Suburban gas water heater failure to ignite

[tsduke03]

My water heater doesn't want to light all the time. It will try a few times to ignite and go into lockout. Sometimes it will work fine for a day then fail to ignite again. It's seems like the longer it sits the lest likely to like.

Now, I can pop my grill lighter in there when it's trying to light it will ignite every time.

Igniter maybe?


Thanks!

[therink]

X2 what previous poster said. Also make sure there isn't a single cobweb or obstacle in the burner tube. You would be surprised how much the tiniest cobweb can disrupt the air/gas mixture.

[Old-Biscuit]

The spark electrode is attempting to light main flame..but only does so intermittently. YOU can light main flame with a BBQ lighter so problem is with spark electrode.

Need to clean spark electrode (emery cloth), set spark gap to 1/8", clean up ground (screw holds bracket provide grd. source), check the ceramic & high tension wire for cracks (also wipe them down with a rag with silicone on it) and then position spark electrode so that it is engulfed by main flame.