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Topic: soot on outside of hot weater grate (Read 6 times) previous topic - next topic
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soot on outside of hot weater grate
Yahoo Message Number: 109265
We have a 2000 model and this was the first time we had seen this. Black soot where the grate covering the water heater is on the outside of the rv. It went up the side of the rv about a foot as well but luckily it wiped right off. Is there an an adjustment I need to make to the water heater?  Thanks in advance for any help.

Mark Matthews Austin
Re: soot on outside of water heater grate
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109266
Mark, soot coming from the water heater indicates a too-rich propane/air mixture, resulting in unburned hydrocarbons. This can happen at high altitudes; as a result of physical clogging of the air inlet tube (usually by insects or webs); or because the air/propane adjustment has slipped due to the vibration and jolts of travel.
 You need to adjust the mixture by loosening the screw on the slotted air-intake tube, then moving the tube back and forth until the flame is mostly blue with just a hint of orange at the tip. This photo shows an older, pilot-light-type Atwood  heater, but the tube is the same:

http://blog.rv.net/wp-content/atwoodwh3.jpg>

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: soot on outside of water heater grate
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109267
Thank you so much Andy. I was hoping that is what it was. Thanks for the video too, greatly appreciated.
Re: soot on outside of hot weater grate
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109268
"Black soot where the grate covering the water heater is on the outside of the rv" I just went through this at sea level- after reading the LD manual's instructions, I went to the hardware store and purchased a flexible wire brush (Andy keeps some innovative tools for this task but I couldn't find the reference). I used the brush as instructed, out came the web, and brushed a spider out (well done of course). Voila! Jay '07GreenRK-
 
Re: soot on outside of hot weater grate
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 110011
Jay, Because of all the bugs in Florida (spiders, wasp, etc.) I made the following modifications to the water heater and refrigerator exterior grills.  I cut out a piece of aluminum window screen (not plastic) just larger than the louvered opening and glued in on the inside of the grill with Liquid Nails to cover the entire openings. Did this on my last two motorhomes and this stopped all critters getting inside.
There was no problem with combustion or soot build-up. I checked the flame just to be sure with the grill closed and it was properly blue with a hint of orange. The metal screen can take the heat outflow of the water heater. Worked fine as long as I had those two coaches.
Also, I never had a refrigerator "Flame out" due to wind gust while driving down the highway.
Anyway for what it's worth, just an idea.
Cheers, Mike Coachman

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
2010 RB "Monty"  & currently: 2021 RB "Villa Verde"
2004 Born Free 26'
1998 Beaver Patriot 33'
1992 Barth Breakaway 28'
1982 Fleetwood Jamboree 23'
1982 Dolphin/Toyota 22'