diff --git a/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/common/utils.py b/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/common/utils.py
index 2fc58ceb3b..866e72fafd 100644
--- a/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/common/utils.py
+++ b/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/common/utils.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ import fcntl
 import glob
 import grp
 import hashlib
+import io
 import itertools as it
 import json
 import keyring
@@ -2034,7 +2035,7 @@ def find_metadata_file(path, metadata_file, upgrade_from_release=None):
     patches = []
     metadata_path = os.path.join(path, metadata_file)
     if os.path.isfile(metadata_path):
-        with open(metadata_path, 'r') as f:
+        with io.open(metadata_path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             try:
                 doc = yaml.safe_load(f)
                 app_name = doc['app_name']
@@ -2311,7 +2312,7 @@ def find_metadata_file(path, metadata_file, upgrade_from_release=None):
 def find_manifest_file(path):
     """ Find all manifest files in a given directory. """
     def _is_manifest(yaml_file):
-        with open(yaml_file, 'r') as f:
+        with io.open(yaml_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             docs = yaml.load_all(f)
             for doc in docs:
                 try:
@@ -2498,7 +2499,7 @@ def get_app_supported_kube_version(app_name, app_version):
     kube_max_version = None
     if (os.path.exists(app_metadata_path) and
             os.path.getsize(app_metadata_path) > 0):
-        with open(app_metadata_path, 'r') as f:
+        with io.open(app_metadata_path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             y = yaml.safe_load(f)
             supported_kube_version = y.get('supported_k8s_version', {})
             kube_min_version = supported_kube_version.get('minimum', None)
diff --git a/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/conductor/kube_app.py b/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/conductor/kube_app.py
index 370f815427..398e610067 100644
--- a/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/conductor/kube_app.py
+++ b/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/conductor/kube_app.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from eventlet.green import subprocess
 import glob
 import grp
 import functools
+import io
 import os
 import pkg_resources
 import pwd
@@ -521,11 +522,11 @@ class AppOperator(object):
         manifest_update_required = False
 
         if os.path.exists(app_images_file):
-            with open(app_images_file, 'r') as f:
+            with io.open(app_images_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
                 images_file = yaml.safe_load(f)
 
         if os.path.exists(app_manifest_file):
-            with open(app_manifest_file, 'r') as f:
+            with io.open(app_manifest_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
                 # The RoundTripLoader removes the superfluous quotes by default,
                 # resulting the dumped out charts not readable in Armada.
                 # Set preserve_quotes=True to preserve all the quotes.
@@ -548,7 +549,7 @@ class AppOperator(object):
                 app_overrides_file = os.path.join(overrides_dir, overrides)
                 overrides_file = {}
                 if os.path.exists(app_overrides_file):
-                    with open(app_overrides_file, 'r') as f:
+                    with io.open(app_overrides_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
                         overrides_file = yaml.safe_load(f)
 
                 override_imgs = self._image.find_images_in_dict(
@@ -686,7 +687,7 @@ class AppOperator(object):
 
             chart_path = os.path.join(chart_name, 'values.yaml')
             if os.path.exists(chart_path):
-                with open(chart_path, 'r') as f:
+                with io.open(chart_path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
                     y = yaml.safe_load(f)
 
                 chart_images = self._image.find_images_in_dict(y)
@@ -698,7 +699,7 @@ class AppOperator(object):
                            default_flow_style=False)
 
     def _retrieve_images_list(self, app_images_file):
-        with open(app_images_file, 'r') as f:
+        with io.open(app_images_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             images_list = yaml.safe_load(f)
         return images_list
 
@@ -805,7 +806,7 @@ class AppOperator(object):
         lfile = os.path.join(app.inst_path, constants.APP_METADATA_FILE)
 
         if os.path.exists(lfile) and os.path.getsize(lfile) > 0:
-            with open(lfile, 'r') as f:
+            with io.open(lfile, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
                 try:
                     y = yaml.safe_load(f)
                     repo = y.get('helm_repo', common.HELM_REPO_FOR_APPS)
@@ -1077,7 +1078,7 @@ class AppOperator(object):
         chart_groups = []
         armada_charts = {}
 
