I HAVE A RICHMOND POWER VENT GAS WATER HEATER WITH A NOISY BLOWER.. CAN YOU OIL TO REDUCE NOISE OR WHERE CAN YOU BUY A NEW ONE?

SOURCE: water heater not heating it's a richmond water heater

Now change the thermostats........this is the only other thing it could possibly be.

SOURCE: i have a richmond gas hot water heater model

resetting your lock out for richmond power vent

SOURCE: pilot light on water heater goes out frequently

Check the following:

See if your heater has a pilot gas adjustment valve. It should be on the gas control valve somewhere. Not all heaters have these. It will be a screw on the valve that can be turned.

Make sure the thermocouple sensing bulb is squarely in the pilot flame and also check that the fitting where the other end of the thermocouple connects to the main gas valve is tight.

Check the pilot gas orifice (where the pilot gas comes out) for carbon build up - you may need to remove the pilot gas line and thermocouple assembly to get to this. This problem is pretty common.

Check the gas pressure to the heater. Run the hot water in the dwelling until the hot water heater starts. Check the flame on the main burner and see what color it is - it should be blue with possibly some yellow-tipped flames. If not, there could be a problem with the gas pressure at the heater or venting. If the heater has a gas pressure regulator, it may be out of adjustment or defective.

Finally, and this isn't very common, the pilot light can be extinguished if there is a draft problem, usually associated with an issue with the flue pipe venting system for the heater or another nearby gas consuming appliance.

Testimonial: "thank you. will try these suggestions tomorrow. really appreciate it."

SOURCE: I have a 50 gallon

The accumulation of condensation in the vent piping is more than likly the problem. I am guessing the vent piping is either 3-inch or 2-inch. You need to splice in a "T" fitting reduced down to 3/4-inch with a 3/4-inch tubing attached and run this to a sutible drain. This will drain the condensation elimiating the accumulation in the vent assembly. Install this "T" fitting about 3-feet down stream from the vent motor.These supples and fittings can be found at a Home Depot or Lowes store.

SOURCE: I have a richmond power

Fastest way to solve water heater problem is call plumber or service technician.

Open following link for typical error codes for intellivent gas valve found on newer Richmond/Rhemm power-vent gas water heaters:
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Intelli-vent-gas-valve2.pdf
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Intellivent-service-manual.pdf

There is no 100% sure way for novice to repair gas water heater.
This is because electrical parts have to ohm-tested using information from service manual that is typically not sent with new water heater.
Also parts have to be cleaned. The gas pressure checked, air in gas line removed, burner tubes and pilot tube and combustion chamber cleaned, burner parts inspected for problems, air intake cleaned, exhaust vent tested.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-install-gas-water-heater.html#troubleshoot

Best way for do-it-yourselfer to solve water heater problems is to learn as much as possible about specific model by reading product manual that comes with new heater.
The manual will show error codes.
Then keep up with yearly service recommendations shown in manual.