Installed a new AO Smith electric water heater. When I turned on the power, all the computer screen does is flicker and roll. What do I need to do?

SOURCE: AO Smith water heater won't fire.

I bet your thermo couple is bad or your ports are clogged? How old is the unit?

SOURCE: I am thinking of purchasing

I do water heater research for specific purpose.
I see complaints about every brand except the brands that are no longer in business
Most complaints about gas heaters involve burners & pilot.
Here are some things that might help you decide:

New water heaters have to meet regulations for clean-burning and efficiency.
As a result, water heaters exposed to poor incoming air supply, and poor venting are more likely to be affected by chronic pilot light problems.

Bradford White manual I was reading said, to remove chemicals from same room as water heater. Chemicals corrode water heater parts. This would affect the pilot light as well.
'Spray propellants, cleaning solvents, refrigerants, swimming pool chemicals, calcium and sodium chloride, household bleach, waxes and process chemicals are corrosive at very low levels with no odor."

Yearly maintenance: you're supposed to clean burner and combustion area with a wire bush and vacuum each year.

The FVIR is another consideration today. Flammable Vapor prevention.
Consult the manual before buying the product.
Many gas water heaters have a screen located on bottom of water heater. When the screen clogs with dust, the reduced airflow will stop the burner. Unless the water heater legs are set on bricks, then you can't get under to clean the screen.
If the FVIR trips because it detected a flash-over condition, you have to buy parts for all water heaters except the Bradford White. BW has a re-settable FVIR.
http://www.thetankatwaterheaterrescue.com/forums/forum3/2679.html
http://411plumb.com/bradford-white-defender-water-heater-review

The 411plumb,com website is a good source of information
The Tank is a good place to post water heater questions: Those guys are professional plumbers.
http://www.thetankatwaterheaterrescue.com/forums/forum3/

Maintaining your water heater is important.
Look for a brass drain valve instead of plastic.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Clean-sediment-out-of-water-heater.html

Anode rod.
If water heater has two anode rods, the tank will last longer.
Inspect anode rod every 3 years.
Loosen anode rod before installing tank so it will come out easily for inspection
Or if it has a powered anode rod, it will supposedly last 'forever' ... until the burner gives out.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Replace-anode-rod.html

Other water heater ideas:
http://waterheatertimer.org/9-ways-to-save-with-water-heater.html

Oct 2010. If you have more questions, add a comment at bottom and it sends me an e-mail
There are a lot of good sources in the links above.

George Hels

• 528 Answers
• Posted on Nov 05, 2010

SOURCE: MY HOT WATER COMES OUT

A new water heater may not solve the problem - do you have colored water coming out of the cold side, at all faucets and in your commode too? If so then your pipes may be corroded inside ( typical from well water systems) and will need replacement too. Initially I would suggest hooking up a garden hose to the drain on the heater and, after running the other end of the hose outside, open that valve to see if the water is colored. If so, then I would strongly suspect your water heater needs replacing. Also, look under the water heater to see if there's any leakage, indicated by brown stains either on the floor under the heater or running down the side.

Testimonial: "THANKS!!!"

SOURCE: I have water leaking from

Hi,
That is called a pressure relief valve....
If the water gets too hot, the pressure builds too high in the tank or the valve goes bad, it will leak...
Remember that this valve is a SAFETY device!!!
Do NOT plug the valve off...
Find out why it is leaking and get it fixed...

heatman101

SOURCE: I have a AO Smith GPS 75 200 water heater. Has no

if you havee no power to run the fans and vents on top then you need to get the power fixed. Check your breakers and then you might want to check to see if sll the wire connection are tight.

if you have a light tester you might want to use that to double check the power you might have a bad breaker

Best of luck

Tom