Bradford White Water Heater Troubleshooting [The Complete Guide] (2023)

This is a complete Bradford White Water Heater troubleshooting guide. In this guide I will reveal some common Bradford White Water Heater problems such as:

• no hot water
• Insufficient hot water
• Slow hot water recovery
• Superheated water
• noisy elements
• And a lot.

And the best part is that I will also guide you through the troubleshooting steps to solve these problems. So let's start right here.

Bradford White Water Heater Troubleshooting [Top Issues]

This chapter describes all common water heater problems and how to solve them. So keep scrolling.

01. No hot water

Don't get hot water from your Bradford White Water Heater! Then many things are to blame that prevent your water heater from heating water.

For example, the device does not get power due to blown fuses or the circuit breaker on the service panel is tripped. As a result, the heater cannot heat water.

Likewise, loose wire connections or corroded wires are blocking the power supply to your water heater. And without adequate power, you can't turn it on — let alone get hot water.

Also, open ECO will also result in your Bradford White Water Heater not heating water.

How to fix:

First check the water heater fuses and make sure they are not blown. Next I recommend you take a look at the circuit breaker to see if it is tripping or not. If so, fold it to the up position.

For loose wiring, I highly recommend hiring a certified electrician to check the wiring and have them fix the wire connection issues for you.

To fix the ECO problem, you need to check the ECO. Then reset or replace the thermostat to get the Bradford White Water Heater back in working order.

02. Insufficient hot water

Your Bradford White Water Heater is not producing enough hot water for the following reasons:

• Heating element inoperable or defective
• You have set the thermostat too low
• Thermostat defekt
• Limescale or sediment deposits form on the heating element
• Period of high demand
• Undersized heater
• Very cold inlet water to heater
• Sanitary connections are swapped
• Dip tube defective

How to fix:

The heating element is the part of your water heater that is responsible for heating the water. If it becomes damaged or dirt and debris accumulates on it, the heating element will become inoperable. Consequently, it cannot heat the water properly.

In general, all heating elements burn out like a light bulb. Most of the time older heating elements can burn due to their age. In addition, if the heating element is covered with sediment, it will not be able to transfer heat to water and cause it to burn.

On the other hand, new heating elements are damaged or burned by dry fires. If the heating element is not immersed in water, it will burn in the air bubble, generating a lot of heat in a short time. As a result, the high heat melts the copper used in its construction, severely damaging the element.

Therefore, there are other reasons such as high voltage situations, which can also burn the heating element. Bradford White has a full guide where they break down what makes the element burn. You can check this articleHere.

It doesn't matter what is damaging the heating element, you will need to replace it to get adequate hot water. The following video will be helpful if you want to replace this part yourself:

Second, make sure you set the thermostat high enough to produce hot water. If you have it set too low, simply set the thermostat knob to a high setting.

Third, electrically test the thermostat to see if it will break or not. Use a multimeter and check the continuity of the thermostat. If the multimeter shows a voltage reading of 0, understand that it is becoming faulty and needs to be replaced. In this case, you can watch the tutorial below to learn how to replace the thermostat:

For a period of high demand, I recommend reducing demand and avoiding running multiple hot water faucets or other appliances at the same time.

However, if the water heater does not meet your needs, replace it with a larger one.

Don't forget to check the water connections. If they are reversed, correct the connections.

And lastly, inspect the fork tube. If it deteriorates, you should replace it. I have already covered a guide onReplacing the Rheem fork tube. Although the brand varies, you may find this guide helpful to replace the fork tube.

03. Slow hot water recovery

You will get hot water from your Bradford White Water Heater, but it will be slow for the following reasons:

• The heating elements become covered with limescale and sediment deposits.
• Loose wiring
• The thermostat is not working properly
• You can install reduced heating elements.

How to fix:

Start by examining the heating elements for scale build-up. First, turn off the power to your water heater. Then remove the heating elements from the unit and check for debris or limescale build-up. Replace if necessary.

If there are loose wiring connections, it is better to leave this task to a certified electrician. On the other hand, if this part is faulty, you will have to replace the thermostat. I mentioned a tutorial on this above. So check this out.

Finally, make sure you install the right type of heating elements that provide adequate voltage and wattage to heat water. Just grab a multimeter and test the heating elements for the correct voltage and wattage.

