Community Forums

RedriverD · 10-18-2006, 03:22 PM

A few weeks ago, I had asked about a problem I was having with my water heater, a 6 gallon gas only Atwood. The main burner would light and stay lit a minute or so and then go out. I changed the thermocouple and that fixed the problem, or so I thought. It worked fine for a few days, but now when I light the pilot, the main burner won't light at all, no matter how long I hold the pilot on. Do you think I got a bad thermocouple and should change that out again or maybe there is something else I am missing. Thanks

RedriverD · 10-18-2006, 03:22 PM

A few weeks ago, I had asked about a problem I was having with my water heater, a 6 gallon gas only Atwood. The main burner would light and stay lit a minute or so and then go out. I changed the thermocouple and that fixed the problem, or so I thought. It worked fine for a few days, but now when I light the pilot, the main burner won't light at all, no matter how long I hold the pilot on. Do you think I got a bad thermocouple and should change that out again or maybe there is something else I am missing. Thanks

RV Wizard · 10-18-2006, 11:09 PM

If the pilot lite is staying lit, it is not the thermocouple. THere is a hi limit thermal fuse in side the gas valve assmebly that if is is open the main burner will not come on. The only repair is to replace the gas valve. First make sure that you have gas at the valve inlet and 11" water colum of pressure. Make sure the water is not already hot. If these do no apply then I would think the thermal hi limit has opened and the gas valve itself will have to be replaced.

RedriverD · 10-29-2006, 01:29 PM

Thanks so much Wizard, the gas valve did fix that problem... now seems there is another. Used the camper this weekend, water heater worked fine at first, but then after the water got hot the pressure relief valve started leaking pretty good... I had lit the water heater at home a few days before we went and let it run for a good while and didn't have this problem, but I did not have it hooked to water or have the pump on (I did run the pump long enough to make sure there was water in the heater) The camper was hooked up to water this weekend when this problem came up. Is it probably a weak pressure valve or possibly something else? Is the valve very difficult to change out? Should I turn the pump on and then the heater to see if it is only when hooked to city water? Thanks

WaveMaker · 10-29-2006, 06:06 PM

RedriverD,

i probably have this one...
every time it started leaking it had to be replaced, ive read that somewhere here, found it worked when i replaced mine

charliez · 10-30-2006, 03:10 AM

There is suppose to be an air pocket in the wh. If it's gets absorbed, the popoff will leak. Drain the wh and refill and 99% of the time it will fix this issue.