Suburban SW6P Water Heater Intermittent Flame Out on Start
I have a 2007 Gulfstream Amerilite 25BH with a Suburban SW6P water heater that will intermittently flame out on startup. Here are some notes and observations.
-The pilot light is nice and blue and covers the tip of the thermocoupler.
-I can run the pilot light for weeks and it won't go out.
-Propane tanks are new, full and this occurs with other tanks.
-The water heater is the farthest propane device from the tanks. Opposite ends of the trailer.
-Stove, oven, fridge and heater work fine.
-When operating, the heater flame is strong and blue with that distinctive roar noise.
-There is a bit of a hard bend in the propane line with a hint of a crease but that has been that way since purchase. This condition has only recently occurred.
What I have seen happen, when the pilot light goes out is I hear a louder whoosh, for lack of a better term and a flash of orange flame out of the cover.
When I drop the cover, in a no wind situation, the flash comes from all over the face of the water heater and is more orange. Also if this makes any sense, the hiss from burner is much quieter. It is almost as if the gas valve is not opening completely and the gas doesn't have enough pressure to go down the burner tube and ignite properly.
Now when it works properly, the hiss is much more pronounced from the burner before it ignites, the whoosh is much quieter and I've only seen a little flash of blue come up out of the flue. No giant orange flame all around the front of the unit.
There was one case that I observed where the initial startup was ok but the burner flame was very weak. It kind of sputtered and squeaked for a lack of a better description and about 15-30 seconds later the condition cleared and the burner flame turned blue and with the normal roar.
I initially cranked up the pilot light adjustment with change in behavior.
I've also confirmed the burner tube is clear. No spider webs, mud dauber nests, etc.
Any thoughts, comments, tips on this would be appreciated although I'm guessing the answer is the gas valve $$ or just bite the bullet and replace the whole water heater as it's only a few bucks more.
-The pilot light is nice and blue and covers the tip of the thermocoupler.
-I can run the pilot light for weeks and it won't go out.
-Propane tanks are new, full and this occurs with other tanks.
-The water heater is the farthest propane device from the tanks. Opposite ends of the trailer.
-Stove, oven, fridge and heater work fine.
-When operating, the heater flame is strong and blue with that distinctive roar noise.
-There is a bit of a hard bend in the propane line with a hint of a crease but that has been that way since purchase. This condition has only recently occurred.
What I have seen happen, when the pilot light goes out is I hear a louder whoosh, for lack of a better term and a flash of orange flame out of the cover.
When I drop the cover, in a no wind situation, the flash comes from all over the face of the water heater and is more orange. Also if this makes any sense, the hiss from burner is much quieter. It is almost as if the gas valve is not opening completely and the gas doesn't have enough pressure to go down the burner tube and ignite properly.
Now when it works properly, the hiss is much more pronounced from the burner before it ignites, the whoosh is much quieter and I've only seen a little flash of blue come up out of the flue. No giant orange flame all around the front of the unit.
There was one case that I observed where the initial startup was ok but the burner flame was very weak. It kind of sputtered and squeaked for a lack of a better description and about 15-30 seconds later the condition cleared and the burner flame turned blue and with the normal roar.
I initially cranked up the pilot light adjustment with change in behavior.
I've also confirmed the burner tube is clear. No spider webs, mud dauber nests, etc.
Any thoughts, comments, tips on this would be appreciated although I'm guessing the answer is the gas valve $$ or just bite the bullet and replace the whole water heater as it's only a few bucks more.
