System and methods for controlling a water heater

A control for a gas-fired water heater appliance having a flame arrestor in the air inlet to the burner, the appliance comprising:

• a pressure switch that closes upon sensing at least a predetermined level of airflow;
• a temperature switch that opens upon sensing a flue temperature above a predetermined temperature;
• and
• a processor for controlling the operation of the burner for heating the water in the tank to a desired temperature, the processor being further connected to the pressure switch and the temperature switch to sense burner shut down resulting from opening of either the temperature switch or pressure switch, wherein the processor discontinues and locks out further burner operation after the occurrence of a predetermined number of shutdowns before the water is heated to the desired temperature, in which shut downs the burner is shut down for more than a predetermined time period as a result of an open temperature switch
• wherein the predetermined number of consecutive shut downs is two shut downs, and the predetermined time period is in the range of about 150 seconds to about 210 seconds.

A control for a gas-fired water heater appliance having a flame arrestor in the air inlet to the burner, the appliance comprising:

• a pressure switch that closes upon sensing at least a predetermined level of airflow;
• a temperature switch that opens upon sensing a flue temperature above a predetermined temperature;
• and
• a processor for controlling the operation of the burner for heating the water in the tank to a desired temperature, the processor being further connected to the pressure switch and the temperature switch to sense burner shut down resulting from opening of either the temperature switch or pressure switch, wherein the processor discontinues and locks out further burner operation after the occurrence of a predetermined number of shut-downs before the water is heated to the desired temperature, in which shut downs the burner is shut down for more than a predetermined time period as a result of an open temperature switch;
• wherein the predetermined time period is in the range of about 150 seconds to about 210 seconds.

A gas-fired water heater appliance having a flame arrestor in the air inlet to the burner, the appliance comprising:

• a pressure switch that opens upon sensing at least a predetermined level of airflow;
• a temperature switch that opens upon sensing a flue temperature above a predetermined temperature;
• and
• a processor for controlling the operation of the burner being connected to the pressure switch and temperature switch, where upon sensing either an open temperature switch or an open pressure switch condition indicating the burner has shut down, the processor subsequently attempts to restart the burner, and eventually locks out burner operation after either a first predetermined number of consecutive shut downs occur in which the burner is shut down for more than a predetermined time period as a result of an open pressure switch, or after a second predetermined number of consecutive shut downs in which the burner is shut down for more than a predetermined time period as a result of an open temperature switch;
• wherein the predetermined time period is in the range of about 150 seconds to about 210 seconds.