How to Turn on a Whirlpool Water Heater: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you’ve just installed a new Whirlpool water heater or you’ve recently experienced a power outage, you may be wondering how to turn your water heater back on. In this article, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to turn on your Whirlpool water heater safely and efficiently.
If you’ve just installed a new Whirlpool water heater or you’ve recently experienced a power outage, you may be wondering how to turn your water heater back on. In this article, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to turn on your Whirlpool water heater safely and efficiently.
How to Turn on a Whirlpool Water Heater
Depending on the model and type of your Whirlpool water heater, you may have different methods to turn it on. Here are some general steps to follow:
- Locate the gas valve and the pilot switch on the water heater. The gas valve should have three settings: OFF, ON and PILOT. The pilot switch should have a red button that activates the igniter.
- Turn off all hot water faucets in your home.
- Turn the gas valve to OFF and wait for 5 minutes for any gas to clear.
- Turn the gas valve to PILOT and press it down firmly.
- Press and release the igniter switch repeatedly until you see a spark and hear a click.
- Keep holding down the gas valve knob until you see a steady blue pilot flame through the sight glass. This may take up to 90 seconds.
- Release the gas valve knob and turn it to ON.
- Set the thermostat to your desired temperature.
If your Whirlpool water heater has an electronic ignition system, you may not have a pilot switch or a sight glass. In that case, you can follow these steps:
- Locate the gas valve and the power switch on the water heater. The gas valve should have two settings: OFF and ON. The power switch should have an indicator light that shows if the unit is powered or not.
- Turn off all hot water faucets in your home.
- Turn the gas valve to OFF and wait for 5 minutes for any gas to clear.
- Turn on the power switch and check if the indicator light is on. If it is not, check if there is power to the outlet where the water heater is plugged in.
- Turn the gas valve to ON and wait for a few seconds for the unit to start up. You should hear a click and a whoosh sound indicating that the burner is igniting.
- Set the thermostat to your desired temperature.