Help Needed - LP hot water heater will not light

LK23 · 02-23-2008, 03:25 PM

We cannot get the LP hot water heater to light. The red light on the panel indicates the pilot light is out. Reading the manual, it appears the LP is in lockout mode. I have tried the procedure of waiting 5 minutes and trying again and it still won't light. The red light is on continuously.

The manual speaks of an ECO reset button but gives no instructions. Anyone know what to do to get it to light?

LK23 · 02-23-2008, 03:25 PM

We cannot get the LP hot water heater to light. The red light on the panel indicates the pilot light is out. Reading the manual, it appears the LP is in lockout mode. I have tried the procedure of waiting 5 minutes and trying again and it still won't light. The red light is on continuously.

The manual speaks of an ECO reset button but gives no instructions. Anyone know what to do to get it to light?

DancinCampers · 02-23-2008, 04:19 PM

That's the usual indication on mine that I need to replace the thermal fuse, as outlined by smlranger in your element post.

The ECO reset button is for the 120VAC circuit, and is located on the back of the heater. Hard to get to on mine.

glenda1908 · 02-23-2008, 04:56 PM

I assume your water is not already hot from your motor aid? If so, the heater will not light since it is already hot. If not, then you may have a burned out diode that looks like a plastic U shaped tube. We went "CRAZY" one weekend until it was diagnosed as a bad diode. Ours was just an easy pull out and snap in fix.

Finhawk · 02-23-2008, 08:57 PM

That happened with mine. I just kept turning it off and on until the pilot lite indicator stayed on. I hadn't used it for a while and it had an air lock. Try it and don't use the 5 min wait time.

LK23 · 02-24-2008, 05:39 AM

It finally lit after getting it out of Lockout mode.

ctcamper · 02-24-2008, 06:12 AM

I know this has nothing to do with a unit that is in lockout mode but it is a handy tip nevertheless. Occasionally when they don't light, it can be the fault of dirty contacts on the control board. A quick remedy is to pull the connection and use a pencil eraser to clean the contacts.