Bradford White Water Heater Error Code 1 flash every sec (WR Electronic)

One flash per second on a Bradford White water heater with a White Rodgers electronic control means the main burner is currently lit and the thermostat is calling for heat. This is a normal operation indicator, not an error code. The main gas valve is open and the unit is actively heating water. No service or reset is required.

Yes, it is completely safe. The one-flash-per-second pattern simply means the burner is on and heating water as intended. Normal hot water use is fine during this time. The heater will shut the burner off automatically once the water reaches the thermostat setpoint.

The one-flash pattern itself is always a sign of normal burner operation, but an unusually long or continuous heating cycle could point to a separate issue worth checking. Possible explanations include a very high thermostat setpoint, significant heat loss from uninsulated pipes, a failing thermostat that holds the call for heat too long, or exceptionally high hot water demand. If the water never gets hot despite the burner running, a technician should inspect the unit.

No action is needed when you see one flash per second. This pattern confirms the heater is working correctly. If the pattern continues for an unusually long time without the water getting hot, that would be worth investigating further, but the flash code itself does not indicate a problem.

Resetting the control is not necessary and will not change anything permanently. If you reset the unit while the burner is running, it will simply reinitiate its startup sequence and return to the same one-flash pattern once the burner relights. Because this is a normal operation indicator and not a fault, there is no error to clear.