What is a vapor sensor on a water heater?
Sarah Marsh What is a vapor sensor on a water heater?
What is a Flammable Vapor (FV) Sensor? FV Sensors are safety devices on select models of water heaters, which cause a soft lockout (a.k.a. the unit shuts down) when flammable vapors are detected near the unit, to prevent the possibility of their ignition.
Why does my hot water heater have FVS error?
The most critical reason why your gas control valve triggers an FVS error is that it might actually be doing its job. Do you have a gas leak somewhere? Make sure that you don’t smell fumes from natural gas, garage off gasses, or even open paint cans in the vicinity. Vent the area where your water heater is located.
Why is the gas valve on my hot water heater not working?
The problem is not with the flame sensor, it’s the Flammable Vapor Sensor (the safety sensor that prevent ignition if flammable vapors are detected). The only way I can get the gas valve to come back on is if the Flammable Vapor Sensor reports there are no Flammable Vapors.
What to do if your water heater vapor sensor is faulty?
If the reading on your multi-meter reads below 9k or above 45k ohms, the flammable vapor sensor is faulty and in need of replacement; you cannot reset the system until this issue is resolved. Reconnect the Molex connector to the bottom of the control pad, reconnect the water heater’s power if and turn the blower switch to the “ON” position.
How does the FVS work in a hot water tank?
The FVS is a relatively newer’ish invention that consists of a silicone type sensor that detects flammable vapors outside of the hot water tank. If you have a gas leak, you certainly don’t want to have an open flame feeding off that fuel.
The most critical reason why your gas control valve triggers an FVS error is that it might actually be doing its job. Do you have a gas leak somewhere? Make sure that you don’t smell fumes from natural gas, garage off gasses, or even open paint cans in the vicinity. Vent the area where your water heater is located.
The problem is not with the flame sensor, it’s the Flammable Vapor Sensor (the safety sensor that prevent ignition if flammable vapors are detected). The only way I can get the gas valve to come back on is if the Flammable Vapor Sensor reports there are no Flammable Vapors.
If the reading on your multi-meter reads below 9k or above 45k ohms, the flammable vapor sensor is faulty and in need of replacement; you cannot reset the system until this issue is resolved. Reconnect the Molex connector to the bottom of the control pad, reconnect the water heater’s power if and turn the blower switch to the “ON” position.
The FVS is a relatively newer’ish invention that consists of a silicone type sensor that detects flammable vapors outside of the hot water tank. If you have a gas leak, you certainly don’t want to have an open flame feeding off that fuel.
