Have a few questions concerning the valve on our water heater. It is in our
mobile home and is about 6 years old. The wife got hot water for about 1/2
bathtub of water. I went out to look at the heater and the pilot was going
but not the burner. I started rapping on the valve and thermostat housing
and the burner came on. So apparently the valve was stuck. So now my
questions:
1) Is this a sign of more frequent problems?
2) Can this housing, valve and thermostat be replaced easily, or at all? If
so is it worth it on a 6 year old heater?
3) If the valve can stick closed, can it stick open allowing the burner to
keep burning?
Thanks for your input here, I know little about this.

--
Paul O.

Paul O. wrote:

Have a few questions concerning the valve on our water heater. It is in our
mobile home and is about 6 years old. The wife got hot water for about 1/2
bathtub of water. I went out to look at the heater and the pilot was going
but not the burner. I started rapping on the valve and thermostat housing
and the burner came on. So apparently the valve was stuck. So now my
questions:
1) Is this a sign of more frequent problems?
2) Can this housing, valve and thermostat be replaced easily, or at all? If
so is it worth it on a 6 year old heater?
3) If the valve can stick closed, can it stick open allowing the burner to
keep burning?
Thanks for your input here, I know little about this.


You're right to be concerned. The valve could just as easily
stick open.

The complete control is indeed replaceable, but on a 6yr old
heater not cost-effective IMHO. The control alone will cost you
close to $100. That's a good fraction of a new heater cost.
Gas heaters have an average life of 10 yrs.

Jim

"Paul O." wrote in message

1) Is this a sign of more frequent problems?

Yes.


2) Can this housing, valve and thermostat be replaced easily, or at all?
If so is it worth it on a 6 year old heater?

Probably. Check prices and you will find it much less than a new heater and
it can last you another 10 y ears or so.


3) If the valve can stick closed, can it stick open allowing the burner to
keep burning?

Less likely but anything is possible. Replace it and have peace of mind.

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
...

"Paul O." wrote in message

1) Is this a sign of more frequent problems?

Yes.


2) Can this housing, valve and thermostat be replaced easily, or at all?
If so is it worth it on a 6 year old heater?

Probably. Check prices and you will find it much less than a new heater
and it can last you another 10 y ears or so.


Thanks. Just looking at Lowe's site and they have a thermostat for less
than 50 bucks. Just might be worth replacing. I will go take a look
tomorrow.
--
Paul O.

Why do you want to heat hot water?

"Oscar_Lives" wrote in message
news:1g0wf.691156$_o.142938@attbi_s71...
Why do you want to heat hot water?
Shoulda known this would be coming. :-)
--
Paul O.

http://www.waterheaterrescue.com/pag...hot-water.html

There's a good chance it will happen again, and with more frequency. There's
also a slight chance that a little piece of dirt got in there, and you
dislodged it. This happens once in a while, especially when there's no 'drip
leg' installed on the gas piping. Call a repairman and ask the price to
repair or replace your water heater. The life expectancy of a water heater
depends a lot on the water in your area and capacity vs. demand. You might
want to wait to see if it happens again before making a final decision. If
you decide to replace the whole thing, consider an energy efficient model
that uses a lot less gas.

"Paul O." wrote in message
om...
Have a few questions concerning the valve on our water heater. It is in
our
mobile home and is about 6 years old. The wife got hot water for about 1/2
bathtub of water. I went out to look at the heater and the pilot was going
but not the burner. I started rapping on the valve and thermostat housing
and the burner came on. So apparently the valve was stuck. So now my
questions:
1) Is this a sign of more frequent problems?
2) Can this housing, valve and thermostat be replaced easily, or at all?
If
so is it worth it on a 6 year old heater?
3) If the valve can stick closed, can it stick open allowing the burner to
keep burning?
Thanks for your input here, I know little about this.

--
Paul O.

"Bob" wrote in message
...
There's a good chance it will happen again, and with more frequency.
There's
also a slight chance that a little piece of dirt got in there, and you
dislodged it. This happens once in a while, especially when there's no
'drip
leg' installed on the gas piping. Call a repairman and ask the price to
repair or replace your water heater. The life expectancy of a water heater
depends a lot on the water in your area and capacity vs. demand. You might
want to wait to see if it happens again before making a final decision. If
you decide to replace the whole thing, consider an energy efficient model
that uses a lot less gas.

Lowe's has a 40 gallon heater for mobile homes for $248.00 which isn't a
bad price. Our current heater is a 50 gallon, but there is just the two of
us so think the 40 gallon would be sufficient. I would like to find one
with an electric ignition so it at least it isn't using gas for the pilot
light all the time. Haven't heard of one like that so don't know if they
are made with the electronic ingition. I also want to find out also what
if any gas co. rebates are available for new more efficient heaters.
--
Paul O.

"Paul O." wrote in message
us so think the 40 gallon would be sufficient. I would like to find one
with an electric ignition so it at least it isn't using gas for the pilot
light all the time.

Not a factor with a water heater. If your house heater is not being used
for days or months, there is no reason to keep a pilot light burning. If
you are not using the oven for hours or day, there is no reason to keep a
pilot light burning. Hot water, OTOH, is kept hot and ready to go at all
times. The pilot light will give off some heat to maintain temperature
between uses, thus, very little if any real loss. If not for the pilot, the
burner would cycle on and off more frequently.

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
. ..

"Paul O." wrote in message
us so think the 40 gallon would be sufficient. I would like to find one
with an electric ignition so it at least it isn't using gas for the
pilot light all the time.

Not a factor with a water heater. If your house heater is not being used
for days or months, there is no reason to keep a pilot light burning. If
you are not using the oven for hours or day, there is no reason to keep a
pilot light burning. Hot water, OTOH, is kept hot and ready to go at all
times. The pilot light will give off some heat to maintain temperature
between uses, thus, very little if any real loss. If not for the pilot,
the burner would cycle on and off more frequently.
That sounds reasonable Ed, guess that's why I'm not seeing heaters with
electronic igniters. Thanks.
--
Paul O.

Thanks for the link. Appreciate it.

--
Paul O.



"buffalobill" wrote in message
oups.com...
http://www.waterheaterrescue.com/pag...hot-water.html