04. Overheated water or continuous operation

Get too hot water! Then I bet that one of the following causes overheated water:

• Thermostats are not in contact with the tank
• You have set the thermostat too high
• Grounded heating elements
• ECO does not work

How to fix:

The thermostat flush should be in contact with the tank surface for proper water heater operation. So position it with the tank surface.

Second, check the thermostat and see if you've set it to a higher setting. If so, adjust the thermostat to the desired setting. To do this, switch off the electrical supply at the main switch.

Then pull out the access panel and remove the insulation. Now use a screwdriver and move the thermostat dial to the desired setting. To decrease the water temperature, move the temperature control knob counterclockwise.

Third, the heating elements should be immersed in water to heat water. If left grounded they will not be able to transfer heat to the water and will overheat. In the worst case, the heating elements burn out. So make sure the tank is filled with water. If the elements become damaged, replace them.

Nonetheless, a non-working ECO can also cause your water heater to overheat the water. Every Bradford White water heater is fitted with a safety feature called ECO (Electric Circuit Breaker). When it detects water that is too hot, it cuts off the power supply to the device. If it is to blame, you will encounter the water too hot problem. To solve this problem you need to replace the thermostat.

05. Loud elements

Does the water heater make a hissing noise? Then I bet that scale or lime builds up on the heating elements. In short, limescale and sediment deposits on the heating element or on the bottom of the tank lead to noisy operation of the water heater.

How to fix:

I recommend flushing the water heater to remove any deposits from the bottom of the water heater tank. In this case, you can use vinegar to dissolve the limescale and deposits. Luckily I already have a guide on coveredDoes vinegar damage hot water?. In this article I describe how to flush the water heater with vinegar. So it is worth reading the article.

Tips:I highly recommend you drain your water heater every month. It will help you remove the limescale build-up from the water heater and keep the unit in top condition.

Other Bradford White Water Heater Issues

All of the issues we break down above relate to the Bradford White Electric Water Heater. If you have a gas water heater, you will encounter the following problems over time.

Bradford White Water Heater does not heat

Your Bradford White Gas Water Heater will not heat water for a number of reasons. Restricted Pilot is one of them. Carbon deposits can block the pilot flame and cause the gas burner to not ignite. Consequently, it will not heat the water.

To solve this problem, you need to remove the gas burner from the bottom of the device. Then use a blower or vacuum to remove carbon buildup. If cleaning the burner does not solve the problem, you will need to replace the gas burner.

Secondly, a faulty igniter or electrode can also be the cause of the no heating problem. I recommend you use a multimeter to electrically test the igniter. If it gives a negative result, replacing the igniter is the only solution.

Therefore, a faulty gas valve, faulty thermocouple, and faulty pressure switch are other concerns that will prevent your gas water heater from heating. Once you have addressed and resolved these issues, your Bradford water heater will reheat the water.

Bradford White Water Heater Pilot Light does not illuminate

The indicator light on your Bradford White Water Heater will not come on for the following reasons:

• The gas shut-off valve may be in the closed position, preventing gas from flowing into the burner. Or the gas pressure is too low.
• Do not fully depress the pilot light button when attempting to light the pilot light.
• The pilot hole can become clogged with dirt and debris. It turns out that a clogged pilot tube can also prevent the pilot from firing.
• The piezo ignition button is to blame.

First, make sure the gas shut-off valve is in the open position. If not, open it. Second, if you do not fully depress the pilot light button, relight the pilot light.

Check the steerer tube or orifice for clogging. Don't forget to unblock the opening if dirt blocks it.

Lastly, replace the piezo igniter button if it becomes defective.

Bradford Whiter Water Heater Pilot lights but main burner does not

Although the pilot light is lit, the main burner does not light. Sound familiar? Well, you will face this gas water heater problem when there is not enough gas supplied to the gas burner. If this is the problem, first check the gas tank to see if there is enough gas. Then open the gas valve to allow fuel to flow into the burner.

If you set the combination thermostat too low, the burner will not get enough fuel to light. So make sure you adjust the gas valve to the desired setting to fix this problem.

frequently asked Questions

Endnote

All electronic devices break down over time. And your Bradford White Water Heater is no exception. This Bradford White Water Heater Troubleshooting Guide will help you identify and solve a specific problem. So it's worth bookmarking this guide so you can refer to it whenever you run into a problem with your Bradford White.

Also read:

Bradford White Water Heater Status light shines