62 flashesBradford White · Ultra Low NOx D series gas · Water Heater

Bradford White Ultra Low NOx D series gas error code 62 flashes

Flue damper moved off fully open during the run

Needs attention soon

Also written as six-two, 6-2, six two flashes

Quick answer

On Bradford White Ultra Low NOx D series gas, 62 flashes is a fault. It means flue damper moved off fully open during the run. A first thing to check: Damper moved from its full open position during the run cycle.

Applies to: Bradford White Ultra Low NOx D series gas; Bradford White Ultra Low NOx residential D series gas codes · Water Heater
Type of code: Fault; Urgency: Needs attention soon
First safe check: Look for anything that has been moved near or above the unit, and put it back where it was.

Checked 2026-09-26

What 62 flashes means on this model

The damper opened correctly and then moved while the burner was on, which the control treats as a fault. Something has usually been moved or hit near the flue, and the control waits five minutes before resetting itself.

Symptoms you will notice

Six-two flashes, then a three second pause, repeating
Unit runs, then stops with a knocking sound from the flue
Something has clearly been moved or hit near the flue recently
Water goes cold during a draw with the burner still running
Problem started after attic work, rafter work, or moving stored items

Common causes

The code tells you what the control detected, not which part failed. These are the causes we see most often, roughly in order of likelihood:

Damper moved from its full open position during the run cycle
Obstructed venting
Failed damper
Damper jostled during the run cycle, for example by a foot, a ladder, or stored items
Worn damper linkage letting the vane drift under its own weight

What you can safely check

These are homeowner-level checks. None of them need you to open a live electrical compartment or work on gas.

Look for anything that has been moved near or above the unit, and put it back where it was.
Watch the damper through the draft hood for a full heat cycle and see whether it moves on its own.
Confirm nothing in the attic is resting on or bracing the flue pipe, which can move the damper.
Check that the damper is not being held partly open by a loose bracket or a cable.

Do not do these

×Do not tie, wedge, or tape the damper in its open position to stop the code. That removes the reason the control is checking it.
×Do not store anything against the flue or in the damper path.
×Do not ignore repeated six-two flashes. Each one means the burner ran with a partial draft path, which is a combustion quality problem.

When to call a technician

Book a technician, do not keep resetting it

This fault will not clear on its own. Every power cycle gives the control one more failed attempt, and repeated attempts are what turn a cheap part replacement into a seized or contaminated system.

This is a fuel-burning appliance, so treat anything involving a burner, gas valve or flue as technician work. If you smell gas at any point, leave the property and call the gas utility from outside rather than continuing to diagnose.
If the appliance has stopped mid-cycle, is making a noise you have not heard before, or smells burnt, stop reading here and call. Those are symptoms of something the fault code does not describe well enough.

Moving stored items and watching the damper is reasonable for a homeowner. Replacing the mechanism is a licensed technician job.

What it costs to fix

Parts

Flue damper assembly $90 to $260. Damper linkage or bracket $20 to $80.

Labor

One to two hours for a damper replacement or a bracket repair.

DIY or technician