Atwood 6 gal hot water heater

[waltersdad]

My 97 Dolphins control panels water heater error light will not reset. I have turned the switch off to reset for long periods of time, but when I turn it back on it immediately goes to an error light. The igniter/probe is relatively new, replaced last spring. Is there a troubleshooting guide or manual I could get? Has anyone had this type of problem with an Atwood water heater, and if so, do you have any hints as to what to do next.
Thanks in advance for any help you could provide.

Just a few minutes after sending this thread, I tried reseting the water heater again, and it worked! I'm confused, the only explaination I can think of is the outside tempurature overnight. I discovered the problem about 5 am when the temp was 15 degrees. Now, 5 hrs later it wants to cooperate. Is this normal, and am I going to have this problem all winter long?

[WSRG]

The light comes on to indicate the pilot has not ignited. Sometimes it takes a REALLY long time for the propane to get from the propane tank valve to the water heater pilot if the gas has been turned off at the main valve [on the propane tank] for a long time. I've found that if I lite the stove top burner first, [after turning on the main propane valve] the water heater will lite almost instantly. By turning on the stove top burner, it purges the propane lines of air faster than letting the air out through the water heater propane line.

Hope this helps.

Bill

[jlyon69]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSRG The light comes on to indicate the pilot has not ignited. Sometimes it takes a REALLY long time for the propane to get from the propane tank valve to the water heater pilot if the gas has been turned off at the main valve [on the propane tank] for a long time. I've found that if I lite the stove top burner first, [after turning on the main propane valve] the water heater will lite almost instantly. By turning on the stove top burner, it purges the propane lines of air faster than letting the air out through the water heater propane line. Hope this helps. Bill

Bill, now you and the OP have me confused I've had a few atwoods and presently have a '99 Dolphin. Op is talking about reset buttons, error lights and such. You say the "light comes on to indicate the pilot has not ignited". All the ones I have every seen work as follows:

One "Heater" switch on control panel, no error lights or other indicators. Positions are "On" and "Off". Switch off, no light in switch. Switch on, if heater ignites, light in switch stays on, to let you know it's working. If not working or fails to ignite, the light goes off.

So do you two have something different than I do, or is there a misunderstanding of the operation and/or typos involved? Thanks!

John...

[pappaono]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlyon69 Bill, now you and the OP have me confused I've had a few atwoods and presently have a '99 Dolphin. Op is talking about reset buttons, error lights and such. You say the "light comes on to indicate the pilot has not ignited". All the ones I have every seen work as follows: One "Heater" switch on control panel, no error lights or other indicators. Positions are "On" and "Off". Switch off, no light in switch. Switch on, if heater ignites, light in switch stays on, to let you know it's working. If not working or fails to ignite, the light goes off. So do you two have something different than I do, or is there a misunderstanding of the operation and/or typos involved? Thanks! John...

John; What Waltersdad is referring to is the DSI light under the switch that ignites the hot water tank. Bill is right in saying that the problem is caused by the propane not reaching the pilot light and the remedy is to light a stove burner first. Hope this clears it up.

Rich

[jlyon69]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pappaono John; What Waltersdad is referring to is the DSI light under the switch that ignites the hot water tank. Bill is right in saying that the problem is caused by the propane not reaching the pilot light and the remedy is to light a stove burner first. Hope this clears it up. Rich

Ahhhh Ok. For some reason I though both were referring to the HW switch inside the coach. Certainly understood the stove remedy, been there done that Thanks for clarifying.