couldn't get the water heater lit

[fireflymin]

it's got a switch on the rangehood. The light comes on-goes out, then back on.....tried to relight several times with no luck....what could the problem be....? Stove lit with little problem....

[JimM68]

how long since it has worked?

try a bunch of times, the w/h is usually in the back, farthest away, it can take a dozen tries if the lines have been purged.

open the hatch, and inspect the tube and burner, spider nests are popular and will prevent a liteoff. wasps and mud daubers like it in there too.

Have a helper flip the switch, while you watch. does it light at all, or not?
It needs to stay lit long enough for the sensor to get hot.
do you smell and hear gas?

There is a circuit board in there, and I think there are tests that can be run on the board, but that is beyond me right now.

[SUMDALUS]

JimM68,

Most likely, the igniter board is not sensing flame within 6 or 7 seconds after ignition, then shuting itself down. (The light goes off when ignition occurs and back on if flame is not sensed. It will try this three times before going into "lock-out" - a safety situation. Turn switch OFF for 5 seconds, then back ON to reboot the board.)

Check the electrode to make sure it is:
1st - full length and clean - not burnt off and/or corroded.
2nd - is approximately 1/8" above the ground rod and in the flame when flame is present.

Hope this helps.