A.O. Smith gas water heater status light: Status light off (0 flashes)
The pilot light is not lit, or there is not enough power (millivolts) from the thermopile to keep it lit.
If you smell gas
Stop: do not relight or troubleshoot anything. A.O. Smith’s own words (Residential Gas Water Heater Installation Instructions and Use & Care Guide 100263112, cover page):
- Do not try to light any appliance.
- Do not touch any electrical switch; do not use any phone in your building.
- Immediately call your gas supplier from a neighbor’s phone. Follow the gas supplier’s instructions.
- If you cannot reach your gas supplier, call the fire department.
Calling from a neighbor’s phone means leaving the building first.
What you see: the status light is off. Applies to: A.O. Smith residential atmospheric gas water heaters with the Flammable Vapor Ignition Resistant safety system and an electronic gas control valve. State heaters use the same codes.
What it means
The manual’s wording: “0 FLASHES (LED NOT LIT)” — A.O. Smith and State electronic gas control valve.
The pilot light is not lit, or there is not enough power (millivolts) from the thermopile to keep it lit.
What A.O. Smith tells the owner to do
- A.O. Smith says to follow the lighting instructions on the front of the water heater and record any diagnostic codes.
- A.O. Smith says a lighting attempt means holding the knob in at PILOT and clicking the igniter about once a second for up to 90 seconds; if the light has not started flashing, release the knob and wait 10 minutes before trying again, for at least three attempts in all.
- A.O. Smith says that if the light still has not started flashing after three attempts, turn the gas control knob to OFF; if the pilot still will not light, call a qualified person.
semiatic gives no repair instructions of its own. The steps above are only the ones A.O. Smith addresses to the owner in its manual.
When to call a qualified service agency
A.O. Smith’s manual: “Installation and service must be performed by a qualified installer, service agency or the gas supplier.” Its Technical Assistance Hotline is 1-800-527-1953; have the model and serial number from the data plate ready.
Source
A.O. Smith’s own manuals, read on the date shown.
- A.O. Smith: Residential Gas Water Heater Installation Instructions and Use & Care Guide (100263112, January 2015), “Status Light Code Troubleshooting Chart” and “Lighting the Pilot” — A.O. Smith residential atmospheric gas water heaters with the Flammable Vapor Ignition Resistant safety system and an electronic gas control valve. assets.hotwater.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- State Water Heaters (A.O. Smith): Residential Standard Gas Water Heater Service Handbook (327306), “Diagnostic Flash Codes” — State residential standard (atmospheric) gas water heaters with the electronic gas control valve/thermostat — a handbook written for qualified service professionals. www.statewaterheaters.com Checked 2026-09-29.
The same pattern on other brands
The same count on another maker’s gas control can mean something else.