Posted 2016-07-19 8:16 PM (#167722) Subject: Hot water heater won't stay on
Veteran
Posts: 146 Location: Cornfield in Iowa
Okay....I have removed the vent tube and blown out everything in there with the compressor. No spider webs or anything like that in there. When I turn it on, it starts fine but then starts kind of coughing like it's not getting enough LP. When I look down the tube, the flame will be a nice blue, then a bright yellow flame will go down the tube kind of like a flame thrower. This will go on for 10-15 minutes then it just goes out. What's this going to cost me? LOL.
Posted 2016-07-19 9:01 PM (#167726 - in reply to #167722) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
If the fire is yellow orange you aren't getting the right mix of gas to "air" and the "air" portion of the mix is too rich or the gas too little (not enough flowing due to being low or blocked.) Take this with a grain of salt as I'm not a LQ expert but I am well versed at teaching people how to dial in Bunsen burners in my Chemistry labs.
Posted 2016-07-20 8:25 AM (#167732 - in reply to #167722) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
Regular
Posts: 73
Two things that were causing mine to not work was the ignitor was bad and burnt out, and the controller board was shot. The controller board was the first to go then this summer the igniter went out.
Posted 2016-07-20 9:14 AM (#167735 - in reply to #167732) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
Veteran
Posts: 146 Location: Cornfield in Iowa
Originally written by 4quartercirclesperfh on 2016-07-20 8:25 AM
Two things that were causing mine to not work was the ignitor was bad and burnt out, and the controller board was shot. The controller board was the first to go then this summer the igniter went out.
How do you know about either one of these? Just replace them and hope that works? Did yours run for awhile and then sputter out, or just not work at all?
Posted 2016-07-20 9:57 AM (#167736 - in reply to #167722) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448 Location: Los Angeles, Ca.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyTx8VIE_kQ Fridge doesn't take much propane....heater does. You can buy manometer on Amazon, Ebay etc. RadonAway 50018 Easy Read Manometer, Red
Posted 2016-07-20 10:37 AM (#167738 - in reply to #167722) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448 Location: Los Angeles, Ca.
Whoops....wrong link to manometer.....need one that goes higher: General Tools HG15 Hydrogauge Manometer....Attach to stove, turn on burner, turn on water heater.......pressure should not change, around 11 " w.c.
Posted 2016-07-20 11:23 AM (#167740 - in reply to #167738) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
Veteran
Posts: 146 Location: Cornfield in Iowa
Originally written by beeoerdog on 2016-07-20 10:37 AM
Whoops....wrong link to manometer.....need one that goes higher: General Tools HG15 Hydrogauge Manometer....Attach to stove, turn on burner, turn on water heater.......pressure should not change, around 11 " w.c.
Posted 2016-07-20 11:46 AM (#167742 - in reply to #167722) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448 Location: Los Angeles, Ca.
Could also be the gas valve at water heater.....$100....so check regulator first. You can also put a fitting on the pipe where you removed the stove.....probably easier than messing with the regulator or gas valve. If you have a furnace, does it work properly? If not then I would say the regulator is bad. If it is working properly, then more likely the w.h. valve is failing.
Posted 2016-07-20 11:47 AM (#167743 - in reply to #167722) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
Member
Posts: 47 Location: Grayson Co. Texas
Mine was doing almost the same thing. It would light right up and go out in about 7-10 seconds. It tried it's 3 times cycle and quit. I switched it of and repeat of the same thing. On the third time, it would light and stay lit. I googled the problem figured I would start with the ignitor. Purchased it online for about $13 and replaced it. Works like a champ and used a youtube video to get instuctions.
Posted 2016-07-20 11:53 AM (#167744 - in reply to #167742) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
Veteran
Posts: 146 Location: Cornfield in Iowa
Originally written by beeoerdog on 2016-07-20 11:46 AM
Could also be the gas valve at water heater.....$100....so check regulator first. You can also put a fitting on the pipe where you removed the stove.....probably easier than messing with the regulator or gas valve. If you have a furnace, does it work properly? If not then I would say the regulator is bad. If it is working properly, then more likely the w.h. valve is failing.
I'll fire up the furnace when I get home from work. That will be pleasant as the real feel is around 100 today. LOL
Posted 2016-07-20 8:57 PM (#167746 - in reply to #167722) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
Veteran
Posts: 146 Location: Cornfield in Iowa
We may have found the problem. The horizontal vent pipe that goes to the ignitor and has the slots in it for air.....it appears it was letting too much air in. I think when hubby cleaned everything out he put it back together with the slots wide open. loosened it up and twisted it together a little so they were smaller openings and it appears to work fine now. Thanks for all your help, now I know all the things that can go wrong with the hot water heater.
Posted 2016-08-03 8:58 AM (#167905 - in reply to #167722) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
Veteran
Posts: 146 Location: Cornfield in Iowa
Well.....went to a race over the weekend and it did not stay on. The flame looked a lot more normal, but still would shut off after 10 minutes or so. I really don't think it's my regulator, as the furnace worked just fine. Is there any way that I can narrow it down to the circuit board for sure? I'm almost ready to just buy one and have hubby replace it as I think it would probably cost that much just to take it to an RV place and get an opinion......
Posted 2016-08-03 10:44 AM (#167906 - in reply to #167722) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448 Location: Los Angeles, Ca.
When the flame goes out, does the light on the on/off switch illuminate.....same as when you first turn the heater on? While cleaning, was the igniter/ flame sensor moved? What is the make of the unit?
Posted 2016-08-03 4:21 PM (#167907 - in reply to #167906) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
Veteran
Posts: 146 Location: Cornfield in Iowa
beeoerdog - 2016-08-03 10:44 AM When the flame goes out, does the light on the on/off switch illuminate.....same as when you first turn the heater on? While cleaning, was the igniter/ flame sensor moved? What is the make of the unit?
Quite sure it's an Atwood and the ignitor wasn't moved. The light does stay on when it goes out.
Posted 2016-08-03 6:30 PM (#167911 - in reply to #167722) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448 Location: Los Angeles, Ca.
http://beamalarm.com/Documents/atwood_water_heater_troubleshooting.... See section on Water heater lockout_gas and spark present.The igniter is also a flame sensor and may be going bad. Clean all terminals and check for proper voltage when heater is operating. Dirty terminals reduce the voltage which may be causing the unit to shut down. Igniter is about $23.00 on Amazon. Circuit board$100+. My guess is it is not the board but rather a loose or dirty connection.
Hot water heater won't stay on
