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rrray · 03-09-2012, 01:05 PM

Have Suburban SW6DEL Manual Direct Vent Gas Water Heater. It is sooting side of fiver when used. Flame has a lot of "yellow". Manual gives no solution other than check for obstructions. Found a reference to adjusting an "Air shutter" online but don't know if I have one or what it looks like? My unit is electric ignition. Anybody have ideas to adjust flame ?
Appreciated, Ray

clyon51 · 03-09-2012, 01:14 PM

The air shutter is between the gas valve and where the gas ignites. You will see the opening (where the gas passes through and mixes with the air) there you will see the adjustment to allow more air. Adjust so the flame goes from yellow to a nice blue. You should be ok then.

rrray · 03-09-2012, 06:34 PM

Clare a nd John. Tks. will look for it. Does it screw or turn or sp tool needed ?
Ray

kencon · 03-10-2012, 04:11 AM

There is one screw. loosen it, and a little force will move the adjustment sleeve. Check the orfice while yyou are looking. Spiders seem to like that area for building a web. Put a small piece of wire in the orfice to clean it.

clyon51 · 03-10-2012, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrray

Clare a nd John. Tks. will look for it. Does it screw or turn or sp tool needed ?
Ray

We have an Atwood, but I can't imagine it would be much different. When you take the outside cover off, you should see the gas regulating unit with about a 3/4 inch pipe coming out of it going to the burner. On that pipe should be a sleve with a square hole that allows air into the pipe. That sleve is adjustable to allow more or less air into it. There should be a locking screw which could be a philips head or hex head. Just loosen the sleve enough to adjust it for more air.

If the flame is yellow, you want to give it more air until it turns blue. If it stays yellow, then I suspect the regulator is bad and you should see a pro.

Hopefully when you take the cover off, all will be obvious.

clyon51 · 03-11-2012, 11:46 AM

The air adjustment should be incorporated right where you see the air hole. If it's not apparent to you, then get the model number from the heater, google it and download a manual. If you have trouble with that, post the model number here.

It's possible a spider has blocked the air hole making the burner run rich, which.would cause the soot. Do what you can to clear any debris out of that pipe.

Since it is buring rich, it's doubtful the gas nosel is plugged, but if you run a wire into the orafice, it won't hurt.

brucerob · 03-11-2012, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clyon51

The air adjustment should be incorporated right where you see the air hole. If it's not apparent to you, then get the model number from the heater, google it and download a manual. If you have trouble with that, post the model number here.

It's possible a spider has blocked the air hole making the burner run rich, which.would cause the soot. Do what you can to clear any debris out of that pipe.

Since it is buring rich, it's doubtful the gas nosel is plugged, but if you run a wire into the orafice, it won't hurt.

The possibility of a spider web, or something else, in the air inlet, venturi or burner is very high. It is possible the orifice could be partially plugged, the gas has to flow through the center of the venturi in order to form negative pressure to pull in the air. If this flow is obstructed you would have too little air for the gas available. The gas pressure could also be too high or low, although this would show up in the range and refrigerator too. Unless the air shutter has loosened up I doubt an adjustment is the answer, it always comes down to the fact that it worked before, what changed?

It's important to get this repaired ASAP, cleaning out soot is not a fun job. It's also producing high levels of carbon monoxide. I realize this is outside the living space but it's best to not have the CO produced at all.

Bruce