Forum Discussion

kleancut's avatar
kleancut
Explorer
Oct 05, 2013

Couple of newb questions. Water heater and Fridge.

Water heater-
After lighting it, it stays on lite for about 1-2 minutes and cuts off by it self.
Is this normal? Why does it do this. It's not even long enough to get the water hot.

Gas fridge-
While holding down the gas button , while the flame igniter is clicking. It never catches. I'm just holding and holding, maybe a minute or even two. You can see the flame indicator blinking and trying but never catches?
  • sounds like you either have a thermo coupler not working or an insect made a nest in both of them, if you are not sure of how to clean them, make an appointment with a repair man to have them fixed properly.
  • First.....

    Make sure you have good propane flow..lines are purged.
    Easiest way is to lite off stove top burners (ALL) set to high and let them burn for a little while.

    Then fire off furnace......it is a gas hog.

    Also always post Brand/Model of item so better info can be posted.
    What water heater.....and type (pilot, electronic ignition etc.)
    What fridge....
  • Fridge - That worked! I put all burners on high for a moment, and finally it kicked it on.
  • Just spoke to previous owner. He thinks the im not lighting the water heater long enough. He says I need a hold a lighter down there for like a minute. and thats why it keeps going going.

    Heres pic
    http://imgur.com/qQuC6G4

    Edit:

    That did not work. It keeps going out. Any additional info would help?
  • Is it windy there and are you closing the cover after you light the HWT?
  • Um, no. You need to find someone familiar with campers to walk you through how all the systems work. Once you understand there quite simple but, at first it can seem overwhelming.
  • What can I possibly missing?
    It seems to cut out after shutting the door also?
  • OK.......

    Pull the pilot/thermocouple assembly out of burner tube
    Clean off thermocouple will some emery cloth
    Reassemble
    Turn knob to 'pilot' and light pilot
    Check pilot flame and that it is engulfing the thermocouple
    Wait until pilot flame is stable and stays on
    Then turn to ON

    IF pilot flame will not stay lit then the thermocouple is bad or the ECO has tripped (one shot high temp t-stat----internal of gas control)

    IF ECO has tripped.....new gas control valve.
    Yours is a 'Jade Control'

    Here is a service manual that includes your Atwood pilot water heater...pg. 8-11 LINK
  • Old-Biscuit wrote:
    OK.......

    Pull the pilot/thermocouple assembly out of burner tube
    Clean off thermocouple will some emery cloth
    Reassemble
    Turn knob to 'pilot' and light pilot
    Check pilot flame and that it is engulfing the thermocouple
    Wait until pilot flame is stable and stays on
    Then turn to ON

    IF pilot flame will not stay lit then the thermocouple is bad or the ECO has tripped (one shot high temp t-stat----internal of gas control)

    IF ECO has tripped.....new gas control valve.
    Yours is a 'Jade Control'

    Here is a service manual that includes your Atwood pilot water heater...pg. 8-11 LINK


    I actually did pull it off and wiped the hell out of it with some solution. Still not successful. Im going to try to swap out the thermocouple.

    thanks for link as well!
  • Every time we disconnect a propane tank to refill, clean or whatever, we have to go through the routine of refilling, or charging, the entire propane line of the trailer. My wife gets frustrated with trying to get the pilot light on the oven to work. Think thermal coupler. She has finally accepted that the easiest way is to get all 3 burners going on the stove top. When there are solid rings of fire, with no fluttering of air escaping from the propane line, we know the propane line is recharged and things with thermal couplers will light easier.