This is a complete guide on Rheem power vent water heater troubleshooting. In this guide, we will break down these common Rheem water heater problems:
- Condensation
- Yellow flame or soot
- Unable to light the main burner
- The main burner doesn’t stay lit
- Water heater power vent not working
- And a lot
Indeed, you can learn how to troubleshoot Rheem electric water heaters. In other words, you don’t need to call customer service if you read this entire troubleshooting guide. So, let’s dive deeper, shall we?
Table of Contents
- Rheem Power Vent Water Heater Troubleshooting: 9 Simple Solutions
- How To Drain Rheem Power Vent Water Heater
- End-Notes
Rheem Power Vent Water Heater Troubleshooting: 9 Simple Solutions
The power vent water heater will start malfunctioning over time. And it will be not time-saving as well as wallet saving if you call customer service for a minor problem. From this part, you can learn how to detect a specific problem of the Rheem water heater and fix the issue.
01. Condensation
Condensation is a common water heater problem. It happens when you fill your water heater for the first time. Additionally, moisture from the products of combustion condenses on your heater tank surface. Also, condensation will occur if you use an undersized water heater.
Solution:
The condensation will disappear when the water in the tank gets warm. If the problem persists, inspect all the fittings & pipings for a leak. Don’t forget to pick the right size water heater that will meet your requirements.
02. Yellow Flame or Soot
Scale on top of the burner is the main culprit behind this issue. A restricted flue or combustion air inlets opening is also responsible for the yellow flame. Turns out, the water heater location gets no sufficient combustion or ventilation air supply that will cause this problem.
Solution:
Hire a qualified service technician to remove the scale on top of the burner. If the flue or combustion air inlets opening gets blocked by debris, remove the blockage. Sufficient ventilation or air supply is required to operate the water heater optimally. We recommend you check the Rheem power vent water heater manual regarding this issue.
03. Unable to Light the Main Burner
You fail to light up your main burner for the following reasons:
- Air in the gas line
- You can’t position the Gas Control Knob correctly.
- The vent pipe or exhaust gets blocked
- Pressure switch issue
- Loose wire connection
- Gas control issue
Solution:
Purge the air from the gas line. You can hire a certified technician to do this task for you. Also, position the gas control knob correctly by hiring a professional technician.
Next, inspect the vent pipe or exhaust for a clog. If there is any blockage, release it. Afterward, ensure the pressure switch hose doesn’t get kinked. Call a certified electrician to inspect all the wire connections.
Lastly, contact a certified service technician to solve the gas control problem.
04. Main Burner Doesn’t Stay Lit
Rheem power vent water heater keeps shutting off or the main burner doesn’t stay lit is another issue you will encounter. A defective thermostat prevents your water from turning on. Therefore, a tripped combustion shut-off device is responsible for not lighting up the main burner.
Solution:
Replacing the thermostat on your water heater will be an easy fix to the water heater problem. If you are not mechanically inclined, call customer service to change the thermostat for you.
Inspect the combustion shut-off device by a certified technician. If needed, replace the shut-off valve.
05. Rumbling Noise
The Rheem Water Heater will make a rumbling noise if there is scale & sediment buildup in the tank.
Solution:
Draining water can easily remove scale and sediment from the water heater tank. If you don’t know how to drain water, continue to read as we covered it at the bottom part of this article.
06. Relief valve producing popping noise
Thermal expansion in a closed water system is the caveat behind producing a popping noise. Due to this reason, the temperature and the pressure relief valve on the water heater discharges periodically.
Solution:
It is an unacceptable condition and you need to correct it. Regarding this, contact the water supplier or your plumber on how to correct this issue. And of course, never plug the relief valve outlet.
07. Not Enough Hot Water
You will get no hot water from your Rheem power vent water heater if:
- The gas pressure is low
- You may set the temperature too low
- Water usage may exceed the capacity of the water heater
- Open hot water faucets
- You may forget to plug the blower
Solution:
Follow the below troubleshooting steps to fix the water heater issue:
- Inspect the gas supply pressure and the manifold pressure.
- Adjust the temperature setting
- Wait for your water heater to let it recover after an abnormal demand.
- Ensure all the hot water faucets are closed.
- Plugin the blower.
- Lastly, don’t forget to check the Rheem power vent water heater troubleshooting codes
08. Water Is Too Hot
You may set the thermostat too high which produces excessive hot water. Therefore, a faulty gas control or defective thermostat is responsible for too hot water.
Solution:
You should adjust the temperature setting to fix this issue. If you don’t know how to adjust the water temperature, check the Rheem water heater manual. Otherwise, you need to replace the thermostat if it gets defective.
09. Rheem power vent 2 water heater blinking red light
If the red light blinks two times between three-second intervals, we bet the pressure switch has failed.
Solution:
Correct the pressure switch wiring. If needed, you should replace the pressure switch. We recommend you download the error code information of the water heater manual. It will give you an insight into the flashing red lights.
Read Details: Rheem Water Heater Blinking Red Light
How To Drain Rheem Power Vent Water Heater
Don’t know how to flush a Rheem water heater? Then, check out the below steps to flush your Rheem water heater.
Firstly, ensure you have the following equipment at your fingertips:
- A flat blade screwdriver
- A garden hose
- Knee-high stocking
- Rubber band or wire tie
Before starting the flushing workflow, ensure you turn off power to the water heater at the circuit breaker.
Secondly, fasten a length of garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater. Run the other end of the hose to the nearest floor drain or outside the home.
Then, close the shut-off valve at the cold water inlet line. Open a hot water faucet somewhere in the house that will relieve the system pressure inside the tank.
Now, open the drain valve and allow the water to drain. Keep in mind; the water will be hot. So, ensure there is no one near the drain hose. Otherwise, they may get scalded.
Note: We recommend you slide a knee-high stocking over the end of the hose. Then, use a rubber band or a wire tie to hold it in place. This mesh is fine enough to capture tiny particles of scale or sediment.
You need to drain 3-5 gallons of water for proper flushing. Close the drain valve and remove the garden hose when the water stops.
Again, open a hot water faucet somewhere in the home and open the cold water shut-off valve at the cold water inlet line. You will hear the heater start filling when you have a steady stream of water from the open faucet.
Turn off the faucet when the heater gets filled with water. Then, turn the power on at the circuit breaker.
Finally, inspect the drain valve one more time to ensure it’s tightly closed.
End-Notes
You can fix the common water heater issues by reading this entire guide on Rheem power vent water heater troubleshooting. However, this water heater incorporates a combustion shut-off device. If there are flammable vapors or blockage in the combustion air inlet openings, don’t hesitate to reach out to the customer service.
Eric Alvarez is an HVAC guy based in El Paso, Texas, United States. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from the University Of Texas at El Paso. Years of experience in the HVAC field have taught him many lessons, not the least of which is that the value of quality and knowledge far exceeds any promised initial savings. He has a good standing reputation for superior skills in heating, air conditioning, hot water tanks, and indoor air quality systems.
