I thought it was going to be "another Sunday"

[Dj2]

I got a text early this morning. It was from a tenant, so I pay for everything.
"We have no hot water".
I replied "be there asap".

I arrived at the house, there is no flame, no pilot, water is cold. This is a 5 year old water heater.
Tried to get the pilot going...it lit up and stayed on. Got the burner on - great!
Waited 15 mins...the flame stopped, the pilot was out.
Tried again...same result.

I pulled the burner unit out. Noticed a dirty flame sensor, cleaned it well. Checked the burn chamber and venting situation... good. I would like to change the thermopile generator, but can't get a new one under warranty on Sunday morning. A new Honeywell thermopile generator is probably around $55. Repeated the light up process again...pilot is on. Great. Burner is on. Great.

Waited 30 mins...still working.

I told the tenant to let me know what happens next, and left. Took 2 hours.

Now the numbers: To do a replacement job - A new burner assembly $420. A new Honeywell gas valve $180. Total $600. That's my cost if customer service doesn't send me a new thermopile.

A new (dented and fully warranted) natural gas 40 gal water heater at Pyramid wholesale plumbing $400.

Only in America.

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

you should be able to get a honeywell valve for about 100 bucks at barnettes... the generic thermopyle cost about 50 bucks...

you ar enot gonna get them today and the waiting time to get the parts for free will be probably about a week to 10 days...

all the trouble you are gonna go through is PRICELESS....


Its cheaper just to bite the bullet and get another heater.... I suggest a Rheem from a plumbing supplier that has the heavy duty robert shaw gas control and old fashioned thermocoupling on it


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[Sponsor]

 

[Dj2]

"all the trouble you are gonna go through is PRICELESS...."

Mark, now you know what it takes to run a successful and profitable rental operation.

I won't get new parts, unless I get them for free. If this heater fails later today, I will go there and replace it (I have 4 WHs in my storage in Ready...Set...Go condition to be 'deployed').

Hey Mark, I've never tried this before, I wonder if it would work: take out the gas valve and burner assembly and put in used ones instead (mutually matching of course). Do you follow me? What do you think?

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

I would rather just change the heater instead of risking a fire or troubles with changeing parts