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Topic: Water Heater Won't Light (Read 5 times) previous topic - next topic
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Water Heater Won't Light
Yahoo Message Number: 141644
I have tried searching the site but can't find anything with my exact problem. When I switch on the water heater it doesn't light and I get an immediate check W.H. light. Any ideas?

Thanks, Bob
Re: Water Heater Won't Light
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141648
We have had that problem aft a rain storm.  I have continued to try to light it and sometimes that works.  I also have carefully used a hair dryer to dry the control and wire junctions and that has worked.  Don't overheat the electronics.
 My next step would be to pull off the wires, scrape off any corrosion and coat the contact area with dielectric silicone compound which you can find in most any auto parts store.
 However there maybe other issues such as the ignition, gas mixture, spider webs in the mixing tube, lack of propane (empty tank or tank turned off etc. about which others may write .

Bob / eltonsdad
Re: Water Heater Won't Light
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141649
My vote goes for sider webs in the air/fuel mixing tube.  Simple cleanout job that has worked well for me

Ted C.
Sun City West, AZ
Ted C.
Re: Water Heater Won't Light
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141652
"When I switch on the water heater it doesn't light and I get an immediate check W.H. light."
 There are several things that could cause this, such as a bad ignitor board, but the first and cheapest thing to check is your thermal cut-off. See this page in Eureka for an explanation, photos and where to get a cheap replacement part ($1.68 sound good to you?):
 http://www.andybaird.com/Eureka/pages/water-heater.htm

If it is the thermal cut-off, that means you probably have spiderwebs in your burner tube, as others have pointed out, so be prepared to clean it out before installing a new thermal cutout. And as Bob suggested, cleaning all contacts is always a good idea too.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Water Heater Won't Light
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141673
"When I switch on the water heater it doesn't light and I get an immediate check W.H. light. Any ideas?"

Bob
 Any failure to light, with the "Check heater" light coming on immediately, is an electrical problem.
Before replacing any item, pull each electrical plug, clean, inspect for damage and butter the contacts with dielectric grease, then replace.
It the heater still does not operate, the function of the thermostat, ECO switch and the thermal-cutout can be tested for continuity with a multimeter setting. Check each disconnected.
An alternate test is to, one at a time, jumper each of these components temporarily.
If the thermostat, when cold, the ECO switch or thermal-cutout do not have continuity or if the heater start operating when one of these device is jumpered, you most likely have found the problem.
Also verify full voltage is reach the circuit board
 Periodic cleaning of the burner and heat exchanger, checking the spark gap,  along with keeping the electrical contacts, tight clean and greased, will go along way to keeping the heater operational.
As with all the propane appliances, annual testing of the propane pressure is a good idea.
http://beamalarm.com/Documents/atwood_water_heater_troubleshooting.html

Larry
2001 MB
* Not to be confused with Larry W (3000 of my posts are actually from expert Larry W due to Yahoo transition mis-step)
 
Re: Water Heater Won't Light
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141683
Thank you Larry. Since I am lazy all I did was pull off the electrical connectors and reinsert them. Water heater fired right up. This tells me I need to follow your advice and clean/lubricate all connections. Thanks for that tube of dielectric grease you gave me.

Bob