Water Heater Help

[kfp673]

Hello All,

Looking for thoughts here before scheduling 2 months out and taking to the dealer. We have a 2018 Outback that we've owned for nearly 2 years. We do very little camping where we don't have at least electric so we have only run the propane portion of the water heater a few times. Our camper has the option to have both electric and propane running at the same time. Recently I tried that because 5 of us were trying to get showers after swimming and the propane portion was acting up. I've had trailers for 20 years and had water heaters die, but this one is acting strange.

So when we activate the propane section the first time it tried 3 times to light and then stopped. Let it sit for a while and on the next time it did light but then went out after about 3-4 minutes of running. We have had 2 more camping trips since then and I've tried it again on each trip with similar results. Sometimes it will not light at all even on the 3rd set of 3 tries. Other times it will light and go right out. And sometimes it will light and run for 5+ minutes and then go out. I looked for obvious things like cob webs, mouse nests, etc and it looks pretty clean. Any thoughts on 1- what would make it not light and 2- what would make it go out even when it has a strong flame?

Not sure what the warranty is on this thing but would prefer to fix it myself if that is possible.

Thanks all!

[DownTheAvenue]

The problem is not air in the lines! The OP has states it has run multiple times for 3+ minutes before shutting off. Everything points to a bad control board.

[garyemunson]

Had a bad control broad once, too. Fixed my whole life by replacing her.

[BB_TX]

You mentioned propane and electric at the same. Was it on electric also when you are having trouble with the propane? Does it do the same if electric is off?

[enblethen]

Not sure what year and model of water heater. I am guessing it is a DSI model with no pilot.
Trailers get air in lines when the LP tanks are changed out. The LP must purge the air out.

[wa8yxm]

enblethen wrote:
First guess is air in lines!
It may take several attempts to light off.
Does the stove top work? Try lighting it first.

I always laugh when I hear that for a water heater especially one that works when it wants to.. There is no air in the line.

Now... Suspect list includes a bad regulator. Improper spark gap (FOr that you need to be outside and observe if it actually lights 3 times and goes out then relights)

Clogged burner orifice (You can see this when it lights if you have the panel open)

Bad thermonuclear (Flame sensor) Rare but possible

Bad control broad (What fixed mine)

On Atwood if it goes to FAULT both gas and electric are disabled (Most if not all)

ON surburans. Most if not all the two are independent of each other.

[John_Wayne]

Is the Thermocouple in the flame has to stay hot for the gas to stay on. Is the connection tight at both ends of the Thermocouple. When it is working are you getting a blue flame with just a little or no yellow? Do you have an air compressor that you can use to blow everything out?

[2oldman]

Does any WH have a pilot light any more?

I go to youtube and see what they have to say.

[kfp673]

Sorry all, should have added more details.

Everything else (range, Grill, Fridge, etc) works fine. Definitely familiar with that. No pilot light on this water heater. It's electric ignition, so when you turn it on you get the click, click, click and typically light. It will click 8-10 times and stop for about 20 seconds. It will try that 3 times before it shuts off the propane and "takes a break". As noted, sometimes it lights and goes out during all of this, other times it does not light at all. The last time I got it to light and run for about 10 minutes hoping it was air or something like that and would clear itself out, but the next time I tried and went through the same thing.

[bdpreece]

As stated above first guess would be air in the lines. Also as stated does the stove work? After verifying the stove works start with the easy stuff like cleaning the flue and burner area. If accessible try lighting by hand. Try to observe the pilot light when someone turns on the gas side. Does the pilot light light then go out after a minute or two? If this is happening then the thermocouple is either not adjusted correctly or is bad. Good luck and be sure and check back to let us know how you made out.

[enblethen]

First guess is air in lines!
It may take several attempts to light off.
Does the stove top work? Try lighting it first.