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A.O. Smith · GPVT-50 Power Vent 50 Gal 38,000 BTU Power Vent Gas Water Heater with Electronic Ignition

A.O. Smith GPVT-50 Power Vent 50 Gal 38,000 BTU Power Vent Gas Water Heater with Electronic Ignition 2 Flashes Error Fix: Thermopile Voltage Low

The thermopile is not generating sufficient voltage to keep the gas valve open. The pilot may go out or the main burner may not ignite. Clean the thermopile tip with fine sandpaper to remove soot and carbon buildup. Check the thermopile wire connections at the gas control valve — they should be tight and free of corrosion. Measure thermopile voltage with a multimeter — it should read at least 400mV (millivolts) in open circuit. Replace the thermopile if voltage is below 350mV.

Medium severity2 fixes available

Quick Answer

Error 2 Flashes on the A.O. Smith GPVT-50 Power Vent 50 Gal 38,000 BTU Power Vent Gas Water Heater with Electronic Ignition means: Thermopile Voltage Low. The top-ranked community fix is “Test and Replace Thermopile if Voltage is Low” (medium difficulty, ~45 min, DIY cost: $15-$25). 2 community-ranked fixes available below.

Published February 2026 · 2 fixes · water heater

Content is based on manufacturer service documentation, community repair experience, and OEM technical bulletins. Always verify with your owner's manual.Learn about our editorial standards.

When to Call a Professional

While many water heater repairs can be done safely at home, consider hiring a qualified technician if:

The repair involves electrical wiring, gas lines, or refrigerant
You've tried the top-ranked fix and the error persists
You smell gas, see sparking, or notice water leaking
The repair requires specialized tools you don't have
Your appliance is still under manufacturer warranty

Average professional repair cost for this issue: $120-$180.

Other A.O. Smith Models with Error 2 Flashes

GCR-40 ProLine 40 Gal 38,000 BTU ProLine Gas Water Heater with Energy Saver

water_heater · 2 fixes

GNVR-50 ProMax Gas 50 Gal 40,000 BTU ProMax Gas Water Heater with Electronic Ignition

water_heater · 2 fixes

GPVL-50 ProLine XE 50 Gal 38,000 BTU ProLine XE Power Vent Gas Water Heater

water_heater · 2 fixes

Other A.O. Smith GPVT-50 Power Vent 50 Gal 38,000 BTU Power Vent Gas Water Heater with Electronic Ignition Error Codes

1 Flash

Normal Operation

2 fixes

4 Flashes

Temperature Exceeded High Limit

2 fixes

5 Flashes

Temperature Sensor Failure

2 fixes

7 Flashes

Gas Control Valve Failure

2 fixes

8 Flashes

Loss of Pilot Signal

2 fixes

People Also Ask About A.O. Smith GPVT-50 Power Vent 50 Gal 38,000 BTU Power Vent Gas Water Heater with Electronic Ignition Error 2 Flashes

What does error code 2 Flashes mean on a A.O. Smith GPVT-50 Power Vent 50 Gal 38,000 BTU Power Vent Gas Water Heater with Electronic Ignition?

Error code 2 Flashes on the A.O. Smith GPVT-50 Power Vent 50 Gal 38,000 BTU Power Vent Gas Water Heater with Electronic Ignition means: Thermopile Voltage Low. The thermopile is not generating sufficient voltage to keep the gas valve open. The pilot may go out or the main burner may not ignite. Clean the thermopile tip with fine sandpaper to remove soot and carbon buildup. Check the thermopile wire connections at the gas control valve — they should be tight and free of corrosion. Measure thermopile voltage with a multimeter — it should read at least 400mV (millivolts) in open circuit. Replace the thermopile if voltage is below 350mV.

How do I fix error code 2 Flashes on my A.O. Smith GPVT-50 Power Vent 50 Gal 38,000 BTU Power Vent Gas Water Heater with Electronic Ignition?

The most successful fix is "Test and Replace Thermopile if Voltage is Low" (medium difficulty, ~45 minutes). Estimated DIY cost: $15-$25. HomeMD has 2 community-ranked fixes for this error.

Is error code 2 Flashes on a A.O. Smith GPVT-50 Power Vent 50 Gal 38,000 BTU Power Vent Gas Water Heater with Electronic Ignition serious?

This error is rated medium severity. It should be addressed soon, but your appliance may still function in a limited capacity.

Can I fix A.O. Smith GPVT-50 Power Vent 50 Gal 38,000 BTU Power Vent Gas Water Heater with Electronic Ignition error 2 Flashes myself?

Yes — the top-ranked community fix ("Test and Replace Thermopile if Voltage is Low") is rated medium difficulty and takes about 45 minutes. Tools needed: Phillips screwdriver, Multimeter (millivolt setting), Needle-nose pliers.

How much does it cost to repair A.O. Smith GPVT-50 Power Vent 50 Gal 38,000 BTU Power Vent Gas Water Heater with Electronic Ignition error 2 Flashes?

DIY cost: $15-$25. Professional repair typically costs $120-$180. Many homeowners save money by trying the top-ranked community fix first.

What other error codes does the A.O. Smith GPVT-50 Power Vent 50 Gal 38,000 BTU Power Vent Gas Water Heater with Electronic Ignition have?

The A.O. Smith GPVT-50 Power Vent 50 Gal 38,000 BTU Power Vent Gas Water Heater with Electronic Ignition has 5 other known error codes, including: 1 Flash (Normal Operation), 4 Flashes (Temperature Exceeded High Limit), 5 Flashes (Temperature Sensor Failure), 7 Flashes (Gas Control Valve Failure), 8 Flashes (Loss of Pilot Signal).

Which other A.O. Smith models have the 2 Flashes error?

Error code 2 Flashes also appears on 3 other A.O. Smith models: GCR-40 ProLine 40 Gal 38,000 BTU ProLine Gas Water Heater with Energy Saver, GNVR-50 ProMax Gas 50 Gal 40,000 BTU ProMax Gas Water Heater with Electronic Ignition, GPVL-50 ProLine XE 50 Gal 38,000 BTU ProLine XE Power Vent Gas Water Heater. The fix may vary by model, so check each model's specific page for tailored repair steps.

What other error codes does the A.O. Smith GPVT-50 Power Vent 50 Gal 38,000 BTU Power Vent Gas Water Heater with Electronic Ignition have?

The A.O. Smith GPVT-50 Power Vent 50 Gal 38,000 BTU Power Vent Gas Water Heater with Electronic Ignition has 5 other known error codes:

1 Flash — Normal Operation (2 fixes)
4 Flashes — Temperature Exceeded High Limit (2 fixes)
5 Flashes — Temperature Sensor Failure (2 fixes)
7 Flashes — Gas Control Valve Failure (2 fixes)
8 Flashes — Loss of Pilot Signal (2 fixes)

Which other A.O. Smith models have the 2 Flashes error?

Error code 2 Flashes also appears on 3 other A.O. Smith models:

GCR-40 ProLine 40 Gal 38,000 BTU ProLine Gas Water Heater with Energy Saver (water heater) · 2 fixes
GNVR-50 ProMax Gas 50 Gal 40,000 BTU ProMax Gas Water Heater with Electronic Ignition (water heater) · 2 fixes
GPVL-50 ProLine XE 50 Gal 38,000 BTU ProLine XE Power Vent Gas Water Heater (water heater) · 2 fixes

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