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Water Heater Soot

dmullen
Explorer
Explorer
Just got back from a camping trip and this is what the water heater looked like after 4 days. I could actually see black smoke coming from it on a few occasions.

Any ideas why it would be doing this?
23 REPLIES 23

dmullen
Explorer
Explorer
I was hoping that would be all that was wrong with mine but the tube was clean so I knew it had to be something more.

jc1843
Explorer
Explorer
I had that happen to mine-- in fact it had flames out of the vent and up the side of the trailer. I found a spider web inside the burner tube. I cleaned it, and never a problem again.

dmullen
Explorer
Explorer
I apologize for the late update. The dealer said that it was a bad gas valve so they replaced it.

CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Explorer III
dmullen wrote:
I blew out the burner tube and tried adjusting the small screw to increase or decrease airflow and I still get the same problem. It is not quite as bad but it is still there. I'm going to let the dealer look at it now.


Let us know what he finds out.

dmullen
Explorer
Explorer
I blew out the burner tube and tried adjusting the small screw to increase or decrease airflow and I still get the same problem. It is not quite as bad but it is still there. I'm going to let the dealer look at it now.

dmullen
Explorer
Explorer
I'm actually about to go work on it today so I will let you know what I find.

mhardin
Explorer
Explorer
Well, did you get it fixed?
2013 Ford F-350, 4x4, Crew Cab, Long Box.
2001 Jayco Eagle 266 FBS.
2014 Heartland Elkridge 37 Ultimate.

dmullen
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for the great info, I really appreciate it. I'll clean out the burner tube, fire up the water heater, and see what happens. I'll report back when I'm done.

Thanks again.

mhardin
Explorer
Explorer
Here is a VIDEO that shows one method of fixing your problem. (assuming it is a blockage in the burner tube.)
2013 Ford F-350, 4x4, Crew Cab, Long Box.
2001 Jayco Eagle 266 FBS.
2014 Heartland Elkridge 37 Ultimate.

dmullen
Explorer
Explorer
mhardin wrote:
No. If there was flame, it was because the lack of air made for a large orange colored flame instead of the blue colored flame you want.

With the heater running, you should be able to look inside the round hole on the bottom right where propane/air and igniter enter the heater. You should see blue flame.


That is exactly what was happening in that area, a large orange colored flame.

mhardin
Explorer
Explorer
No. If there was flame, it was because the lack of air made for a large orange colored flame instead of the blue colored flame you want.

With the heater running, you should be able to look inside the round hole on the bottom right where propane/air and igniter enter the heater. You should see blue flame.
2013 Ford F-350, 4x4, Crew Cab, Long Box.
2001 Jayco Eagle 266 FBS.
2014 Heartland Elkridge 37 Ultimate.

dmullen
Explorer
Explorer
mhardin wrote:
dmullen wrote:
The upper left is where the burning was happening.


That's the exhaust. The problem starts with too little air mixing with the propane at the burner. I feel sure you will find some sort of obstruction in the intake air tube. It might be spiders or bugs in the slotted area, or there could be something deeper. The tube is easy to remove and clean. You might not even need to remove it.


Should there have been any flame visible in that exhaust area?

mhardin
Explorer
Explorer
dmullen wrote:
The upper left is where the burning was happening.


That's the exhaust. The problem starts with too little air mixing with the propane at the burner. I feel sure you will find some sort of obstruction in the intake air tube. It might be spiders or bugs in the slotted area, or there could be something deeper. The tube is easy to remove and clean. You might not even need to remove it.
2013 Ford F-350, 4x4, Crew Cab, Long Box.
2001 Jayco Eagle 266 FBS.
2014 Heartland Elkridge 37 Ultimate.

dmullen
Explorer
Explorer
The upper left is where the burning was happening.