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1clickaway · 09-27-2021, 08:23 AM

Trouble shooting my 10 gal. hot water tank that is in my RV. When I turn it on gas, it works fine until i close the outside door on the water heater. then the gas turns off and will try to relight 2 more time. sometimes it restarts but then goes out. It will only stay burning if the outside access door is open. Atwood said to remove the bug screen that has been there for 6 years(it is clean) but I removed it and it still does the same thing. The flame is good a nice blue color with a few orange tips once in awhile. The intake air tube is set half way and it is clean.

Ljwt330 · 09-27-2021, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1clickaway

Trouble shooting my 10 gal. hot water tank that is in my RV. When I turn it on gas, it works fine until i close the outside door on the water heater. then the gas turns off and will try to relight 2 more time. sometimes it restarts but then goes out. It will only stay burning if the outside access door is open. Atwood said to remove the bug screen that has been there for 6 years(it is clean) but I removed it and it still does the same thing. The flame is good a nice blue color with a few orange tips once in awhile. The intake air tube is set half way and it is clean.

First question, is this a new problem or is the RV new to you and you just discovered the issue?

Lack of air is the logical cause, as expressed by Atwood and your checking the burner ports and removing the screen. Next, would be to check the burner tube is centered inside the burner opening. If that doesn't fix things, remove the gas orifice from the gas valve and soak it in alcohol for a time, then blow it dry. Do not stick anything through the orifice.

If all the above fails to fix the problem, it may have something to do with the outside door itself contacting and electrical connection on the heater, shorting it out. Try lighting the heater with the cover off. Then, slowly move the cover into position, in gradual increments. At the point where the heater shuts down, investigate what if anything, was touched by the cover.

DAN L · 09-27-2021, 11:11 PM

I drilled a dozen #10 holes in the bottom edge of the door to admit more air.
That fixed my water heater problem. Check the color of the flame. If its yellow it needs more air.

Ljwt330 · 09-28-2021, 10:21 AM

Before you do any modification to the door, please answer the question posed, is this a new issue?

If it is a new issue, something has changed to cause the flame out and that has to be diagnosed.

If it has always been this way, or the unit is new to you, then begin by checking the things mentioned in my first post, then try adjusting the burner air admittance port on the burner tube. It is now set at half-way. Try opening the port gradually and see if the burner continues to burn with the door closed. Atwood has an adjustable port, Suburban does not.