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Error code reference

Bradford White Water Heater Error Code No LED

Gas control is not powered; pilot assembly is not lit

Bradford White codesBradford White water heater codes

Gas control is not powered; pilot assembly is not lit. Main and pilot burner are off.

First step from the service manual

Light pilot. If the pilot will not stay lit, replace pilot assembly. If problem persists, replace gas control.

The complete diagnostic procedure includes additional test steps, resistance specifications, wiring diagram references, and component test points.

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What No LED means on a Bradford White water heater

The "No LED" condition on a Bradford White water heater indicates that the gas control valve is receiving no power, and the pilot assembly is not lit. Because the gas control relies on a small electrical current generated by the pilot's thermocouple or thermopile to power its internal electronics and LED status indicator, a dark LED almost always means the pilot flame is out or was never established. With no pilot flame, no thermoelectric voltage is produced, the gas control remains de-energized, and both the pilot and main burners stay off.

The pilot assembly consists of the pilot burner, thermocouple or thermopile sensor, and the igniter. When the pilot is extinguished by a draft, a gas interruption, or a failed component, the thermocouple cools and its millivolt output drops to zero. The gas control interprets this as an unsafe condition and shuts off gas flow entirely. This is a deliberate safety function, not a fault in the control itself, though a faulty control can produce the same symptom.

Diagnosis begins with attempting to manually relight the pilot following the lighting instructions on the unit. If the pilot lights but will not stay lit after releasing the pilot button, the thermocouple or thermopile is likely weak, contaminated, or has failed and cannot hold the gas valve open. If the pilot cannot be established at all, or if replacing the pilot assembly does not restore normal operation, the gas control valve itself should be replaced, as its internal solenoid or electronics may have failed.

Source: manufacturer service documentation.

Common causes of No LED

  1. 01

    Pilot light is extinguished

    Wiring / connection

    The most frequent cause is simply a pilot flame that has gone out due to a draft, brief gas interruption, or accidental bump. Attempting to relight the pilot per the label instructions on the unit is always the first step.

  2. 02

    Failed thermocouple or thermopile

    Part replacement

    If the pilot lights but goes out when you release the pilot button, the thermocouple or thermopile is not generating enough millivoltage to hold the gas valve open. The sensor may be worn, contaminated with soot, or positioned incorrectly in the pilot flame.

  3. 03

    Clogged or damaged pilot assembly

    Part replacement

    Debris, spider webs, or corrosion inside the pilot orifice can prevent the pilot burner from maintaining a stable flame. A weak or yellow pilot flame instead of a strong blue one is a sign of a restricted or deteriorating pilot assembly.

  4. 04

    Interrupted gas supply

    Wiring / connection

    A closed shutoff valve, empty gas supply, or low gas pressure upstream of the water heater will prevent the pilot from lighting or staying lit. Check that the gas shutoff valve is fully open and that other gas appliances in the home are functioning normally.

  5. 05

    Failed gas control valve

    Part replacement

    If a new pilot assembly is installed and the pilot still will not stay lit or the LED remains off, the gas control valve's internal solenoid, thermopile input circuit, or electronics have likely failed and the entire gas control must be replaced.

See the test procedure for each cause

Frequently asked questions about No LED

What does No LED mean on a Bradford White water_heater?
No LED means the gas control valve is not receiving power and the pilot light is not lit. Without an active pilot flame, the thermocouple or thermopile produces no voltage to energize the gas control, so the status LED stays dark and both the pilot and main burners remain off. This condition causes the water heater to stop heating entirely.
How do I fix a No LED condition on my Bradford White water heater?
Start by relighting the pilot following the step-by-step instructions printed on the water heater label. If the pilot lights but goes out when you release the button, the pilot assembly including the thermocouple or thermopile likely needs to be replaced. If the pilot will not light at all after the assembly is replaced, the gas control valve itself must be replaced.
Is a No LED condition on a Bradford White water heater a safety hazard?
The No LED condition itself is not a hazardous failure. It means the heater has safely shut down because no pilot flame was detected, which prevents unburned gas from being released through the main burner. You should still check for any smell of gas near the unit before attempting to relight the pilot, and if you detect a strong gas odor, leave the area and contact your gas utility before proceeding.
Will resetting the water heater clear the No LED condition?
There is no electronic reset that will restore operation when the LED is completely off, because the gas control has no power to reset. The condition can only be cleared by successfully relighting the pilot, which restores thermoelectric voltage to the gas control and allows the LED to activate. If the pilot cannot be kept lit, the underlying component failure must be corrected first.
How much does it cost to repair a Bradford White water heater with No LED?
If the pilot simply needs to be relit, there is no parts cost. Replacing a pilot assembly typically runs in the range of $20 to $80 for parts, plus labor if a technician performs the work. A gas control valve replacement is more involved and parts alone generally range from $100 to $300 depending on the model, with professional labor adding to the total cost.

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