Pilot light will not light on water heater

[Blue74]

My Suburban 10 gal water heater pilot light will not light. I use the 110V all the time but while on vacation I tried to light it several times and the pilot will not light. I am getting no gas. It was new in 03 and lighted twice the last time was in 07. Anything I can do short of replacing it? Model SW 10 PE

Paul

["007"]

Take a look at the burner tube for mud dabbers or spider webs and clean.
Spiders do like smell of LP.
If it does fire up may want to clean sensor in pilot flame area, clean with cloth its ceramic.

[Ray,IN]

I too suspect it requires a through cleaning, which should be performed annually for best performance.

[cutrell01]

Some water heaters have an on & off switch on the outside on the water heater and a switch on the inside to run on LP.

[puttin]

Paul,

After you make sure it's all clean, try this:

Put the fridge in lp mode
Run outside before the solenoid shuts off
Use a log lighter and put the flame right up to the pilot feed tube

You might have to try this 2 or 3 times before she fires up. Many times the ignitor will not work after a long time being idle- due to moisture, etc.

Drew

[lostagain]

This video may help.

YouTube - RV Water Heater Maintenance

[wildtoad]

Just a thought ... Do your other lp based appliances work? Since it's been a number of years since you last used it, perhaps there is air in the gas line feeding the water heater. I had just had my wh serviced and when I went to use it the first time, it would not fire up. I called camping world and they suggested that there might be air in the lines and to keep trying and to check if my other appliances worked. I ran the stove top and furnace for a few minutes and tried the wh again and after a few more attempts it fired right up.