Hi. I have a Rheem Power Vent hot water heater, model PVW50-36FV, that won't turn on. The far right and left LED lights indicate the FV sensor detected the presence of flammable vapors. The unit is shut down and in lockout mode. How do I unlock this baby? Checked the sensor and it's within normal operating range so I don't think it's a problem with the sensor. Any help would be appreciated.

Reset main power.

Hi,
Tried that. Nada. Also tried various code combinations. Also nothing. Replaced gas control valve, just in case that was the issue... still nothing. Any ideas as to what I might try next? What if I replaced the gas control and the electronic control module? Think that might do it?

I believe you are tossing $$$ at the problem instead of actually repairing it. If you replace all the parts it should work. LOL. Why not just buy a new heater?

Note to you

These units have been known to be a pain in the a$$. Last one I serviced one was two years ago and it was the HSI ignitor. Replaced HSI and still works great.

How did the unit get into lock out to start with?

Factory is cooperative. Call service and ask intelligent questions to get answers to your problem.

Is your venting correct?

http://waterheating.rheem.com/conten...as/RHPVGas.pdf

Hi,
Yes, I suppose I am going about this the wrong way. The unit is less than a month old; installed 3 weeks ago, and someone who shall remain nameless was painting in the basement with no ventilation which triggered the gas vapor sensor which shut the unit down and now it seems to be in lockout. Despite 3 visits from the guy who installed it we're still without hot water. Who should have these codes to unlock it?

Just out of the blue question.

Does the valve on your water heater look like this?

A O SMITH WATER HEATER GAS VALVE WHITE RODGERS *NEW* - eBay (item 320299600062 end time Sep-24-08 14:14:15 PDT)

The water heater you have also has a flame safeguard system.

http://waterheating.rheem.com/conten...Contractor.pdf

Your next phone call should be to the Rheem factory to see who in your area has got factory training on that unit. It has a one time flame safeguard trip control and a bunch of other safety stuff. Above is a parts list for all the units and yours is included, Good luck and I hope you can get it reset.

Hopefully by now your problem has been solved but I had the same problem on a new water heater (3 weeks). I had my wood floors refinished which I believe caused the water heater to go to lock out. I found the previous answers helpful in leading my to the following site. Find the LED light code and read the reset procedure... I'm not sure why they didn't include this in my manual but hopefully it helps someone else out there:

http://www.hotwater.com/bulletin/TB-A028-06.pdf

Damn. That is indeed just what my unit looks like, and had I seen this in time I would have snapped it up. Ended up having to replace the control unit (for the mentioned $400+) and it's now working fine, but I do appreciate the link to the manual with the unlock sequence. Here's hoping that helps if we ever find ourselves in this position again. Thanks for all the great info. :)

Follow reset procedures on the bottom of page 9... for flammable vapor lockout it truly works! :)

http://backyardman.com/uploads/rheem_control.pdf

Follow reset procedures on the bottom of page 9... for flammable vapor lockout it truly works! :)

http://backyardman.com/uploads/rheem_control.pdf

The reset procedures from Homeboy24 were amazing - it took only one try for my unit to be reset! (and I had tried other options with no luck). This works.

Verified and greatly appreciated - tyvm!!

Spoke with Rheem today. Here is the proper pattern for resetting your Rheem Powervent Water heater with intellivent control when the Flammable Vapor Sensor trips. 1. Shut off water heater for ten seconds 2. Turn on water heater and within 10 seconds press and hold both of the adjustment arrows at the same time until the green light blinks. Take finger off arrows. 3. Enter this sequence with the left/right arrows: L, R, L, L, R, L, R, R. 4. Valve will reset almost immediately and in a few seconds you will have flame.

Resetting your Intellivent control after tripping your Flammable Vapor Sensor on your Rheem PowerVent water heater. 1. turn off the power switch for at least 10 seconds. 2. Turn on and within 10 seconds press and hold both adjustment arrows at same time until the green light blinks. 3. Release the arrows. 4. Within 10 seconds enter the following left/right arrow sequence: L, R, L, L, R, L, R, R. 5. Valve will reset almost immediately and in a few seconds the pilot flame will kick on. Did it today and it worked on the first shot. Good Luck to all.

Worked like a charm! Thanks.

I tried the code, nothing, I could smell very faint gas, go I put a bag over the sensor (dangerous to do) and tried again, nothing. I got some soapy water, found and fixed the leak, then tried the code, nothing. I took the sensor off and it read problem with sensor. I cleaned the sensor with water, let it dry, put it back on, and it started without needing to enter the code.

Thanks all for your responses guys. The tech who installed my heater didn't have that little booklet from Rheem with the reset instructions so I ended up buying a whole new unit to get this thing up and running so now I do have those detailed instructions that Homeboy24 mentioned and louieg1129 graciously shared and they do indeed work.

However, my latest problem is that I'm now getting an Error 6 code on the display. I've followed the steps in the troubleshooting guide, but the unit will not run through more than one cycle before going back to the Error 6 code. This is what it said to do and this is what I did...

1. Check to see if gas supply is too low to operate... My other gas appliances (furnace, dryer) are working fine so I'm assuming the gas supply is okay, but is there a way to check?

2. Check the flame sense rod to see that it is located properly and free of contamination... There was a lot of dust in there so we removed it and cleaned it and put it back.

3. The Hot Surface Iginitor may not be positioned on the burner correctly... Checked using their specs to make sure it was.

4. Low voltage to the water heater... Verified that the ignitor was glowing when on, so no issue there.


It still won't stay on for more than one cycle and I have to keep resetting it. Ideas anyone?

Thanks a millions, You just saved me from getting more sick after getting out from five long of cold flu. At least I can enjoy a hot shower etc. thanks a lot again.

I have a Richmond Hot Water Heater and I am wondering if I can put a resistor in place of the FVS?