Water Heater Soot?

[Grodyman]

My propane water heater burner on the Lance is burning a large yellow flame and producing a lot of soot. I can see flame shooting out of the exhaust pipe. Smells like a kerosene oil lamp. Any ideas?

Gman

[Golden_HVAC]

Hi,

If you are out camping, then blowing through it with compressed air at a gas station will work fine. Probably would clean it out better once at home.

Fred.

[Grodyman]

I blew it out and it is working much better. Thanks guys. The cold showers in Death Valley felt good though...

Gman

[Old-Biscuit]

Ex-Tech wrote:
This trouble is commonly caused by spider webs in the burner tube.
It needs to be cleaned.

YEP.......
Need to remove burner tube and clean it with a bottle brush (blowing air doesn't get rid of spider webs)
With burner tube AND spark electrode removed.......run a wire thru combustion chamber and out exhaust, then tie a rag to it and pull back thru to clean 'U' tube of any debris and the soot.
Clean up spark electrode with 400 grit to get rid of carbon/soot on it

[Ex-Tech]

This trouble is commonly caused by spider webs in the burner tube.
It needs to be cleaned.