Skip to main content
Topic: Gas water heater (Read 812 times) previous topic - next topic

Gas water heater

Been messing with the Atwood water heater for the last 2 mos. it will light and run 2-5 min the shut off then do it all over. Other times it will when cold it will start and run fine. It has a dinosaur board, the jet is clean, the grounds have been cleaned, the terminal on the board has been cleaned, T stat and eco sw are new. I'm leaning towards a flame sensor or gas valve. What say the jury?
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Gas water heater

Reply #1
One more thing to check is propane pressure. You might also pull the propane line at the water heater turn propane on and listen at the line. If you hear gurgling you probably have  oil in the line back at the propane tank.

see ya
ken
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: Gas water heater

Reply #2
One more thing to check is propane pressure. You might also pull the propane line at the water heater turn propane on and listen at the line. If you hear gurgling you probably have  oil in the line back at the propane tank.

see ya
ken
Safer turn shutoff valve on LP Tank off disconnect hose and drain it. I got about 4 TBS out of mine 3 years ago Coach is a 91.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: Gas water heater

Reply #3
Barry you could have  a touchy switch on your kitchen cabinet if the contact is getting weak it could be playing with you also. Not necessarily the heater itself.
 
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: Gas water heater

Reply #4
I will check the gas line. I going to assume the regulator is good as all other gas appliances work fine.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Gas water heater

Reply #5
I will check the gas line. I going to assume the regulator is good as all other gas appliances work fine.
Do you use a water softener, Brucie?
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Gas water heater

Reply #6
I do Mike, and flush the tank out a couple times a year.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Gas water heater

Reply #7
I'd forgotten: last year the hwh was 'cycling' on & off: sometimes it would work and then........a smart tech found the problem: a fuse/breaker. Replaced........hot water on demand!  ^.^d
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Gas water heater

Reply #8
Mike that is not a fuse in the normal sense, it is a resister that acts like one and acts to sense any back flame from burner tube. The way to check if it is faulty is disconnect that wire and hook it up to bypass the themostat wire etc and if the water heater runs good then you have faulty parts that are easy to replace and find available. I think I explained it correctly?
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft.
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Gas water heater

Reply #9
Well now, water heater is working fine. The gremlins must have left don't know. We'll see.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Gas water heater

Reply #10
Well now, water heater is working fine. The gremlins must have left don't know. We'll see.
Time for a new Moho to go along with that cool Jeep dude.
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Gas water heater

Reply #11
Time for a new Moho to go along with that cool Jeep dude.
Haven't hit the lottery yet 🌵😎👍🍺. Thought about coming your way to talk about fuel lines later this summer, as you are a man with extensive knowledge of those things.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Gas water heater

Reply #12
Yup, Iearned it was not a fuse, in the true sense, and my guy said it's common problem and a lot of people replace the board without results. Cost a big $18.00!  ^.^d [
add on: found the invoice, my tech called it a "Atwood Cut-off'.
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Gas water heater

Reply #13
That fuse is a thermal fuse. It blows when it reaches its rated temperature. I carry a bag of replacements after suffering multiple failures. The cause was the air adjustment for the flame was out of whack. All fixed now.

Bypassing the fuse is an easy temporary fix.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Gas water heater

Reply #14
My hot water heater was doing strange and UN-predictable things due to a faulty switch.  I replaced that sw and all is fine so far.  Have a great day  ----  Fritz
Fritz & Kathy Johnson
1991 36'

Re: Gas water heater

Reply #15
Replaced the ignition/sense assembly, all seams to be good.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country