American and Whirlpool Water Heater Troubleshooting

The Short Answer: American Water Heaters, of Johnson City, Tennessee, has been part of A. O. Smith since 2006. In the 2000s it also built the Whirlpool-brand tanks sold at Lowe’s. When one stops working, first find the fuel and model on the rating plate. Then read the gas control’s status light or check the breaker. Trace any leak to its source before assuming the tank has failed.

Who built your heater

A. O. Smith completed its purchase of GSW Inc., the parent of American Water Heater Company, on April 3, 2006. In A. O. Smith’s announcement (opens in a new tab), American was described as based in Johnson City, Tennessee, and as the exclusive supplier of water heaters to Lowe’s, “supplying residential gas and electric units carrying the Whirlpool brand.” American still lists its manufacturing and corporate offices in Johnson City (opens in a new tab).

In April 2017, Lowe’s announced that it would carry A. O. Smith Signature Series water heaters (opens in a new tab) exclusively. A Whirlpool-badged tank still in service today is therefore likely to be an older unit from the American and A. O. Smith family. We could not find a current manufacturer page that documents Whirlpool-brand water heaters, so treat the model number on the rating plate as your guide rather than the badge.

This shared ownership does not mean every American, Whirlpool, State or A. O. Smith heater uses the same control. Gas controls, ignition systems and flash codes changed across model lines and years. The manual for your model number is the authority.

Start with the rating plate

Photograph the label on the side of the tank. You need:

• Fuel and venting. Natural gas, propane or electric. A gas tank with a metal draft hood is atmospheric. A fan on top means power vent.
• Model, product and serial number. American’s manuals ask for all three, plus the installation date, when you call for help. American lists its support numbers here (opens in a new tab). For a Whirlpool-badged unit, the A. O. Smith family’s manual lookup (opens in a new tab) and support lines are the place to start.

What the symptom usually means

Gas models: the status light

Many American gas tanks have a status light on the gas control. On the atmospheric ultra-low-NOx models covered by American manual 100263712 (opens in a new tab), the light is powered by the pilot’s thermopile. It stays dark when the pilot is out, and it can take up to about 90 seconds after lighting before it starts blinking. That manual lists:

Newer models with an electronic gas control and a flue damper, covered by American manual 100400765 (opens in a new tab), use a different, two-part scheme. Normal idle is a short flash every four seconds. Faults show as patterns such as “six flashes then one” (failed ignition) or “seven flashes” (flammable vapor sensor lockout). Do not read one table onto the other. Check which manual covers your model number. For a Whirlpool-badged tank reporting a sensor fault, see Whirlpool temperature sensor failure.

What you can check safely on a gas tank

• The gas shutoff next to the heater is open, and other gas appliances work. On propane, the tank is not empty.
• The control knob is not on OFF, PILOT or VACATION.
• If the pilot is out, relight it only by following the lighting instructions on the heater’s label. The manual for these controls calls for a 10-minute wait between attempts while the thermopile cools. If the light still will not blink after three tries, stop.
• Keep the area around the base clear of lint, dust and stored chemicals. In dusty or linty locations the manual calls for periodic cleaning of the flame trap at the bottom of the heater. That cleaning is service work, not an owner step.

If the pilot lights but will not stay lit, see why a gas water heater won’t stay lit. Codes for a failed gas control, an overheat or a sensor fault mean a part has to be replaced by a technician. The same goes for any sign that flammable vapors ignited near the heater. American’s manual says a heater exposed to a flammable vapor ignition needs complete replacement.

Electric models

• Breaker. Reset a tripped double-pole breaker once. If it trips again, leave it off and call for service.
• Recent draining. An element powered while the tank was empty fails almost at once. If power was on during a drain, an element replacement is likely.
• Pattern. No hot water usually means no power, a tripped high-limit (ECO), or the upper element or thermostat. Hot water that runs out quickly points to the lower element or thermostat.

The ECO reset button, thermostats and elements are behind access covers over live 240-volt wiring. Testing and replacing them is technician work. An ECO that trips more than once means the water overheated for a reason that still needs finding. Water heater element not working explains what the technician checks.

Leaks

Dry everything, then watch where water reappears. A. O. Smith’s guide to puddles around a water heater (opens in a new tab) separates repairable leaks from a failed tank.

• Drain valve or pipe connections: repairable.
• Relief valve discharge: a pressure or temperature problem. Never cap or plug the valve.
• Condensation on a gas tank after a big draw of cold water: normal for a short time.
• Water from under the jacket or from rusted seams, with the fittings dry: a failed tank, which means replacement. See water leaking from the bottom of the tank.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is my Whirlpool water heater really an A. O. Smith? A: Whirlpool-brand water heaters sold at Lowe’s were supplied by American Water Heater Company, which A. O. Smith bought in 2006. Use the rating-plate model number to find the matching manual and parts. Do not go by the badge.

Q: My American gas heater’s light is off, but the pilot is lit. Is it broken? A: Not necessarily. On thermopile-powered controls the light stays dark until the thermopile warms up, which can take up to about 90 seconds. If it still does not blink after that and the water stays cold, the thermopile or control needs a technician.

Q: Can any replacement gas valve go on an American or Whirlpool tank? A: No. The control must match the heater’s model, gas type and safety system. Replacing a gas control is licensed work and should use the part listed for that model number.