Have dual NG 40 gallon water heaters in series. the first in line stopped staying lit, so I had a plumber come look at it. He told me the intake screen was clogged and couldn't be cleaned, so he drilled new air holes in the front access/inspection/service panel. Didn't solve anything, and after an hour of screwing with good money after bad I told him to stop, I'd just replace the unit. I then asked him to clean the second (final) WH that was working just fine. Just sort of a PM thought. He did, and elected to knock out the glass viewing panel for "better air", cleaned the thermocouple, and sort of knocked off rust from the burner toops.
Not that unit won't still lit. The pilot lights, and it stays lit as long as I want. But if I turn the burners on (take the unit out of "vacation") it will light up and run happily until heat demand is statisfied. Then it shuts off the main burner and the pilot with it. Not a split second of difference. I can relight, and its fine until the main burner is called for again. then it runs, statisfies, and everything goes out again.
What am I seeing? It doesn't seem to be a dirty thermocouple (I had him clean it) since the pilot stays lit. I seems to get air just fine, for the burner flame looks good.
Obviously I'm not too inclined to call said plumber back. Just more good money after bad. But I'd sure like to have hot water for a few days while I decide if I replace both unit's or put in a tankless system.
Thoughts?
Thanks for any suggestions!
-d
Not that unit won't still lit. The pilot lights, and it stays lit as long as I want. But if I turn the burners on (take the unit out of "vacation") it will light up and run happily until heat demand is statisfied. Then it shuts off the main burner and the pilot with it. Not a split second of difference. I can relight, and its fine until the main burner is called for again. then it runs, statisfies, and everything goes out again.
What am I seeing? It doesn't seem to be a dirty thermocouple (I had him clean it) since the pilot stays lit. I seems to get air just fine, for the burner flame looks good.
Obviously I'm not too inclined to call said plumber back. Just more good money after bad. But I'd sure like to have hot water for a few days while I decide if I replace both unit's or put in a tankless system.
Thoughts?
Thanks for any suggestions!
-d
