Bradford White Water Heater Status Light Blinking [All Blinks Solved]

Bradford White Water Heater status light blinking at a different number of times signifies several malfunctions from the heater element. The LED status light blinks once every four seconds is a sign of the heater’s normal operation. 

But if the status light flashes once every second signal the weak pilot flame of the heater. In case, the status light flickers 2/4/5/6/7 times, followed by a three-second pause, indicating something is going wrong with your Bradford water heater. 

To troubleshoot the specific problem, you need to address the errors first, which depends on the flashing light codes. 

Follow the below comprehensive guide to learn about each of the Bradford errors in detail.

Quick Solutions To Bradford White Water Heater Status Light Codes

Before moving to the detailed troubleshooting, let’s walk you through the below table highlighting the diagnostic error codes of Bradford White water heater, their indication with the quick solutions:

Blink codes	Error Indication	Quick Solutions
Blinking green	Normal operation	> No need for any corrective methods.
1 Blink every second	Weak Pilot Signal On Last Call For Heat	> Clean the pilot assembly. > Inspect the wiring harness to the pilot assembly and gas valve.
2 Blinks	The damper test circuit is not working	> Ensure the heater cord is plugged firmly into the power connection. > Clean the venting pipe. Turn the damper switch into the automatic position.
4 Blinks	Excessive tank pressure	> Check the gas valve for any damages. > Test the continuity of the thermal well sensor & replace the bad one.
5 Blinks	False pilot flame present	> Check the flame sensor for any damages. > Replace the defective gas control valve.
6 Blinks	Flame not sensed	> Clean the dirt accumulation forms in the burner chamber & pilot assembly.  > Replace the deteriorated ones.
7 Blinks	FVS Or RTS fault detected	> Reset the FVS. Test the continuity of the FVS or RTS. > Replace the faulty thermal switch and FV sensor.

Bradford White Water Heater Status Light Blinking [All Binks Solved]

Throughout this guideline, we will describe the meaning of every common blinking error code on the status light, the reasons & how to erase them effectively. 

1. Bradford White Water Heater Status Light Blinking Green

If your Bradford White Water Heater’s status light blinks green once followed by a four-second pause, there is nothing to worry about. It defines that your water heater is in well-working condition. There are no faults in the heater, and it is in standby mode. 

How To Fix:

You don’t need to do any crucial for this error blinking as the water heater is working quite well. Just make sure that the thermostat is set to the correct temperature setting.

2. Status Light Blinking Once Every Second

Bradford’s white water heater status light blinks green once every second, warning you that the pilot signal is weak. The root reasons for this unstable pilot light include:

• Clogged pilot tube.
• Oxidation build-up on the pilot electrode.
• The damaged wiring connection to the pilot assembly.
• Or, low gas pressure.

How To Fix:

First up, inspect the pilot assembly. Unblock the pilot tube from the dirt and debris accumulation. Blow out the stuck debris from the pilot hole using compressed air. 

When done, inspect all the wiring connection goes to the pilot assembly and gas control valve. Fix the loose wiring and replace the bad ones. Then ensure that there is sufficient gas pressure in your water heater. 

The main line gas pressure for natural gas should be between 5.2″ W.C. (1.29 kPa) to 14″ W.C. (3.48 kPa). If the low gas pressure is causing the pilot light to be weak, contact your gas utility company.

3. Status Light Blinking 2 Or 3 Times

Bradford white water heater status light blinking twice or thrice every 3 seconds stands for a faulty damper test circuit. Here the damper test circuit is not operating properly. 

Either it gets stuck in an open position, or it might be in the incorrect position. A broken, faulty damper or clogged venting system can also lead to this issue.

How To Fix:

First, you need to verify that the cord sets are fully plugged in. Insert the cord sets into the electric outlet correctly. 

Then check the venting system of your water heater. It might be blocked by carbon buildup. Unblock the venting pipe with soapy water. Or, you may use a vacuum to suck up the debris. 

After that, verify that the damper switch is turned into the automatic position. If still, the status light blinks 2 or 3 times, it is sure that the damper is faulty. Replace it. 

4. Status Light Blinking 4 Times

The green status light flashing 4 times every 3 seconds pause is the error indication of excessive tank temperature. This error tells you that the thermal well sensor goes bad. Higher chances are the sensor comes in contact with water and fries out, looks like in the below picture:

In some cases, due to a faulty gas control valve or a hairline crack in the valve, the status light blinks green 4 times.

How To Fix:

Typically, you can easily erase the code by resetting the heater. Just follow the below simple steps:

• Switch the gas control knob to the Off position and let it be here for up to 5 minutes.
• Then turn the knob to the pilot position. Now press and hold down the knob to allow the gas to start flowing back. 
• While doing so, keep depressing the clicking button at the same time. You will see the status light blinking green. 

