Atwood Water Heater Issue

[Hnda_CR]

Hey guys, I have a atwood DSI Gas/Electric water heater in my Sunnybrook fifth wheel. The electric portion works fine. The gas has developed an issue. When it ignites, I get this soft orange flame that just sits in the burn turn....it smells bad too. I started checking voltages to and from the circuit board and everything looks good except the red wire the goes to the gas valve. While the board is getting about 13 volts, the lead is only getting 9. I can hear the gas valve open, but I am thinking it is not opening all the way. Does anyone have any suggestions here. I can only assume it is the circuit board at this time.

[Charlie_D_]

Exact same problem with my Atwood. Orifice and tube are not the problem. Stove flames are correct. Thinking about lighting and pinch back on valve at propane to reduce flow to see it it will burn better. Looks to me like too much propane and adjusting air mixer slide does not help.

[sch911]

The orifice is at the end. It has a very small opening. A grain of sand can partially block it. I use one strand of copper extracted from a section of wire to clean it. From your description you don't have any electrical problems but rather a gas flow issue...

[Gene_Ginny]

MPD56 wrote:
If the flame is all orange, I would read the link below.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26873043/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm

.....

Made it a clicky

[MPD56]

If the flame is all orange, I would read the link below.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26873043/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm

Please keep us updated.

Good Luck

[Hnda_CR]

I tried that as well. It was not a brush, but I used a 4' long piece of pipe isolation and it was clean as can be. I am stumped here. I assume you are talking about the U shaped tube, that is what I checked.

[Chris_Bryant]

The burner tube is blocked- the valve will open or not, but will not partially open. You need to physically run a brush through the tube.

[Hnda_CR]

Do you mean the threaded piece on the end of the gas valve? I took that out and it looks ok to me. It's the voltage that has me concerned.

[sch911]

Clean the burner orifice before going any further. Had the exact same symptoms on ours....