Intermittent water heater

[Elf]

I have searched on this topic but am still not sure about where to look.
We have an Atwood water heater that is working intermittently while on gas. Usually it will start in the morning, or first time of the day, with no problem. If you leave it on or turn it off and try to start it again in a while it will not light. There is no "click, click, click" sound of the igniter.
So, the igniter seems to work when it wants. Usually when it is cold. Any ideas would be appreciated.

[Dave78Chief]

WH shuts off when set temperature is reached. Are you saying that when you have run enough water through the faucet to the point that the WH should kick back in it is not? Only reason I am asking this is if you are turning it back on and it does not ignite because the water in the tank is already up to temperature.

Dave

[wa8yxm]

I have not had this problem with the water heater but I've seen it with TWO furnaces, One was the house type (oil fired) in my parent's house, which was doing exactly the same thing and the other one was my RV unit.

First obtain the service manual for the water heater.. You should be able to download it.

Now, check the spacing on the ignighter points on the burner.

[Elf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave78Chief WH shuts off when set temperature is reached. Are you saying that when you have run enough water through the faucet to the point that the WH should kick back in it is not? Only reason I am asking this is if you are turning it back on and it does not ignite because the water in the tank is already up to temperature. Dave

Correct. After I take a shower and use up all the hot water the water heater will not turn back on, even if I recycle the switch.

[Dave78Chief]

Like Wa8yxm said, first thing to do is a bit of preventative maintenace. Clean the burner tube area and clean/adjust the ignitor. Given most of the components are only behind a outside cover, humidity can affect the wire connections. Clean them up too. Here is the service manual: http://manuals.adventurerv.net/Atwoo...er-Service.pdf. Start with the Intermittant Ignition section on page 21.

Dave