American water heater LH thread thermocouple

wcs5050

Anyone ever seen it or had to get one?

STEAM DOCTOR

Yes. I have not done one in a few years. But if you call the manufacturer I believe they will ship one to you. At least as of a few years ago

mattmia2

Try Baso if that doesn't work.

wcs5050

Tried this method someone posted somewhere… Dremeled a slot on old LH bushing and put on new TC. Worked great.

IMG_7995.jpeg

HVACNUT

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/201083/american-water-heater-lh-thread-thermocouple

Yes, Bradford White, or State. Stupidest thing I ever saw in my life.

EBEBRATT-Ed

That is stupid. Never ran into that.

What are they thinking? Trying to keep the HO from changing it.

ethicalpaul

Or trying to force sales of theirs rather than generic?

Lyle {pheloa} Carter

I've sold a few american hot water heaters, I used to stock the left hand thermal couple. The reason they used to left hand thermal couple is because the thermal safety switch for the FVIR water heater was part of the thermalcouple. The thermal switch would overheat if the flame arrester became blocked.

This was the only safety on these early flame arrestor units. If you have reused to bushing or used one of the adapters sold on Amazon to install a normal thermal couple you're eliminating the only safety on this burner.

ethicalpaul

well OK but that too was a design choice, possibly to make people buy their parts but what do I know

HVACNUT

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1853056#Comment_1853056

The one I saw was on the east end of Long Island. I didn't have a replacement, so I turned it in for a follow-up. The next time I was there, remodeling was being done, and the contractor replaced the whole water heater. And it had a normal American 🇺🇸 thermocouple. But it was an LP water heater, and the first thing I saw when I pulled up and the gate opened, was the rough for a new nat gas meter.