What does a flammable vapor sensor do?
The sensor is required to detect flammable vapors in less than a minute after a spill enabling the gas valve control module to prevent the supply of gas and burner ignition. It is a passive device that requires no power and continually senses for vapors.
How do you reset a flammable vapor sensor Rheem?
Turn the water heater’s gas valve switch to the “OFF” position, wait for a few seconds and then flip the switch to the “ON” position to reset the system. The water heater’s gas valve is located near the bottom of the unit and connects to your home’s natural gas line.
What does flammable vapor sensor lockout mean?
What is a Flammable Vapor (FV) Sensor? FV Sensors are safety devices on select models of water heaters, which cause a soft lockout (a.k.a. the unit shuts down) when flammable vapors are detected near the unit, to prevent the possibility of their ignition.
How many ohms should a flammable vapor sensor have?
After it cooled down, it should read between 7k and 25k Ohm in the absence of vapors. You may get it to reset if it reads under 45k Ohm, but it probably would trip again.
How do you bypass a flame sensor on a water heater?
We have a different solution:
- Remove the access cover on the furnace.
- Locate the flame sensor.
- Cut the power to the furnace.
- Shut off the gas control valve.
- Take out the flame sensor by removing the mounting screw.
- Examine the part to see if it’s compromised, either by damage or dirtiness.
What can trip a flammable vapor sensor?
The FV sensor is located on front of many water heaters today. The sensor will trip if it senses gasoline vapors in the air. It does not respond to other types of flammable vapors. Research shows that gasoline is the most common cause of fire or explosion caused by water heater.
How do you reset a GSW water heater?
If water temperature in the tank reaches 180°F, the manual reset hi-limit switch will be tripped. This switch can be reset by firmly pushing the red button above the upper thermostat.
How often should a flame sensor be replaced?
Flame sensor lifespan If you’ve just replaced the sensor or had a new furnace installed, you can expect the flame sensor to last for about five years. The average lifespan of a furnace is 15 to 30 years, so you can anticipate a flame sensor replacement once or twice over the course of your homeownership.
Can a flame sensor be bypassed?
You won’t find steps to bypass the flame sensor anywhere. While some furnace technicians claim to know how to do it on some furnaces (newer furnaces won’t allow it), there is no commonly understood way to do it.
Are flammable vapor sensors interchangeable?
While it’s very likely that one manufacturers flammable vapor sensor may interchange on another brand of tank, I think it’s highly unlikely that EVERY manufacturers sensor will work on every other brand of tank.
Why do I have to keep hitting the reset button on my water heater?
In some cases, the water heater reset button will repeatedly trip. This is a warning sign of a larger issue such as a faulty thermostat, loose wiring, corroded parts, a grounding problem, or a malfunctioning high limit switch.
Why does my hot water heater need to be reset?
If your water heater loses power, your water heater’s reset button can be used to turn the appliance back on. However, your reset button serves as a safety device and turns the unit off when the water temperature gets too hot.
How much does a flame sensor cost?
Flame Sensor It stops your furnace from letting off large amounts of natural gas if it’s not working properly. If the sensor is bad, it won’t be able to sense heat and will turn the furnace off. The average cost to repair or replace a flame sensor is between $75–$200.
Will furnace run without flame sensor?
Without the flame sensor, if the pilot light goes out but the gas valve remains open, the gas will not burn and will seep out of the furnace. This is a dangerous situation that can result in gas poisoning or even an explosion.