Whirlpool - Flame Lock water heeter has bad thermal couple

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Home » Consumer Reviews » OTHER » Flame Lock water heeter has bad thermal couple

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Flame Lock water heeter has bad thermal couple

Feb 8, 2008

Whirlpool review by E haley

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Well if you have a flame lock water or one of the knock off heaters and its cutting out or is dead and wont re light the the trouble is the thermal couple..this water heater has a flame arrestor in the bottom of the unit that has be come plugged up with lint and/or dirt. and this make the unit over heat and kill the thermal fuse(220 deg C) installed in the center of the thermal couple die and a general replacement thermal couple will not fit because they have right hand threads and this one has a left hand, whirlpool is the only place to get them ..and now they have a up grade to replace the full burner unit thermal couple and a external pushbutton for the fuse but you still have to wait for the parts to come ...well here is a TEST fix to make sure thats all you need....first its a must that the flame arrestor in the bottom of the water heater is fully and truly clean ... Then you could cut the thermal couple in the center were it gets big(thats were they put the thermal fuse) and re solder the in side wire ( after removing the insulation over the wire) and then solder a small wire across the part of the copper tube that was cut out . this would then let the thermal couple work like the ones built on every thing for the last 40 years and if your gas valve is good it will work ..this is not a true fix but a test and should not be used as fix because you have removed the safety part that was put there in case the arrestor got plugged up or flammable vapor was to get in it would be a fire hazard THIS IS A TEST to see if thats all that is wrong,,,PS if you should have a amp meter and were to heat the end of the thermal couple a good one will put out around 12 or miliamps (i know its not much) you could also just test it for a open circuit it should read almost a dead short if the fuse is good ...for the ones brave a heart i hope this will help

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Comments (3)

1. Written by Marc A., on 16-06-2008 21:25

I bought my Whirlpool Flame Lock water heater in 2003 - the thermocouple had previously went out 5 times until 5 days ago when it happened for the 6th time. I received my Whirlpool "Repair" kit (I believe this is the same one as specified in the settlement) on 06/16/2008. The heater ran for about 45 minutes until it broke again! I will never buy another Whirlpool product. BTW - I have more than adequate air flow and my vent is clean.

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2. Written by plumber, on 03-04-2008 23:17

a couple of things. one its not a bad product its just that the new water heater design requires some work on your part or mine. i know the old ones lasted for ever right? well they dont make em any more. dirty vents or a vent stack that has been run wrong will cause the fuse to burn out. i guess its kinda like newer cars. they are safer but require a little more attention. that being said a temp fix is to unscrew the front panel a little to allow air to enter. ofcourse this also alows combustables to enter etc. it should also be on a pedistal.

you can cut the nut and put an old style t couple on.

go to the scrap yard and get a newer old valve and scrap the right hand thread valve etc.

if you think the new w/h design *** wait till you have to buy and eventually fix the new ac designs. its the future brother. good luck!

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3. Written by James Walker, on 03-03-2008 16:31

I *** hate WHIRLPOOL! *** BASTARDS SELL THIS PIECE OF ***, AND NOW YOU CAN'T EVEN GET THE *** PART TO FIX IT!! THIS IS A *** CIRCLE ***. While noone can help me, I haven't *** showered in 3 days. BTW, this would be my third time replacing this *** in 3 years since purchased. *** YOU, WHIRLPOOL!

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