-        with open(manifest_file, 'r') as f:
+        with io.open(manifest_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             docs = yaml.safe_load_all(f)
             for doc in docs:
                 # iterative docs in the manifest file to get required
@@ -1301,7 +1302,7 @@ class AppOperator(object):
         metadata_file = os.path.join(app.inst_path,
                                      constants.APP_METADATA_FILE)
         if os.path.exists(metadata_file) and os.path.getsize(metadata_file) > 0:
-            with open(metadata_file, 'r') as f:
+            with io.open(metadata_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
                 try:
                     metadata = yaml.safe_load(f) or {}
                     value = cutils.deep_get(metadata, keys, default=default)
@@ -2223,7 +2224,7 @@ class AppOperator(object):
         metadata = {}
 
         if os.path.exists(app.sync_metadata_file):
-            with open(app.sync_metadata_file, 'r') as f:
+            with io.open(app.sync_metadata_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
                 # The RoundTripLoader removes the superfluous quotes by default.
                 # Set preserve_quotes=True to preserve all the quotes.
                 # The assumption here: there is just one yaml section
diff --git a/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/conductor/manager.py b/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/conductor/manager.py
index 937f7d650a..c3e1629944 100644
--- a/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/conductor/manager.py
+++ b/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/conductor/manager.py
@@ -5982,7 +5982,7 @@ class ConductorManager(service.PeriodicService):
                 metadata_file = os.path.join(app_path,
                                              constants.APP_METADATA_FILE)
                 if os.path.exists(metadata_file):
-                    with open(metadata_file, 'r') as f:
+                    with io.open(metadata_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
                         # The RoundTripLoader removes the superfluous quotes by default.
                         # Set preserve_quotes=True to preserve all the quotes.
                         # The assumption here: there is just one yaml section
diff --git a/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/helm/manifest_base.py b/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/helm/manifest_base.py
index d3f1dc9e15..1f578872b0 100644
--- a/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/helm/manifest_base.py
+++ b/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/helm/manifest_base.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 """ System inventory Armada manifest operator."""
 
 import abc
+import io
 import os
 import json
 import ruamel.yaml as yaml
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ class ArmadaManifestOperator(object):
         summary_fqpn = os.path.join(path, SUMMARY_FILE)
         if os.path.exists(summary_fqpn):
             self.manifest_path = os.path.dirname(summary_fqpn)
-            with open(summary_fqpn, 'r') as f:
+            with io.open(summary_fqpn, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
                 # The RoundTripLoader removes the superfluous quotes by default,
                 # resulting the dumped out charts not readable in Armada.
                 # Set preserve_quotes=True to preserve all the quotes.
@@ -109,7 +110,7 @@ class ArmadaManifestOperator(object):
             # Save the name for a delete manifest
             self.delete_manifest = "%s-del%s" % os.path.splitext(manifest_fqpn)
 
-            with open(manifest_fqpn, 'r') as f:
+            with io.open(manifest_fqpn, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
                 # The RoundTripLoader removes the superfluous quotes by default,
                 # resulting the dumped out charts not readable in Armada.
                 # Set preserve_quotes=True to preserve all the quotes.
diff --git a/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/puppet/puppet.py b/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/puppet/puppet.py
index 8def9ae7aa..159e0b8909 100644
--- a/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/puppet/puppet.py
+++ b/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/puppet/puppet.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 
 import eventlet
+import io
 import os
 import tempfile
 import yaml
@@ -172,7 +173,8 @@ class PuppetOperator(object):
             target_load,
             'hieradata')
 
-        with open(os.path.join(path, filename), 'r') as yaml_file:
+        with io.open(os.path.join(path, filename), 'r',
+                     encoding='utf-8') as yaml_file:
             host_config = yaml.load(yaml_file)
 
         host_config.update(config)
diff --git a/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/tests/conductor/test_kube_app_image_parser.py b/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/tests/conductor/test_kube_app_image_parser.py
index eed533091c..dff824fb58 100644
--- a/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/tests/conductor/test_kube_app_image_parser.py
+++ b/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/tests/conductor/test_kube_app_image_parser.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 """Test class for Sysinv Kube App Image Parser."""
 
