Water Heater Gas Valve Stuck Open UPDATE-Bench Test
Updated 25 May
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Was having trouble getting my 1991 OEM Atwood WH to light for months, worked sometimes, very frustrating. Got some parts off a newer WH including the gas valve and swapped things around and thought it was a success.
However, since then could smell propane a little, including inside the rig. No LP alarm, not that bad of a leak I guess. After much trouble shooting, I narrowed it down to be a gas smell at the burner end even though the WH was turned off. (For a while I was convinced it was at the gas inlet end and tried to fix that--more yellow tape, tighten--not it)
Had to be the outlet end. I tried to light it with a BBQ lighter, and it lit with a small blue flame that stayed on! I also found the seal where the gas line comes out front was not sealed properly, so that must have been how the smell got inside the rig. Fixed that.
Another clue was that when first lit, it made a bang so I suspected a "delayed ignition" type event where fuel accumulates before the spark. That can be very bad!
Swapped the old gas valve back in, and discovered its ground wire was loose so that was why it was not working right all that time before. All good now.
Sooo--the question is, with the newer gas valve (photo) how can it be stuck open? Can it be fixed so it can be kept as a spare, or is it toast?
Thanks.
Photo of newer valve that is stuck open
Photo of the OEM valve, now back in and working
--------
Was having trouble getting my 1991 OEM Atwood WH to light for months, worked sometimes, very frustrating. Got some parts off a newer WH including the gas valve and swapped things around and thought it was a success.
However, since then could smell propane a little, including inside the rig. No LP alarm, not that bad of a leak I guess. After much trouble shooting, I narrowed it down to be a gas smell at the burner end even though the WH was turned off. (For a while I was convinced it was at the gas inlet end and tried to fix that--more yellow tape, tighten--not it)
Had to be the outlet end. I tried to light it with a BBQ lighter, and it lit with a small blue flame that stayed on! I also found the seal where the gas line comes out front was not sealed properly, so that must have been how the smell got inside the rig. Fixed that.
Another clue was that when first lit, it made a bang so I suspected a "delayed ignition" type event where fuel accumulates before the spark. That can be very bad!
Swapped the old gas valve back in, and discovered its ground wire was loose so that was why it was not working right all that time before. All good now.
Sooo--the question is, with the newer gas valve (photo) how can it be stuck open? Can it be fixed so it can be kept as a spare, or is it toast?
Thanks.
Photo of newer valve that is stuck open
Photo of the OEM valve, now back in and working