If not, the problem is in the gas valve or thermal sensor. We recommend inspecting the gas control valve and checking for any damage to the valves. Replace the faulty gas control valve. 

Also, test the continuity of the thermal well sensor. Verify the sensor does not come in contact with water. Replace the defective sensor.

5. Status Light Blinking 5 Times

If the status light of your water heater blinks 5 times, it signifies the false pilot light signal in the heater. In this case, the pilot valve is stuck in the open position. 

Malfunctioning of the flame sensor and incorrect position of the wiring harness is the leading reason for the 5 flashes in the heater. 

How To Fix:

For the first step, check the flame sensor to see if the wire is damaged. Also, there might be bare spots on the sensor that are touching metal parts. Replace the faulty flame sensor. 

To fix the stuck valve, you need to replace the defective gas valve. Contact a professional plumber if all the replacement procedures seem hard for you. 

6. Status Light Blinking 6 Times

Bradford white water heater 6 flashes with a 3-second pause indicating that the pilot is failed to light. Here, the gas valve energizes the spark igniter for lighting the pilot, but the pilot fails to sense the flame. This problem occurs due to:

• An unstable pilot because of a filthy burner.
• Blocked pilot tube.
• Oxidation and carbon build-up on the pilot electrode. 
• The damaged wiring connection to the pilot assembly.
• Or, a faulty gas control valve.  

How To Fix:

First, you need to clean the dirt and debris accumulation forms in the burner chamber. To do so, follow the below simple steps:

Step 1:First turn the gas control knob to the off position. Unplug your heater from the power cord and shut off the gas shut-off valve. 

Step 2: Remove the combustion chamber cover panel. Then detach the burner assembly from the gas valve and gently slide the assembly out from the combustion chamber.

Step 3: Inspect the burner surface and port areas for cleaning. Take a soft bristle brush and a vacuum cleaner to suck up all the dirt & debris accumulation from the surface.

Step 4: Pull out the main burner orifice from the main feeding using a ½” wrench. Clean the orifice. Replace if necessary. 

Step 5: Reassemble the burner assembly back into the combustion chamber and re-install all the attachments with the gas control valve. Then simply relight the pilot. 

If still, there is the same error, be sure you’re encountering restricted pilot assembly. Clean the restricted pilot tube and dirty pilot electrode. Use a fine emery cloth for cleaning. 

Also, fix the damaged wiring to the pilot assembly and replace the deteriorated one. Finally, check if the pilot electrode touches the pilot hood. The distance between the electrode and hood should be 3/32”.

7. Status Light Blinking 7 Times

7 flashes in the Bradford white water heater status light is the error indication of fault detection in the flammable vapor sensor or resettable thermal switch. The FV sensor might sense flammable vapor nearby and goes out of specification mode.

There are a few more factors that are responsible for this fault detection:

• FV sensor is exposed to excessive moisture or extreme ambient temperature.
• Or malfunctioning of the thermal switch.

How To Fix:

As your heater is in a soft lockout mode, first you need to reset the FVS to unlock the mode. Follow the steps below:

• First off, turn off the heater and unplug it from the power connection.
• Wait for 10-15 minutes and then plug your heater back in the power connection. 
• Head to the pilot control knob and flip it from Low to High. Then again flip it from High to Low. Repeat this attempt 5-6 times. 
• The status light should stop blinking.

If still, there is the same code, test the continuity of the FVS. Take a multimeter and set it to Ohm settings. After that, measure the resistance of this sensor. Also, measure the resistance of the thermal switch. 

Both sensors should give a resistance reading between 3,000 and 48,000 ohms. If not, replace the faulty thermal switch and FV sensor.

FAQ:

Why is my Bradford White water heater not getting hot?

If your water heater is not heating anymore, it is sure there is a faulty power supply. Wrong wiring connections, defective heating elements, tripped circuit breakers, blown fuses, and a faulty thermostat are some of the major reasons for this issue.

How long will it take for a water heater to heat up after resetting?

If you have a gas water heater, it will take up to 60-70 minutes to heat the water after resetting. But in the case of an electric tank water heater, it will take about 120 minutes.

How do I check the resistance of the FV sensor on my water heater?

First, set the gas control to the Off position. Detach the FVS and measure the resistance with a multimeter. You can’t use the regular multimeter to test the continuity as it may damage the connector. 

Wrapping Up

At the end point of our discussion, we hope you are now clear about all the Bradford White water heater status light blinking code, their meaning, and the correct procedures to resolve them.

Whatever the error will be, you can easily decode the error and fix the specific problem by following our guide. 

Still, if you face any troubles while fixing this issue, don’t be late to let us know through comments. We are always here for you.