Smokin water heater

[RVSSNAKE]

Last time out I noticed a small amount of black soot on the side of the coach above the water heater.

Could this be an air/fuel mixture issue or somey worse?

Thanks

2000 Diplomat 38a.

[Old-Biscuit]

YES.....it IS a air/fuel mixture issue


Propane pressure is only 0.4 psi (11"WC) so doesn't take much to disrupt/interfere with air/fuel mixture......spider webs/mud dabbers/debris et


You have an Atwood Water Heater
*Remove burner tube....clean it out with small bottle brush. Make sure 'spreader plate' is square & parallel with end of burner tube

*Unscrew orifice from gas valve...soak in alcohol and then using LOW pressure air blow it out (just use your mouth,.....NOT air compressor and no poking anything thru the hole----it would be damaged)
*Remove spark electrode assembly...clean electrode with emery cloth (soot/carbon will affect function)
*Push a wire thru combustion chamber up out exhaust...tie a rag to the wire then pull it back thru---chimney sweep of 'U' tube



Reassemble and and fire it up
Flame should be Strong, BLUE and steady with slight roar

Air shuttle (sleeve with slots) should have roughly 1/4 of slots exposed for air inlet. Make adjustments by loosening screw and sliding sleeve open/close for proper flame

[rschreifels]

I almost burnt down our pickup camper a few years ago with a problem like this! A spider made a next in the burner tube and the flame was coming out of the fuel mixture plate. I think the previous owner removed the thermal fuse to protect this from continuing and I almost set the side of the camper on fire.

You can't really see if there is a nest in there unless you tear the think apart like described above. Be sure that you also have the thermal fuse above the burner tube.

[twinboat]

My 2000 Suburban water heater sooted up the side of the MH. It has no air adjustments.

After cleaning the burner tube and nozzle, with no effect, I bought a replacement burner tube/ nozzle.

My thought was that someone poked out the nozzle during a cleaning.

It was around $15.00 and cured the problem.

[RVSSNAKE]

Thanks, I will heed all comments and update maybe after this weekend.