Rheem Water Heater - Flammable Vapor Sensor - jimmy rig temporary fix using resistors.

This temporary fix was used on a Rheem model #: XG50T12DM40U0, 50 gallon water heater originally purchased from Home Depot.
Rheem Flammable Vapor Sensor part #: SP20172
I also ordered a Rheem AP14720-1 Flammable Vapor Sensor Harness harness for good measure.

I kept getting a Flammable Vapor Sensor Fault after we did some painting in our basement, so the water heater wouldn't ignite, which is always a nice way to introduce yourself to the cold therapy fad going around.
There are several other videos out there helping you replace the sensor or explaining various work-arounds to get your water heater working until a replacement sensor can be found. However, I couldn't get anything to work, so I tried something I read in a comment which was to add a resistor in place of the sensor. A friend of mine had (2) 10k ohm resistors that I ran in series to produce 20k ohm resistance. I checked that with my volt meter and it read at 19.4k ohms.
I removed the sensor and ran the resistors in between the connection leads going to the Honeywell gas control valve, and then followed the instructions to reset the sensor. Plug power in, turn temperature setting to low, turn power switch to "On", then rotate the temperature control from low to very hot 7 times (I ended with it on low). The blue LED status light started to pulse (heartbeat), and a few seconds later I heard the igniter clicking and then the flame came on and started heating the water again.
This scenario was super easy once I had some resistors, and we were able to get hot water again in short order.
This should not be used as a permanent solution, but it did get us out of a pickle while we wait for a new sensor to arrive from Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...