In the United States, Honeywell makes many products in and out of the home, From motion detectors to navigation systems for airlines. Honeywell also makes gas control valves that are used on several water heater brands.
When faced with a hot water supply issue, the first troubleshooting step is usually to reset the unit. But frustration ensues when you cannot figure out how to get that done.
I had the same frustration as you do when trying to locate Honeywell water heater reset button.
But it is important to note that manufacturers make reset buttons hard to access to prevent accidental activation.
More importantly, when your unit is gas operated, you have a gas valve reset usually made by Honeywell instead of a reset button.
This article will show you how to reset your Honeywell Water Heater.
How to Reset The Honeywell Gas Valve
Several water heater brands use the Honeywell gas valve. The gas valve has a manual reset to handle situations when your water heater malfunctions.
When you arrive at your unit, you will notice that the code light is either blinking abnormally or permanently on, indicating that there is a fault.
You can reset your Honeywell hot gas control valve in four steps.
Head to you hot water tank and make sure that the pilot light turned on.
Turn the gas valve knob to the “very hot” position for 10 seconds.
Turn the gas valve knob to the “hot” position for 10 seconds.
Turn the gas valve knob to the “pilot” position for 10 seconds
At the end of this sequence, the pilot light will begin blinking again.
Honeywell Hot Water Heater Control Valve
Where is the reset button on aHoneywell Water Heater
There is no manual reset button on the Honeywell water heater. But you can reset the unit by lighting the pilot and turning the gas valves knob to “very hot” for ten seconds, “hot” for ten seconds and to “pilot” for 10 seconds. Your code light will begin blinking normally
Gas powered water heaters do not have a reset button. The Honeywell Gas Valves control how hot the water temperature gets.
Electric units on the other hand typically have reset buttons.
Why is My Honeywell Hot Water Heater Tripping the Reset Button?
Honeywell designs its gas valves to trip as a safety precaution. When the water temperature rises in an uncontrolled fashion, the reset button is tripped.
Here are some reasons why the reset button may trip.
Bad Heating Element
The heating element is responsible for raising the temperature of the water in the tank.
If it is damaged or has a short in it, the temperature of the water will continue to rise. This triggers the reset button to trip because it is unable to communicate with the thermostat.
To resolve this issue, a replacement heating element may be required.
Pair of two corroded hot water heater elements.
Faulty Thermostat
The thermostats in the water heater are responsible for monitoring the temperature in the tank.
It operates by delivering signals to the heating element, which either turns on to boost the temperature or turns off to lower it.
If the thermostat fails, it is unable to perform its function, causing the reset button to trip since there is no communication between the thermostat and the heating element.
Electrical Problems (Bad or loose Wiring and Circuit breakers)
Electrical issues are a common cause for the Honeywell water heater’s reset button to trip. I normally start by looking for faulty wiring and damaged circuit breakers.
The reset button might be tripped by loose wires. In many circumstances, you can see when there is an issue with the wiring of your unit’s components. You may find burnt pieces, or when you delicately pull on a wire, it may entirely detach from the component to which it is attached.
Circuit breakers deteriorate as they age as well. When you open your electrical panel, you may notice that they are hot to the touch, and you may even smell burning.
Checking for and removing electrical problems as a possible reason of your unit’s reset button tripping is an important step in the troubleshooting process.
What setting should my Honeywell Gas Valve be on
Your Honeywell Gas Valve should be set at a temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the temperature recommended by thedepartment of energy.
This temperature maximizes the balance between what is needed for most home uses and controlling your energy costs. The hotter the temperature, the more energy is required to maintain that temperature because your Gas Valve will need to cycle on and off more frequently.
Honeywell Hot Water Heater Control Settings
The Honeywell Water Heater has the following Temperature Settings
Low
90 degrees
Hot
120 degrees
A
130 degrees
B
140 degrees
C
150 degrees
Very Hot
160 degrees
Honeywell Hot Water Heater Settings
One thing I have noticed is that the temperature setting at the water heater can be very different from the temperature at the point of use. Heat losses can occur all through your piping system. It is important to keep this in mind and use a thermometer to determine if the temperature is where you expect it to be.
How to Turn Up Honeywell Water Heater
The Honeywell Control Valve has three settings, A, B, C on the pilot light knob to control the maximum temperature of the water heater.
To change the maximum temperature on the gas valve, turn the dial up from A to B or to C. It is important to wait for at least 30 minutes for the switch in temperature to take full effect. It takes the heating elements that much time after the dial is adjusted to heat up the water that is in the tank.
Does a Honeywell Water Heater Thermostat Have a Battery
No. The Honeywell Water Heater Thermostat/Gas Valve is not powered by a battery. The thermostat is powered by a thermocouple. The thermocouple works by converting heat it generates in to electricity.
The heat is generated as a result of the deferential in conductivity that occurs within the thermocouple. That differential causes electrical current to flow which in turn powers the thermostat.
Thermocouple – Photo Credit Grainger Supply House
Honeywell Gas Valve Reset
Resetting your Honeywell Gas Valve is relatively easy once you realize that there is no reset button. Make sure that the pilot is turned on, switch the dial to “very hot” for 10 seconds, to “hot” for 10 seconds and to “pilot” for 10 seconds. This will reset your water heater.
