The LED on a Bradford White gas valve reports status by flashing. Two flashes means a weak pilot signal. Three means slow heating, four means the tank got too hot, five is a temperature sensor fault, six a leak alert, seven a gas valve fault and eight a stuck pilot valve. A solid light means wait.
How do I read the Bradford White status light?
Bradford White's manuals describe a green LED on the gas control. Error flash codes display with a pause of about three seconds before the pattern repeats, so watch one full cycle and count what comes before the pause. A phone video helps, because counting by eye is easy to get wrong.
Two things to know before you start:
- The light needs the pilot. With no pilot and no power from the thermopile, the LED does not light. Bradford White's chart lists "no LED" as a heater that is not in operation, and the action is to follow the lighting instructions on the water heater.
- There are two generations of gas valve. Bradford White's Quick Service Guide has one chart for its ICON 1.0 control, for serial date codes "TA" (January 2019) and earlier, and another for ICON 2.0, for later serial date codes. Most codes read the same. A few differ, and the differences are in the table below. The guide says to check the manufacture date using the manufacturer's contractor app or its website if the serial number is near the change.
What does each flash pattern mean?
This table follows Bradford White's Quick Service Guide, with the installation manual and service manual for detail.
| Flashes | What it means | What Bradford White says to do |
|---|---|---|
| No light | No pilot, no power from the thermopile, or heater not in operation | Follow the lighting instructions on the water heater |
| 1 flash, then a pause | Knob is at PILOT or the thermostat is satisfied. No fault. | Nothing. Set the knob to your temperature. |
| 2 quick flashes (strobe) or 1 flash every second, depending on model | Thermostat is calling for heat. No fault. | Nothing. |
| Solid on | Knob was recently turned to OFF | Wait until the LED goes out before relighting |
| 2 flashes | Weak pilot signal | Verify the pilot is lit, check the thermopile voltage output and the wire connections at the gas valve |
| 3 flashes (ICON 1.0) | Gas valve has not seen a temperature rise in the proper time | Check the temperature probe ohms |
| 4 flashes | High tank temperature | Check the temperature probe, check whether the tank temperature exceeds the setpoint, verify there is no heat migration in the plumbing system |
| 5 flashes | Thermostat sensor fault | Check the temperature probe and its connection, then replace the gas valve if needed |
| 6 flashes | Leak detected by the accessory module, if one is installed | Refer to the accessory module troubleshooting |
| 7 flashes (ICON 1.0) | Gas valve fault | Reset the gas valve, replace it if the fault persists |
| 8 flashes (ICON 1.0) | Pilot remains lit while the knob is in the off position | Check gas pressure, replace the gas valve |
The two lists of possible parts are worth a look. Bradford White names the pilot assembly and the gas valve for a 2 flash code, and the gas valve, its cover and the temperature probe for the higher codes. Those are gas valve parts, which is licensed technician work.
Which codes can I handle myself?
Three are yours to deal with, and only as far as the manual goes.
No light. Follow the lighting instructions printed on the heater. Bradford White's manual has one warning worth repeating: wait at least two minutes after the control is pressurized with gas before you try to light the pilot or press the igniter button. Failure to do so, the manual says, may result in serious injury. If you smell gas at any point, stop. Do not light anything. The service manual's fix for a pilot that will not stay lit is to replace the pilot assembly, and if the problem persists, the gas control, which is a job for a technician.
Solid light. Not an error. It means the control is shutting down after you turned the knob to OFF. Wait until the light goes out before you relight.
Two flashes. The pilot is lit, but the signal from the thermopile is weak. The Honeywell control chart in Bradford White's service manual lists four causes for it: a failing thermopile, an unstable pilot, a blocked or restricted pilot tube, or a resettable thermal switch that has opened. Our page on why a water heater pilot light will not stay lit explains the parts involved.
### What about the flame arrestor and the thermal switch?
Bradford White's heaters use a flammable vapor ignition resistant design, and the manual describes three parts of it: a flame arrestor, a resettable thermal switch that prevents the burner and pilot from running with restricted airflow, and a sight window so you can watch the pilot and burner.
If flammable vapors, such as gasoline fumes, are drawn into the heater and burn, the system activates. The manual's instructions for that event are blunt. Do not light any appliance, do not touch any switch or phone in the building, leave, and call the fire department from a neighbor's phone. Once the vapor has cleared, contact a plumbing professional or the manufacturer. The manual adds that replacing a heater after a flammable vapor shutdown is not covered under the limited warranty, so keep gasoline, paint thinner and solvents out of the room.
The same manual warns against blocking the airflow to the heater, and says the inner door must go back in its original position with the resettable thermal switch properly connected after any service.
### What about a gas smell?
That comes first, before any code. If you smell gas, leave. Do not use switches or a phone inside. Once you are outside, Southwest Gas customers in the Phoenix area should call 911 and the utility's emergency line at 877-860-6020.
### What will a technician check?
For most codes, a technician tests the parts Bradford White names. That means the pilot flame and pilot assembly, thermopile voltage, the resistance of the temperature probe, and wire connections at the gas valve. Bradford White's guide also notes checking all wire connections, gas inlet and manifold gas pressure, and the grounding connections.
For a 4 flash code, Bradford White's guide also has the technician check whether the tank temperature exceeds the setpoint and verify there is no heat migration in the plumbing system.
When should I call a plumber?
Call for any code from three flashes up, for a 2 flash code that stays after a relight, for a pilot that will not stay lit, or for a heater that keeps shutting down. A 6 flash code also matters: it means water was detected in the drain pan or water dam, and a leak deserves attention even if the heater still heats.
HQ Plumbing and Air is licensed and insured and answers emergency calls 24/7. Your estimate is free and the price comes upfront. If the heater is old, our page on whether to repair or replace a water heater can help you weigh a gas valve repair against a new unit.
If you own another brand, see our pages on Rheem blinking light codes and A. O. Smith blinking light codes, which cover similar gas valves with different counts. Sediment in the tank is a separate Phoenix problem, and our page on how often to flush a water heater in Phoenix gives the schedule.