Rheem water heater question

lthiesen

I installed a Rheem 50 gal high recovery water heater 6 months ago and it has already burned up one thermocouple. When the burner is on the burner flame hits the tip of the thermocouple as does the pilot, this makes the thermocouple tip glow bright red and I think overheat. The gas pressure is 3.5 inches of water colum and I do not see a way to move the pilot position.Does anyone make a thermocouple that will take the higher temp?Thanks

chris_24

the

unit might have been bumped during shipment or installation. you can bend the bracket slightly to move the thermocouple out of the direct flame. If the thermocouple is in the direct burner flame, and getting cherry red, they burn out very quickly.

also if it did get bumped during shipment, make sure the burner sits level.

make sure the pilot flame hits the thermocouple on the upper portion (about 1/2 inch), the burner flame should not touch the thermocouple.

Heatermon

Rheem thermocouples

As a Rheem dealer I can tell you from personal experience that they are having a problem. Technically, it's a Robert-Shaw product so they are having the problem. Currently, we are using Johnstone Supply's labeled thermocouple and they seem to be a little more heavy duty, especially at the tip. The "scuttlebut" I hear from my sources is that they were "experimenting" with a cheaper made product and it's came back to bite them in the you know where. Good luck with your problem.

Heatermon

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Unknown

Is this water heater

one with the FVIR technology?

lthiesen

No it is the old style, no sealed burner compartment. Purchased and installed just before the burners were changed.

Unknown

Try a Johnson

high temp thermocouple K16RA nickel plated. It may not however fit the pilot bracket as it is a heavier thermocouple.

You might also try putting a metal shield around the pilot to deflect the main burner away from the tip of the thermocouple. Be sure and do a pilot safety turn down test after you do that however. That will make sure you have good ignition.

Mark Hunt

Have you tested


the water heater with a combustion analyzer?

Mark H

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GEO_3

Hate to sound like an isolationist but since thermocouples started showing up with the words Made in Mexico on the package they haven't been worth a damn. It's gotten a little better but it's still a coin toss. Havent run the numbers but I'll bet 1/2 of the thermocouples I put in this winter won't last a year. And yes I always clean the pilot when I change a thermocouple'