Bradford White 10 flashes
Bradford White 10 flashes: not enough combustion air
Short answer
Ten flashes means the gas valve detected insufficient combustion air. Bradford White's service steps are checking gas pressure, cleaning the ScreenLok vapor screen, checking the venting and cleaning the burner.
Ten flashes means the heater decided it cannot get enough air to burn safely. Bradford White designed its control to recognize airflow restricted by heavy lint, dust and oil buildup on the burner screen.
Bradford White changed its status codes in January 2019. Units with a serial number date code of TA or later use the newer ICON 2.0 table; older units use ICON 1.0. The first two letters of the serial number on the rating label tell you which one you have.
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.
Common causes
- Lint and dust clogging the flame arrestor screen at the base of the heater
- A closet or small room without enough air supply
- Venting problems
What to do
Have the heater serviced: the screen and burner cleaned, the venting inspected and the gas pressure checked. Keep the area around the heater clean, and make sure closet doors or louvers that supply air are not blocked.
Common questions
Why does my Bradford White flash 10 times in the garage?
Garages collect lint, dust and sawdust that clog the flame arrestor screen. Cleaning restores the airflow.
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Other Bradford White codes
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 2 flashes | Weak pilot signal (thermopile getting weak) |
| 3 flashes | Water not heating as fast as expected (ICON 1.0) |
| 4 flashes | High tank temperature |
| 5 flashes | Gas valve thermostat sensor fault |
| 6 flashes | Chamber door temperature sensor out of specification |
| 7 flashes | Gas valve electronic fault (ICON 1.0) |
| 8 flashes | Pilot stays lit with the knob off (ICON 1.0) |
| 9 flashes | Tank leak detected by accessory leak sensor |
| 10 flashes | Insufficient combustion air detected |