Hi again everyone. I dint know if it's dangerous or not but the last 8 months black soot stains the trailer a couple feet above my pilot light vent and I'm wondering how to get rid if it. I read that either it's clogged with cobwebs or something or the flame is burning dirty and I need to adjust it. I'm just not sure how to go about either. I wanted to post a pic from my phone but I dint see an option for that. I have a 1990 Majorca elpaso 20 footer. Any help would be appreciated or links to detailed instructions on how to fix. I don't have any experience fixing anything like this and can't afford to have someone do it. Thanks

For a water heater that old a picture would definitely help for meaningful comments. Go to this picture posting tutorial for help.

Pic OK but BRAND/MODEL would be of more help........Atwood or Suburban

Generic answer pilot is burning too rich (soot) Check gas pressure, check air flow, replace orifice, bunch of different answers depending on what you find.I would also inspect main flame when burning its probably rich too.Should be a bright blue flame with a slight yellow tip, no lifting from the burner and very little noise.

More likely than not, you have some sort of insect that has built a nest in the burner tube

GASMAN6674 wrote:Generic answer pilot is burning too rich (soot) Check gas pressure, check air flow, replace orifice, bunch of different answers depending on what you find.I would also inspect main flame when burning its probably rich too.Should be a bright blue flame with a slight yellow tip, no lifting from the burner and very little noise.not sure if it is the same as a general motor. but i am crossing my fingers this response is the key. black is usually fuel related. keep us up to date.

black soot from forming outside pilot light vent?

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Sep 12, 2016
FIRST OFF.......

You need to clean that sooted rusted disaster up :B

Remove burner tube from gas valve and combustion chamber along with pilot flame tube and thermocouple
Remove exhaust heat shield

Clean burner assembly with wire brush and small bottle brush thru tube
Scrub exhaust shield clean
run a wire thru combustion/exhaust tube, tie rag on wire and pull it back thru several times to get soot/rust out

Reassemble
Loosen screw and move clamp back opening air shutter FULLY
Fire it up

Slowly move clamp closing off air shutter until MAIN flame is strong, steady blue flame with just a tinge of orange at tip. then tighten screw
Should be no more sooting going on

OR you may have to buy new pilot flame/thermocouple/burner tube assembly to make it work
Joeydrunk
Explorer
Nov 08, 2016
Old-Biscuit wrote:
FIRST OFF.......

You need to clean that sooted rusted disaster up :B

Remove burner tube from gas valve and combustion chamber along with pilot flame tube and thermocouple
Remove exhaust heat shield

Clean burner assembly with wire brush and small bottle brush thru tube
Scrub exhaust shield clean
run a wire thru combustion/exhaust tube, tie rag on wire and pull it back thru several times to get soot/rust out

Reassemble
Loosen screw and move clamp back opening air shutter FULLY
Fire it up

Slowly move clamp closing off air shutter until MAIN flame is strong, steady blue flame with just a tinge of orange at tip. then tighten screw
Should be no more sooting going on

OR you may have to buy new pilot flame/thermocouple/burner tube assembly to make it work

Thanks, and I sorry it took so long once again. I did most of what you said, and I took off the black sheild and cleaned a **** load of soot out and adjusted that slider on the tube. I It's allot more noise but way less yellow flame and its been about a month and there no build u like there would have been. p
Me_Again
Explorer III
Nov 08, 2016
Looks to me that it is time to invest in a new water heater. Or never leave it running while you sleep. Chris

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black soot from forming outside pilot light vent?

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