 import copy
+import io
 import ruamel.yaml as yaml
 import os
 
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ class TestKubeAppImageParser(base.TestCase):
     def test_find_images_in_dict(self):
         yaml_file = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
                                  "data", "chart_values_sample.yaml")
-        with open(yaml_file, 'r') as f:
+        with io.open(yaml_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             values = yaml.safe_load(f)
 
         expected = copy.deepcopy(IMAGES_RESOURCE)
diff --git a/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/tests/conductor/test_kube_app_metadata.py b/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/tests/conductor/test_kube_app_metadata.py
index 8ca287ce9f..9a73c289fc 100644
--- a/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/tests/conductor/test_kube_app_metadata.py
+++ b/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/sysinv/tests/conductor/test_kube_app_metadata.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 """Test class for Sysinv Kube App Metadata operations."""
 
 import copy
+import io
 import os
 import ruamel.yaml as yaml
 
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ class TestKubeAppMetadata(base.TestCase):
 
         yaml_file = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
                                  "data", "metadata_app_reapply_1.yaml")
-        with open(yaml_file, 'r') as f:
+        with io.open(yaml_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             metadata_collection = yaml.safe_load_all(f)
 
             for metadata in metadata_collection:
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ class TestKubeAppMetadata(base.TestCase):
 
         yaml_file = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
                                  "data", "metadata_app_reapply_non_existing_1.yaml")
-        with open(yaml_file, 'r') as f:
+        with io.open(yaml_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             metadata_collection = yaml.safe_load_all(f)
 
             for metadata in metadata_collection:
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ class TestKubeAppMetadata(base.TestCase):
 
         yaml_file = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
                                  "data", "metadata_app_reapply_non_existing_2.yaml")
-        with open(yaml_file, 'r') as f:
+        with io.open(yaml_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             metadata_collection = yaml.safe_load_all(f)
 
             for metadata in metadata_collection:
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@ class TestKubeAppMetadata(base.TestCase):
 
         yaml_file = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
                                  "data", "metadata_app_reapply_non_managed_1.yaml")
-        with open(yaml_file, 'r') as f:
+        with io.open(yaml_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             metadata_collection = yaml.safe_load_all(f)
 
             for metadata in metadata_collection:
@@ -173,7 +174,7 @@ class TestKubeAppMetadata(base.TestCase):
 
         yaml_file = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
                                  "data", "metadata_app_reapply_not_cycle_1_non_managed.yaml")
-        with open(yaml_file, 'r') as f:
+        with io.open(yaml_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             metadata_collection = yaml.safe_load_all(f)
 
             for metadata in metadata_collection:
@@ -211,7 +212,7 @@ class TestKubeAppMetadata(base.TestCase):
 
         yaml_file = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
                                  "data", "metadata_app_reapply_not_cycle_2.yaml")
-        with open(yaml_file, 'r') as f:
+        with io.open(yaml_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             metadata_collection = yaml.safe_load_all(f)
 
             for metadata in metadata_collection:
@@ -265,7 +266,7 @@ class TestKubeAppMetadata(base.TestCase):
 
         yaml_file = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
                                  "data", "metadata_app_reapply_cycle_1.yaml")
-        with open(yaml_file, 'r') as f:
+        with io.open(yaml_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             metadata_collection = yaml.safe_load_all(f)
 
             for metadata in metadata_collection:
@@ -283,7 +284,7 @@ class TestKubeAppMetadata(base.TestCase):
 
         yaml_file = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
                                  "data", "metadata_app_reapply_cycle_2.yaml")
-        with open(yaml_file, 'r') as f:
+        with io.open(yaml_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             metadata_collection = yaml.safe_load_all(f)
 
             for metadata in metadata_collection:
@@ -301,7 +302,7 @@ class TestKubeAppMetadata(base.TestCase):
 
         yaml_file = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
                                  "data", "metadata_app_reapply_cycle_3.yaml")
-        with open(yaml_file, 'r') as f:
+        with io.open(yaml_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             metadata_collection = yaml.safe_load_all(f)
 
             for metadata in metadata_collection: