Brand new water heater. Gas turned off. Tick ticking to light for two days. Bad?

jkeuning · 10-28-2011, 03:26 PM

Got the water heater installed. HVAC contractor shuts off the gas for a 24 hour pressure test. Does not unplug the water heater. I notice it trying to light the pilot light incessantly. Should I be concerned about premature damage? Or no big deal?

raylo32 · 10-28-2011, 04:05 PM

Never heard of a 24 hour "pressure test" for a new water heater. If the connections aren't leaking now they won't be leaking in 24 hours.

If it was me I'd unplug the cord or just turn it off until you are ready to open the gas valve and start heating some water. The electrics won't affect any "pressure test".

jkeuning · 10-28-2011, 04:11 PM

The gas lines in the house were re-done, most of the HVAC is brand new. I think that is why we did the pressure test.

The test is done, the gas is back on.

My concern is for the water heater and if it got messed up.

biggles · 10-28-2011, 04:27 PM

no damage that ticking is like your stove when you turn the burner on just a short spark and looking for some gas tostart the cycle..should come right on once the gas is at the valve.

Thadius856 · 10-28-2011, 04:37 PM

That ticking is a voltage being passed through a piezoelectric crystal.

The likelihood of damage is very low over the course of a day.

Edit: Unless electronically lit, which could very well be the case.

ANA12 · 10-29-2011, 09:24 PM

Whirpool energy smart water heater with a 12 year warranty, sounded real good until it started turning off. It has a control panel flame lock. Any way we changed out the upper sensor, then it said the tank was over heating, then the pilot wouldn't light. I went online and read horror stories about this particular model ( they are not making them anymore. I called whirlpool first thing told the lady that I had called 10 times and my husband was about to take the water heater that was 8 months old back to Lowes. Well she said hold on then came back and gave me a number for an even exchange. I didn't even need my reciept. They exchanged it for a new model that replaced the LEMON. I thought I would pass on the news if I hadn't read about all the problems I might still be trying to fix the old one.

Thadius856 · 10-29-2011, 09:39 PM

Sounds like you got the star treatment.