hot water heater trouble

[bignose]

This is a sealed unit with plastic tubes.

[wingedfish]

Power vented then. Clean your flame sensor. They usually suck to get to.

[globaldesigns]

Does it try to turn on, then shut down?

Mine did this once, i took out the thermal sensor and cleaned it with emery paper, put it back and it worked fine ever since. As TimT stated, it is a rod held by a couple screws

[The Codfather]

Hey Jason,
check to see if the vent or intake has closed off do to the condensate. I assume the tank is a mid eff. and has been side walled? With the sudden drop in temperature over the last week, it may have chocked off the intake or vent. If they are clear, probably the thermocouple. LMK, if I can help.

[bignose]

Originally Posted by The Codfather

Hey Jason,
check to see if the vent or intake has closed off do to the condensate. I assume the tank is a mid eff. and has been side walled? With the sudden drop in temperature over the last week, it may have chocked off the intake or vent. If they are clear, probably the thermocouple. LMK, if I can help.

What do you mean by side walled?
edit - This has happened last year when it was really cold.

[Cal_stir]

if it is a power vented unit then there will be 1 or 2 pressure switches that determine if the vent is venting properly, one of the most common problems is a blocked condensate drain that allows water to backup in the pipe causing a blockage in the vent which causes the unit to shut down, in this case, the unit ussually starts briefly and then shuts down

[The Codfather]

Jason,
Give me a call, I'm at home right now with a sick kid but can probably walk you through it.