Troubleshooting Rheem water heater with Honeywell control valve

BekSpur87

I have a 40 gallon Rheem water heater that is driving me crazy. It was working until I moved it. Since the move it would spark but the pilot would not light. I cleaned out the pilot assembly and burner. After putting it back together the pilot will light but the burner will not. Based on research I believed the thermopile needed to be replaced. I tested it and it would go up about 750 millivolts. I replaced it because I did not know what else to do. Prior to that I could not get the light to blink at all. Now it blinks 5, 7, 5, and 3. It repeats that cycle until the thermopile cools after I release the button. I can not find anything regarding this blinking cycle. What else can I do? I have now replaced the ignition switch and the pilot tube. As well as the internal temperature sensor. I tried the trick to test ventilation by seeing if smoke is pulled up the vent and it is. I have drained it through the pressure relief valve and than I refilled it. I cleaned the screen on the bottom and inside the boiler chamber. The gas valve tests good with a multimeter. I appreciate any help and suggestions that I can get.

dko

Read attachment, most likely the cause of the current issue. What caused it to blow is another. Unless this is what you meant by internal temperature sensor.

When you say move, you mean you moved the venting, gas piping, and water piping as well?

If TRD glass bulb is intact, take photo of installation

pedmec

We are going to need the model number of your water heater. there are different gas valves and gas trains that are used for VFIR systems on water heaters. no one size fits all

HVACNUT

"The gas valve tests good with a multimeter."???

750mv on the thermocouple? Should be 25-30mv.

109A_5

Hello @BekSpur87,
Is this the newer plastic housing gas valve type ? Blue flashing LED = OK, Red when error codes ?
My manual does not have a code 3
5 = Temperature Sensor Failure
7 = Gas Control or Valve Failure

Yours may be different. Is it still under warranty ?

aperryman1

I’m having a similar issue but it doesn’t seem like the thermostat is releasing gas into the furnace after the pilot is lite.

HVACNUT

Can you post a pic of the valve? Piot is on, but no main burner?

Lyle {pheloa} Carter

A lot of these manufacturers are having problems with the new millivolt gas valves. I've had to replace five in the past two years, for 5 of my customers. Contact the manufacturer. They may hook you up with a new gas valve , if you have one of the series that they're having problems with.