We have an Atwood 10 gallon water heater with spark ignition. On this last trip, the water heater would light and then the flame would fluctuate a lot. Many times it would start out strong and then go down to nothing and the unit would attempt to relight. Sometimes this would be successful, and sometimes not.All other gas appliances work properly-- stove, furnace, refrigerator. the gas valve assembly appears to have 2 gas valves and a small regulator . I suspect this gas valve assembly is faulty. I have confirmed proper gas flow to the valve.Anyone else seen this problem? Any other ideas before I replace the gas valve assembly?Thanks-- Mick

Did you confirm gas flow at the valve port with a manometer??

I would carefully check the lp line to the water heater. That is not at all a common failure mode for those valves.

I am not sure how the burner on your hot water heater works, but if it is like the burner in my refrigerator it could be the burner is clogged with rust. If so, try cleaning the burner and see if that solves your problem.

Road Runners wrote:I am not sure how the burner on your hot water heater works, but if it is like the burner in my refrigerator it could be the burner is clogged with rust. If so, try cleaning the burner and see if that solves your problem.Good point- should really be the first step.

The burner is clean and has been blown out. I have disconnected the gas line from the valve and get good flow. The thing that gets me is that it burns great and then fluctuates and diminishes down to where the flame goes out. The air control that can be adjusted seems to be correct since when the flame is burning strongly, it looks great. All this is clean and free of obstructions. I have also blown out through the flue to make sure it is free of obstructions and it seems to be venting properly when the burner is burning normally.Stumped-- Mick

water heater flame fades out | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2015
You say the burner has been blown out- if you have not, you need to run a brush through it. Blowing out doesn't always get spider webs, and it only takes a bit of web in the tube to disrupt the flow.
Ranger_Smith
Explorer
Oct 02, 2015
Sounds like a fuel pressure problem
23hotrodr
Explorer
Oct 02, 2015
The burner is clean and has been blown out. I have disconnected the gas line from the valve and get good flow. The thing that gets me is that it burns great and then fluctuates and diminishes down to where the flame goes out. The air control that can be adjusted seems to be correct since when the flame is burning strongly, it looks great. All this is clean and free of obstructions. I have also blown out through the flue to make sure it is free of obstructions and it seems to be venting properly when the burner is burning normally.

Stumped-- Mick
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2015
Road Runners wrote:
I am not sure how the burner on your hot water heater works, but if it is like the burner in my refrigerator it could be the burner is clogged with rust. If so, try cleaning the burner and see if that solves your problem.

Good point- should really be the first step.
Road_Runners
Explorer
Oct 02, 2015
I am not sure how the burner on your hot water heater works, but if it is like the burner in my refrigerator it could be the burner is clogged with rust. If so, try cleaning the burner and see if that solves your problem.
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2015
I would carefully check the lp line to the water heater. That is not at all a common failure mode for those valves.
Ranger_Smith
Explorer
Oct 02, 2015
Did you confirm gas flow at the valve port with a manometer??

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water heater flame fades out

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