New camper, water heater problems already - but fixed it.
Took delivery of the brand new 5er and set it up at home. For 3 days everything worked OK. Then headed out for the first week-end trip and the gas on the water heater would not fire. I tried the simple stuff first, like switching over to the other propane tank, and it did work ok again.
Took off again this week-end and found out the gas won't fire on again. I could hear the click-click-click of the spark attempting to light. It would do it twice and then stop attempting.
Sometimes, there would be an explosion of gas, and it still would not light.
So, I finally got desperate Friday morning and called my dealer service "again" and gave me a suggestion. When I stood there, really looking at what he was saying, I told him I'd try his ideas and see what happens. If that didn't get it running, I'd be bringing the camper over on Monday for them to look at. Thanked him and got off the phone.
I turned the gas button off on the heater so it wouldn't try to spark on me and the first thing I did was remove the spark probe and bent the 2 wires so they are now more in front of the orifice outlet.
Because I didn't want to tear the whole thing apart, I took a large zip tie, tied a small shop towel wad on the end and pushed it through the burner orifice. Well, happened next was truly the "AH HA" moment!
When I pulled the wad back out, a dead stink bug came out with it. At home, we are being infested with those darn grey stink bugs that look like small flying short and fat ****-roaches. They are in everything. I never thought about one crawling inside the water heater parts.
Well, with the dead bug gone, I put everything back together, flipped the gas switch, and it fired up immediately!
The dealer service guy said I could have a spider web in the orifice. No spider web, just a dead bug.
Who would have thought such a small thing like that could cause such a big problem.
With my previous travel trailers we never had bugs or spiders attack the water heater, in years and years of ownership. Even last year, which was a horrible year for stink-bugs, none ever got into the water heater or furnace. I suppose a lot of "firsts" are happening with new camper ownership this time. I'll definitely be getting one of those screen covers for the water cover now.
Meanwhile .... water heater is now working great on both gas and electric, at least until I get back home and face the stink bugs again!
Took off again this week-end and found out the gas won't fire on again. I could hear the click-click-click of the spark attempting to light. It would do it twice and then stop attempting.
Sometimes, there would be an explosion of gas, and it still would not light.
So, I finally got desperate Friday morning and called my dealer service "again" and gave me a suggestion. When I stood there, really looking at what he was saying, I told him I'd try his ideas and see what happens. If that didn't get it running, I'd be bringing the camper over on Monday for them to look at. Thanked him and got off the phone.
I turned the gas button off on the heater so it wouldn't try to spark on me and the first thing I did was remove the spark probe and bent the 2 wires so they are now more in front of the orifice outlet.
Because I didn't want to tear the whole thing apart, I took a large zip tie, tied a small shop towel wad on the end and pushed it through the burner orifice. Well, happened next was truly the "AH HA" moment!
When I pulled the wad back out, a dead stink bug came out with it. At home, we are being infested with those darn grey stink bugs that look like small flying short and fat ****-roaches. They are in everything. I never thought about one crawling inside the water heater parts.
Well, with the dead bug gone, I put everything back together, flipped the gas switch, and it fired up immediately!
The dealer service guy said I could have a spider web in the orifice. No spider web, just a dead bug.
Who would have thought such a small thing like that could cause such a big problem.
With my previous travel trailers we never had bugs or spiders attack the water heater, in years and years of ownership. Even last year, which was a horrible year for stink-bugs, none ever got into the water heater or furnace. I suppose a lot of "firsts" are happening with new camper ownership this time. I'll definitely be getting one of those screen covers for the water cover now.
Meanwhile .... water heater is now working great on both gas and electric, at least until I get back home and face the stink bugs again!
