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9ers's avatar
9ers
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013

hot water heater won't fire

I have a Atwood 6 gallon direct ignition water heater. I can't get it to ignite it doesn't try to fire.Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks John
  • Effy's avatar
    Effy
    Explorer II
    You do know you aren't supposed to heat hot water.
  • Check the fuse that is located under the relief valve. If it is blown replace then restore the air cushion in the water heater.

    Good Luck Don
  • clean the connectors. That happens a couple times a year. Avoid multiple failed restarts as the propane will accumulate and when you do get an ignition it will go bang upsetting your neighbor

    pops
  • I had same problem. Change the ignighter. The red wire on the Atwood does two things. One... it sends power from the board and two... it sends a signal back to the thermocouple to continue the burn. I paid about $43.00 for my replacement and it works great!!!! Good luck
  • Happens all the time on my 15 year old Atwood. Open the external panel and disconnect the white connector to the PC board.

    Plug it back in and it will likely fire right up....it is just oxidation on the contacts that is likely causing the issue.
  • Bryant RV has a bunch of service manuals for refrigerators, furnaces, and if you scroll down water heaters.
  • Good 12V DC power needed...check for 12V to ON/OFF switch and then to module
    Bad ground connection(s)....clean/tighten
    Bad connections on module board...pull connector and clean contacts with eraser
    Blown fuse on module board
    Thermal Cutout Bad (one time diode that is connected to normal t-stat...blows if there has been a back flame from burner tube)
    Bad t-stats (normal or ECO)....connections dirty/loose/corroded or t-stats are open

    And then of course.....bad module board

    Need to get out a voltmeter and check for where 12V stops