Hot Water Heater Stuck on Full Blast

[clicknathan]

After not using the hot water tank heater for a couple of months, and at the same time replacing some of the gas lines going to it, I went to fire her up last night and notice that the heater is stuck on full blast.

The lever that typically regulates how much gas is coming out doesn't have any effect, except that it will respect the "off" position but any attempt to turn it even slightly on will result in a ton of flame, so much that it's coming up out of the exhaust vent.

Has anyone ever experienced this before?

[cwf]

Just noticed your post.. too much pressure? is valve you installed rated for gas? what model heater? if too much pressure and restrictions on airflow, combustion might not complete before exit. what is flame color?

[kevin1975]

I have a 1965 safari turned on switch to pilot , it fired up full flame , then I turned knob to on and covered it up came bak 10 minutes later and knob was burned up. This happened because the small rubber gasket was so deteriorated. The valve that the knob was attached to never closed. Good luck.