Water heater acting up

[Skipg]

Normally I hit the water heater switch to turn on and light the gas burner. Lately when I hit the switch it does not light, I have to turn it off then on again and it lights. What gives any suggestions on what to check would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Skipg

[enblethen]

I use a white pencil eraser.
I use silicone based electrical grease. Same as what is used on spark plug boots.

[quingus]

Just a quick question on cleaning the contacts. Did you use a steel brush, Emory cloth or the like and some dielectric grease for corrosion. Can you use the same red goop for battery terminals on those contacts. Sorry for the hijack.

[JimK-NY]

I kept cleaning the contacts on my Atwood. Finally I found a big paper binder clip from Staples and use that to hold the electrical connectors tight.

[RollandB]

I've got the same intermittent problem with my 10gallon Suburban. My RV place checked out the circuit board (no cost to me) which is fine. Switch is fine as well so it's time to check contacts.

[traveylin]

I soldered the electrical connectors going to the igniter and it works fine since. Did have a muddauber build a nest and had to be removed. Blowing cobwebs out of the gas venture helps also

[Clay_L]

You might also want to check the igniter. Mine had eroded away and there was too big a gap. It was intermittent like yours. It is an easy replacement. $20 or so part cost as I recall.

[Old_Teacher]

Was having the same problem last week. Cleaned the contacts,fixed the problem.
Thanks,
Mike

[navegator]

I started having trouble with the water heater last year, it would ignite some times and some times it would turn on and off with warm water.

I figured on researching prices for the various parts, and came up with $325 dollars for all the parts that I would eventually replace, Murphy's law, I would fix it at the last part, so I looked up a new unit $350 dollars I ordered the new unit, it even comes with the new door it took me longer to cut a bit around the opening than to take the old one out and install since they installed the unit before the wall was added, so the hole was from 1/4 inch to 1/8 smaller so out came the saber saw.

I no longer have the name of place where I got it, I found it on the internet, my old computer got breached and I lost all data that was in words, none of my Autocad drawings were lost.

Some times it is better to replace the whole unit, specially if it is an older one.

navegator

[enblethen]

Go to outside access door.
Locate the multi wire connector on the circuit board. Clean the contacts.
Another thing to check is the ground connection on the LP gas valve.
This guessing you have an Atwood!