A. O. Smith 7 flashes
A. O. Smith water heater 7 flashes: gas control valve failure
Short answer
Seven flashes means the gas control valve has failed. A. O. Smith's instructions are to turn the gas control knob to OFF, shut off the main gas supply to the heater, and replace the gas control valve.
Seven flashes is the gas control valve reporting an internal failure. It is one of the clearest codes on these heaters: the part that needs replacing is the valve itself.
These codes apply to standard atmospheric A. O. Smith gas tanks with a status light on the gas control valve. Power vent, condensing and tankless models use different codes, so check the label on your heater if the pattern does not match.
If you smell gas, do not relight or reset anything and do not touch electrical switches. Leave the building and call your gas utility from outside.
What to do
- Turn the gas control knob to OFF.
- Turn off the main gas supply valve on the line to the water heater.
- Call a technician to replace the gas control valve.
Repair or replace?
A gas control valve is one of the more expensive parts on a tank heater. On a tank under about eight years old, replacing the valve usually makes sense. On an older tank, especially one showing rust or rumbling, a new water heater may be the better use of the money.
Common questions
Can a gas valve that flashes 7 times be reset?
No. Seven flashes means the valve has failed and needs to be replaced.
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Other A. O. Smith codes
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 flashes | Light off: pilot out or thermopile not yet warm |
| Solid red | Solid red light: pilot recently went out, thermopile cooling |
| 2 flashes | Pilot lit but thermopile output too low |
| 4 flashes | Water temperature too high (high limit tripped) |
| 5 flashes | Temperature sensor (thermistor) failure |
| 7 flashes | Gas control valve failure |
| 8 flashes | Thermopile still producing power with the knob off (pilot valve may be stuck open) |