Gas water heater issue?

[mdhemrick]

First of all the water heater works. It will run and heat up water but sometime during the day it will stop and I find the light on on the switch. The water will be hot and you can take a shower. It will not relight though. I left it off all night and the next morning it fired right up. Later that next day I found the light on again and barely had enough hot water to take a shower. At that point I decided to run all the hot water out. I tried to relight it would it wouldn't. Within 30 mins I got it to relight. I turned it off for overnight and got up this morning and relight it again. What Gives?

Thanks!

[j-d]

Atwoods are bad about poor contact between the logic board and the edge connector that presses onto it. Sometimes you can take a dental pick and pull some springiness back into the contacts of the edge connector. Can help, too, to clean the contacts on the edge of the logic board. Pencil eraser works well. Aftermarket boards are usually less expensive (and often better, look into Dinosaur brand) than OEM ones.

[mdhemrick]

I just put the circuit board back in it and it fired right up. and now I have power to both the thermo and eco. CIRCUIT BOARD?

[mdhemrick]

Came home this afternoon and the light was on again so I got out there and did some checking and cleaning. I pulled the thermostat and the eco. I put both is the freezer for a few minutes to cool them off because I have hot water ib the tank. Both ohm through when I took them out. I checked the grounds to everywhere. I have power to the thermo but no power to the eco. Is that not required to open the gas valve?

[j-d]

That top pic is a Standing Pilot Atwood, so I'd guess the OP's Heater is more like the bottom pic. His problem statement mentioned the indoor switch and problem indicator light.

FYI, the Gas Valve in the top pic looks like the one Atwood superseded
and replaced with one that looks like this

[Old-Biscuit]

mdhemrick wrote:
It is an Atwood.

Which one :H

[1492]

Moved from Forum Technical Support

[mdhemrick]

It is an Atwood.

[Old-Biscuit]

I take it that WH has an electronic spark as you never mentioned having to mess with pilot flame

Grounds, clean connections, dirty/obstructions are typical causes of intermittent firing issues.
Fault light comes on cause main flame isn't lighting off and proving it lit.

*Spark electrode has to be clean...no carbon/soot on it. Clean with emery cloth
*Spark electrode has to have good clean tight ground connection. Check mounting bracket screw. It is the ground
*Spark electrode has to have good clean tight high voltage wire connection. Check connections at electrode and at circuit board
*Spark electrode ceramic has to be clean and no cracks. Wipe it down with silicone. Check for any cracking. Replace it cracked
*Spark electrode has to have correct gap.......S/B 1/8"
*Spark electrode has to be directly engulfed in main flame
*Burner tube needs to be aligned so gas flows straight down center of tube. IF crooked gas will bounce down walls of tube disrupting air/fuel mixture
*Burner tube needs to be free and clear of any obstructions. Spider webs cause big issues. Bottle brush thru burner tube
*Main gas orifice (on gas valve) needs to be free and clear. Remove soak i alcohol then air blow

[old_guy]

what kind of heater is it. suburban or Atwood?

[mdhemrick]

It has been raining here for three days!

[2oldman]

regulator

[LynnandCarol]

Humidity is also a factor when using gas. When we have high humidity, it will take several lightings to take. With low humidity it lights right off the first time. Have not investigated if there is something that can done about this yet as it is just a minor annoyance.

[ksg5000]

Could be a number of things. Suggest you rule out the easy stuff first. Last time I had similar problem I cleaned the contacts on the various wires and added a bit of Noalox (available at any Big Box)- also make sure your battery is up to snuff.

Here's a trouble shooting guide - might help.

http://beamalarm.com/Documents/atwood_water_heater_troubleshooting.html

[mdhemrick]

Thought about that and went and got a bottle filled yesterday and the problem is still there.

Thanks!