Just FYI Rheem Power Vent

**Cass** · 02-25-2008, 05:54 AM

I just had to replace a Flammable Vapor Sensor on a newer Rheem Power Vent.

The sensor sits on the outside front just below the burner and is attached to the sheet metal.

It is about the size of a thimble and is $157.00...

Lucky for the home owner it was under warranty.

**master plumber mark** · 02-25-2008, 02:12 PM

that is fairley expensive......

how much did you stick them for on the labor?????

CASS....how much should I charge on this one ..........

Today, I get a call from a real estate lady that

2 years ago she insisted
she could get a power vent water heater from her brother
in Chicago much cheaper that I priced one to her..

I said ok, and we installed her STATE power vent heater... for labor only
I told her it was junk from the get go... but noooooooo...
she wasnt going to hear that.....

Now less than 2 years later.......its leaking..
and I got to run and get one and install it tomorrow......

for how much????...... what is it worth?????

**Dunbar Plumbing** · 02-25-2008, 03:27 PM

Tank leak means it's under warranty under the 6 year rule; doesn't matter where you bought it. Go to any plumbing supply house with the serial # tag and they'll gladly swap you out with a new one @ no charge IF they sell State.

Sounds like a defective tank, will save your customer a minimum $600 on the tank, just charge for your labor to replace the tank.

**master plumber mark** · 02-25-2008, 04:35 PM

Rugged,,, yes I know how to do the water heater exchange...

my queston is what everyone gets to change out a

"I told you so " water heater.......

**construct30** · 02-25-2008, 04:44 PM

Everything has doubled in price in the last two years, charge more than you did the first time and blame it on the fuel prices. I wonder how happy they will be to pay labor to put the same brand back in. I've had people that figure it was better to cut their losses and upgrade in a case like that.

**Cookie** · 02-25-2008, 04:55 PM

Mark, if as a consumer, I purchased a water heater and paid you to install it and two years later, the heater went bad any savings from getting a deal on the heater would be gone because I lost the gamble. I would have to pay you again, and maybe more than the last time because everything has gone up.

**No Leaks** · 02-28-2008, 08:31 AM

I just replace a Rheem power vent Vapor Sensor. The list price was $13.40. Could you tell me where you were charged that much for the part?

**Cass** · 02-28-2008, 10:53 AM

My local Rheem dealer in Cincinnati. I was not charged that but I called them to see what the cost was thinking I might just buy one if the part was inexpensive enough to warrant just buying one instead of waiting for one to be shipped because it was under warranty, in order to get hot water to my customer sooner.

Where did you buy one for $13.40? I'll buy 2-3 and keep them on the truck if I can get them that cheap.

**Cass** · 02-28-2008, 06:58 PM

Well I called Rheem today and asked how much a FVS would cost me and I was told that since I didn't have an account that I would have to pay with a CC and it would be $57.90.

If I had an account it would be much less.

I then called back to my Rheem Dealer and they confirmed that their price was 157.00.

WOW is all I can say.

**No Leaks** · 03-03-2008, 01:05 PM

I think the confusion is that there are actually three parts to what they call the "assembly." One is the sensor, which is what typically fails. Two is the small, white plastic retainer that receives the sensor, then clips into the base of the water heater. Three is the wiring harness. The 2008 Rheem parts list, page 26, shows the FV Sensor, #AP13447, at a cost of $13.40. (Other manufacturers who use Robertshaw seem to also include the entire gas valve in the pricing, assuming I suppose that you should just start from scratch when you have an emergency shut-down.)

Here's how I got the customer hot water overnight: According to Rheem/GE tech support, if you do an ohmeter test of the sensor, it should read between 9 and 44 K ohms. (The one I did last week read slightly low.) At Radio Shack I bought a "five pack" of 33 K ohm resistors, which set me back $.99. That's right, five for a buck. Install one of the resistors in place of the sensor, then follow the re-setting sequence. The heater will fire up. Please remember, this is only a temporary "fix" and will not provide the safety protection necessary. I only did it so that my customer wouldn't have a cold shower the next morning. We were able to buy the sensor from our supplier, then return the warranty-supplied sensor that was shipped to our customer.

**bbensten** · 08-31-2008, 07:28 PM

That is a great tip. Could you tell me the exact Radio shack part you used? was it http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2062332 ? I have the same dire need and with the labor day holiday, the client is very upset. If I could come up with a temp fix like this it would be fantastic! I just need to make sure the voltage for the resistor is right.

**Redwood** · 08-31-2008, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by No Leaks

Install one of the resistors in place of the sensor, then follow the re-setting sequence. The heater will fire up. Please remember, this is only a temporary "fix" and will not provide the safety protection necessary. I only did it so that my customer wouldn't have a cold shower the next morning.

That doesn't sound like very safe advice...
I'd pass on this tip!