poor grounding of tank | Check grounding and tighten | |
| Heater is undersized | Resize residence and compare | |
| Damaged dip tube | Check and replace | |
| Water Too Hot | Thermostat setting too high | Lower thermostat setting |
| Thermostat out of calibration | Check and replace | |
| Thermostat not flush with tank | Position thermostat so back touches the tank | |
| Grounded element | Check and replace | |
| Slow hot Water | Heating elements too small | Check wattage and replace |
| Lower thermostat is defective | Check lower thermostat and replace | |
| Noisy heating element | Scale build-up on elements | Remove, clean or replace |
| High watt density elements in the heater | Install low watt density elements | |
| Excessive relief valve operation | Excessive water pressure | Install proper pressure reducing valve on cold side Check for open or closed system. Replace T&P valve and install thermal expansion tank. |
| Excessive temperature | Check thermostat; lower setting or replace; check for grounded element. | |
| Rusty or black water | Scale formation on elements | Clean or replace elements |
| Anode rod dissolved | Check anode rod and replace | |
| Excessive sediment build-up | Try to drain tank; replace tank if sediment build up is excessive | |
| Water heater is leaking | Cold in or hot out joints | Check joint and repair |
| T&P valve | Check valve and replace Caution: Do not confuse normal T&P operation as a leaking tank. If the puddle dries up, then look for a T&P problem. | |
| Heating elements, anode rod and gaskets | Check, tighten and replace | |
| Inner tank has a pin hole | Replace water heater When diagnosing a leaker – you will notice a puddle of water on the floor, next to the heater, that will not go away. | |
| Smelly water
(rotten egg odor) |
Bacteria formation inside water tank | Clean tank using chlorine bleach Replace anode rod if deteriorated Add automatic chlorine feeder to cold water inlet side of tank |
| Milky water | Aerated water | Allow a glass of hot water to set for a few minutes. If the water turns clear, the condition is a natural occurrence. |
| Residential Gas Troubleshooting Table | ||
| Nature of Trouble: | Possible Cause: | What/How to Service: |
| No Hot Water | Gas supply turned off | Turn on gas supply |
| Pilot not lit | See Unable to light pilot and Pilot does not stay lit | |
| Not Enough Hot Water | Thermostat set too low | Adjust thermostat |
| Burner orifice is clogged | Inspect and clean | |
| Low gas pressure | Check gas supply pressure and manifold pressure | |
| Venting downdraft (or other improper draft) | Check for proper up draft venting. Check for other drafts that could blow out the pilot light. | |
| Clogged flue | Inspect and clean flue way | |
| Defective thermostat | Replace gas control valve | |
| Defective dip tube | Check and replace dip tube | |
| Heater is undersized | Adjust Peak Hour Demand | |
| Unable to light pilot | Gas supply turned off | Turn on gas supply |
| Gas cock knob dial not positioned correctly | Check lighting instructions. Set control knob | |
| Defective thermocouple | Check and replace thermocouple | |
| Defective safety magnet assembly | Check and replace gas valve | |
| Pilot burner orifice clogged | Clean or replace | |
| Pilot tube pinched or clogged | Clean, repair or replace | |
| Poor thermocouple connection | Check and tighten | |
| Air in gas line | Purge air from gas line | |
| Thermostat’s single use ECO is tripped | Check ECO and replace gas valve | |
| Gas valve defective | Check gas valve | |
| Pilot does not stay lit | Poor thermocouple connection | Tighten connection at gas valve |
| Thermocouple defective | Check thermocouple and replace | |
| Thermocouple not in pilot flame | Move tip of thermocouple so it is immersed in pilot flame | |
| Defective safety magnet assembly | Check magnet and replace gas valve | |
| Venting downdraft (or other improper draft) | Check for proper up draft venting. Check for other drafts that could blow out the pilot light | |
| Clogged flue | Inspect and clean flue way | |
| Pilot partially clogged | Inspect and clean supply tube and pilot burner | |
| Improper gas pressure | Check and adjust supply side | |
| Main burner will not stay lit | Low gas pressure | Check gas supply pressure |
| Main burner orifice clogged | Clean or replace | |
| Main burner supply tube clogged or pinched | Clean, repair or replace | |
| Defective magnet assembly | Check and replace gas control valve | |
| Defective thermocouple | Check and replace | |
| Poor thermocouple connection | Inspect and tighten | |
| Defective main valve | Replace gas control valve | |
| Improper venting | Check venting for proper sizing and down drafts | |
| Scale on burner and pilot assemblies | Condensation | Excessive condensation caused by undersized heater, poor venting or continued use |
| Contaminated atmosphere | Check for contaminant causing chemicals near the heater | |
| Sooting | Combustion air inlets or flueway is restricted | Remove obstruction or debris from heater or flueway |
| Not enough combustion or ventilation air supplied to room | Improve combustion air or ventilation air supply | |
| Improper gas pressure | Check and adjust | |
| Burner orifice dirty | Inspect and clean | |
| Yellow flame | Scale on top of burner | Shut off heater; allow to cool; clean burner plate |
| Burner orifice dirty | Inspect and clean | |
| Flue way clogged | Inspect and clean | |
| Improper gas pressure | Check and adjust | |
| Burner flame noisy (whistling) | Improper gas pressure | Check and adjust |
| Burner orifice dirty | Inspect and clean | |
| Burner flame floats | Improper gas pressure | Check and adjust |
| Wrong orifice | Install correct orifice | |
| Clogged flue | Inspect and clean flue way | |
| Burner flame too high | Improper gas pressure | Check and adjust |
| Wrong orifice | Install correct orifice | |
| Water too hot (follow by pilot outage) | Thermostat setting too high | Adjust thermostat to lower setting |
| Thermostat out of calibration | Check and replace thermostat | |
| Slow hot water recovery | Burner orifice clogged | Check and clean |
| Excessive drafts | Locate and eliminate drafts | |
| Clogged flue | Clean flue chamber | |
| Improper gas pressure | Check and adjust | |
| Noisy water heater (rumbling and sizzling) | Scale or sediment build up in bottom of tank | Clean tank |
| Baffles loose | Reset and tighten | |
| Condensation on main burner | Inspect for condensation (normal) and tank leaks | |
| Excessive relief valve operation | Excessive water pressure | Install proper pressure reducing valve on cold side Check for open or closed system. Install expansion tank. |
| Excessive temperature | Check thermostat; lower setting or replace | |
| Rusty or black water | Anode rod dissolved | Check anode rod and replace |
| Excessive sediment build-up | Drain tank; replace tank if sediment build up is excessive | |
| Water heater is leaking (Gas water heaters produce condensation that may drip on the floor. Condensation will produce only a few drips or small puddles that evaporate.) | Cold in or hot out joints | Check joint and repair |
| T&P valve | Check valve and replace Caution: Do not confuse normal T&P operation as a leaking tank. If the puddle dries up, then look for a T&P problem. | |
| Immersion thermostat or anode rod is loose | Check, tighten and replace | |
| Inner tank has a pin hole | Replace water heater (When diagnosing a leaker – you will notice a puddle of water on the floor, next to the heater, that will not go away.) | |