Hot water heater won't stay fired

Question

Ok guys I've not been around here for a while but I have run into a problem. I was getting my camper ready for a fishing trip next week checking everything from the cold winter I busted off the suburban hot water heater heard the auto igniter clicking and the flame bust off to heat the water. I moved on to doing something else came back a few minutes later and the hot water was no longer heating and I had not hot water. I turned it off and back on and it started again but every time the igniter stops it's start up cycle the flame goes out. It will reset and try again and same results when the igniter stops the flame goes out.

I cleaned the gas tube cleaned the igniter the gas nozzle at the end of the tube. What is the next thing to check?

Oh yea the electric element will heat the hot water but I will not have power on the fishing trip just the battery.

jfkmk · Answer

Check the stove, heater, or anything else that runs off propane. We had an issue where the excess flow cut off valve in the propane pig tail was shutting down the propane flow. We were told its a common problem with them.

old-biscuit · Answer

Need to clean the spark electrode (use some emery cloth and scrub it clean) and then wipe down the high tension wire to the electrode with a rag and silicone spray. Check for cracks in ceramic insulator.

It's lighting off but not proving the main flame so circuit board shuts gas valve.
Flame proving is done via spark electrode back to circuit board.

notawordok · Answer

Just wanted to update you on my HWH problem. Before I posted I had cleaned the igniter probes and it did not change the results. That's when I turned to the forum and asked for help. So this morning I noticed that the hard door was open and the screen door was closed and lights on in my camper where my granddaughters were playing in it yesterday. Of course they were supervised by my wife and she did not shut the camper back. So I went out to shut the door and said what the heck. Let me turn it on and see what happens. So I flipped the HWH switch it started the cycle. The flame lit and kept on burning. I let it run for a few minutes and shut it off because I had to get ready for work. I will check on it this evening when I get home and let it cycle through a couple times to make sure it is working properly.

hermy · Answer

I have had that same problem before- and sometimes it would work for awhile and then later the igniter would click, click but she wouldn't fire. Turned out to be the main regulator at the tanks. It was putting out enough pressure for the fridge or the stove but not enough to fire the water heater. It was an easy and not too expensive fix- but finding the problem was the trick. Requires a manometer and some knowledge on how to test and set the pressure properly.

jamway · Answer

I had that problem and it was a lose wire on a spade clip. A friend had the same problem and it was a bad ground. Something to check anyway.

Forum Discussion

Hot water heater won't stay fired

6 Replies

About Technical Issues

Related Content

Atwood water heater problem

Water Heater Replacement Recommendations

Water Heater Leak on start up.

Suburban SW12DEL Water Heater On/OFF switch melts???

Tankless water heater