richmond water heater burner improperly burning orange flame?

The flame of any natural-gas appliance should be blue in color (with maybe a little yellow at the very tip of the flame). The orange flame of your water heater indicates that the gas is not combusting efficiently, and it's a sure sign that your heater needs adjustment or repair. This is also a safety concern because it usually means more soot (and possibly carbon monoxide) than normal is being produced by the burner each time it is used.

First, check if your burner is getting enough ventilation to facilitate proper combustion of the gas. Without enough air, the gas won't burn efficiently. Visually inspect your water heater to make sure any vents or flues are free of obstruction. Remove any items on or near the water heater that may be blocking air flow.

If that doesn't help, it's possible the orifices in the burner are clogged or dirty. Burners can accumulate scale, which is a by-product of combustion. Over time, this can limit gas flow. If this is the case, then the burners in your water heater may need to be cleaned. Check the service manual that came with your unit for the proper method for cleaning the burner.

Are you sure the pilot light is blown out each time the heater reaches set temperature? These devices are obviously designed to shut off once programmed temp is reached, which is a good thing. If the burner shuts off BEFORE reaching programmed temp, then this may indicate excessive heat is building up in the unit and tripping a thermal switch. Again, this may be a clue that the problem stems from obstructed air flow and insufficient ventilation.

Hope this helps!