Hot Water Heater - Any way to increase air flow INTO a sealed combustion chamber. No other restrictions.?

Question

The unit is 13 months old and sits in an open basement. Distanced far enough away from everything. It vents fine. Air flows freely through clean and otherwise not restricted intake vents. All else is fine. Correct natural gas pressure. The burner is new and operating as intended. The thermostat, also new, works fine. The only thing I'm looking to do is to increase air flow in. Any suggestions?

Thank you Frosty. I should point out that the problem I'm having is that the flame is orange and does not sufficiently hit the water to the proper temperature. However, all else has been ruled out as the cause: low gas pressure, poor venting, bad thermostat, shower head too strong, in too tight a space, house sealed tight, burner bad, thermocoupler bad, dip tube failure, too cold outside, leaks elsewhere in house, hot and cold water inlets reversed, poor drafting, altitude. BTW, it's a GE, bought at Home Depot, manufactured by Rheem. Rheem offers no further help. They claim it is working OK based on four visits, yet the flame remains orange, and the water never stays sufficiently hot.

Answer 1

sounds like they are giving you the run around Thomas, the flame being orange is the first indicator of an insufficient air supply. The inadequate hot water ammount is translated from a flame that is not reaching it's potential. Altering the heater I wouldn't recommend, playing with fire per se. Everything has been checked and re-checked, the only options I can see considering Rheem isn't being very helpful, is to either go back to your original hot water source. Or replace your current heater.

This may be a longshot but, the only other thing that comes to mind is since this is a natural gas heater, is it possible that the gas orifice is for propane? Has this been checked before? For that matter has the gas orifice ever been checked?

Answer 2

Sealed Combustion Water Heater

Answer 3

One thing I didn't see mentioned was the possibility that you may have an improper match of the type of gas you're using. Propane where there's natural, or natural where there's propane (LP)? Other than that, the flame not burning efficiently for either too much air or not enough air would be regulated by the air opening collar at the burner, just before the orifice. Also if the flame is constantly yellow, as you say, you should be getting quite build up of soot, as that , the yellow color, indicates incomplete burning of the gas. The color and efficiency of the burning flame will not affect the length of time the water stays hot, if it heats to the shut-off temp. and the thermostat shuts it down, then the only problem the inefficent burning would cause would be possibly a slightly higher consumption rate and the extra soot.

Answer 4

Sounds like you have checked most things that can be checked and they where ok.Does it ever come up to temperature and turn off.How long does this take?Orange is not a problem color and adding air will not make it go away.Sometimes natural gas is not 100% pure it is these impurities that burn orange.Yellow flames are a problem,anything more than small yellow tips at the end of the flames indicate insufficient air to the burner.You have checked the pressure at the burner and it is ok but have you checked the orifice that supplies the gas into the burner?Someone at the factory my have installed the wrong orifice.An easy way to check this without dismantling things is to clock the gas usage at the meter and check to see if it is close to the btu rating of the water heater.You will have to turn the gas off to any appliance that has a pilot light on it,then turn up the water heater or draw enough hot water to make it come on.Now go to the meter and there will be several dials,the smallest will be 1/2 foot this one should be moving quite rapidly either count how many times this goes around in one minute or see how many minutes that the next larger dial takes to go around once.You will now have to multiply one of these numbers out to sixty minutes. This will give you how many cubic feet per hour that would be used.Multiply this number by 1,000 this will be your btu rating if this number is much smaller than the btu rating on the water heater than the orifice is too small and needs to be changed.Natural gas is approximately 1,000 btu's per cubic foot but this may vary depending on whether the gas company is mixing propane or other gases in. This is a comon practice and is not a problem but may change the the btu per cubic foot rating slightly so you may want to call the gas company and ask them what the btu per cubic foot is in your area.

Answer 5

The orifice may have some debri in it. Natural gas, as well as, propane cause gas lines to flake. If the water heater has been there awhile shut off the gas and disconnect the flex connector and look in that area.How long are you watching the flame? Usually when the flame first ignites it will be orange or yellow. You say it's in the basement; soot in the gas lines will go to the lowest point. Do you have propane or gas? Has this problem been ongoing? How long?

Answer 6

A lot of the newer water heaters are designed as sealed combustions. There is a fire hazard if you tamper with the water heater. You dont say in your question if your having a problem or not. You don't say WHY you want to increase the air flow to the burner. If everything is working, its kinda pointless to re-engineer something. If you are having a problem, then the likely hood of not enough combustion air causing the problem is very unlikely. If you could expond a little further perhaps?

Answer 7

the installers may have used the incorrect length pipe for the exhaust. the perfect component at this element might want to be to have someone from Rheem (that's in a large number of cases a community producer's consultant) come on your position to be certain out why it isn't operating. If it maintains, and no human being provides a superb answer- its genuine that Rheem might want to both replace it at their fee, or refund you funds that you'll get a sensible one another position.

Answer 8

Is it a State, AO Smith, Sears, or Reliance?
If so, I can help you. I know why you are having problems.
Email if it is one of the above.

Answer 9

I have to go along with "frosty" why are you trying to fix something that's not broken and, when everyone is telling you it's O.K. your still disbelieving?