Help with Whirlpool Water Heater

Hi everyone,

I guess I'm the lucky owner of a Whirlpool Flamelock Water heater (purchased just 2 months ago). I've read through several pages of posts here, and am painfully aware that it was a bad purchase. I guess that's what happens when you don't have a lot of money and your water heater goes out on you 10AM sunday.

Anyway.. sob story aside. I don't know a ton about water heaters, but my wife does require me to be a handy man, so I'm trying to troubleshoot what this thing is doing before I give in an call up tech support.

What is happening is that this heater will light with no problem, and it will heat up one cycle of hot water, then turn off. I've actually watched it shut off while heating. After this happens, you can't relight the pilot for maybe 15 - 20 minutes afterwards.. I haven't actually timed it.

From the little knowledge I have, it doesn't sound like a thermocouple issue, but I tested it per the instructions in the manual. It seemed to test ok. I know there is the thermal switch to the right, but i'm not sure if it's tripped or not. There is a pole in the middle that is popped out, but I can't say that it can be pushed in at all.

Anyway.. if there are any bits of wisdom that can be offered, I'd greatly appreciate it.

#1 do you have the plastic pre ai filter wraped around the bottom.

#2 it sounds like the thermal switch...

#3 possibly a partly blocked vent allowing heat to build up.

Thanks for the response Cass..

I do have the wrap around filter in place. It doesn't look like it's dirty, but I'm going to give it a good rinsing anyway.. guess it couldn't hurt.

I'll poke around for any blockages.

Thanks

Sounds like the typical Whirlpool gas water heater to me....

You can play with this forever and be sure of one thing...

It will continue to let you down... Frequently!

May I suggest returning it and replacing it with a Bradford-White or, Rheem water heater. This is the only known 100% effective repair known for a Whirlpool gas water heater.

Hot water is not something that you should
have to cross your fingers,
and hope that you have it today!​

heater

If the pilot lights and the heater turns on it is not the thermal switch. It could be overheating the thermocouple which would break it down and stop its power generation which would then turn off the pilot and burner.