Water Heater in an 87 Winnebago Elandan - RV-Dreams Community Forum

tanakh777 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Water Heater in an 87 Winnebago Elandan

thebearII · RV-Dreams Family Member

Greg,

Most important first step, read the owners manual for the water heater model you have and the manual for your RV. The manuals should show the steps required for lighting the water heater and the location of any valves in the propane system. If you don't have a separate owner's manual for the water heater, this website has quite a selection online to look at: http://bryantrv.com/owners.html

I don't know your motorhome setup so all I can do is describe how most RV water heaters are configured. I also don't know you experience level so I apologize in advance if I'm being to detailed.

On the water heater is a valve you must turn on to get the propane flowing. Once this valve is put into the pilot (older models) or heat position, the electronic switch can then be used to light the water heater. My water heater has to be lighted manually, it does have a piezo (electronic pilot) to keep the pilot flame going in case it's blown out by wind. Yours sounds like it only has an electronic pilot.

Keep in mind it may take up to 10 minutes for your propane to flow to the water heater at a high enough pressure to get the burner to light. I usually turn the propane on at the tank, wait 5 minutes and then light a burner on my stove to make sure there is pressure in the system. Then I try to light the refrigerator and water heater. Sometimes it takes another few minutes before they will light. That's why your manual says wait 5 minutes and try again.

So once you know there is propane in the system, you should be able to push the button and the red light will go off indicating the pilot is firing, if the burner doesn't light after a preset amount of time, the light will come back on to let you know the burner didn't light.

Water heaters are known for being hard to light. You may have to manually get it to light at the water heater and then use the switch to keep it lighted. If you can't get it to light at the water heater, it may need servicing.

Manual lighting- (see caution below)
At the water heater, turn the gas valve on. Next, there is usally a red button you push down to get the pilot to fire and burner to light. You'll hear the pilot piezo firing, it's a clicking sound. You should hear the gas and smell it, the burner may pop a couple of times before it lights. Don't hold the red button down too long without the burner lighting. You don't want to build up too much gas.

Once the burner lights you may need to hold the red button down for 30 seconds to make sure the safety shutoff sensor has heated up so the burner will stay lit.

CAUTION: Be sure to position yourself off to the side and not directly in front of the water heater while trying to light it. My buddy lost his eyebrows while trying to light his water heater once.

tanakh777 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks a lot for the quick reply and all the info. I am a complete newbie to RV'ing. This is my first one. I really appreciate all the great info you gave me and I'm getting ready to head oyt and see if I can get in fired up. I'll post my results (or lack thereof) tomorrow.

Thanks again.

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

I would go outside and open the panel where the water heater is located, you should be able to see or hear the burner if it's running.

tanakh777 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks for the reply Dan. I opened the panel, I looked under sinks and inside closets and I can't seem to find any LP gas valves other than one for the furnace. Apparently, I'm not getting gas to the pilot. I can hear and see the electronic sparks trying to light the pilot, just no gas. My manual for the heater nor the manual for the RV itself say anything about a shut off valve, which makes sense because I don't know you'd ever want to turn it off.

So I'm afraid the solenoid valve may be stuck closed preventing the gas from getting to the pilot. I don't see any way to open it manually. I'll keep trying. I'll most likely end up taking it for service somewhere.

Thanks again for your input.

flyone · RV-Dreams Family Member

Tanakh--please excuse me for asking the only reason I ask is you say you are new to rving--are you sure there is propane in the tank and you have the tank turned on? If so you may need to have the HWH serviced sometimes its as simple as the orifice of the gas tube has a small spider web in it and needs to be blown out. Its hard to belive but if that gets blocked even with something as small as a web you'll never get it lit, I know from experince. Good luck

Flyone

tanakh777 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hi FlyOne. Yes, the gas is turned on at the tank. The furnace and the stove both work fine. I don't see any valves at the water heater at all and I can't hear gas flowing when I put my ear to the pilot area. Also (in response to TheBearII) I don't see any red button to push for manually lighting the pilot either.

I have the manual for the heater. It's an Atwood GH6-4E Direct Ignition model. Here is what the manual says about operating the heater.

1: Place remote switch in the "on" position.

2: If switch light stays on longer than 6 seconds place switch in "off" position and wait 5 minutes.

3: Repeat step one.

Then it goes on to say:

4: For complete shut-down and before servicing:
A: Place remote switch in "off" position.
B: Remove red wire from left hand terminal of ECO switch (ECO valve).
I have no idea what the ECO valve is and the manual doesn't show it.

5: If heater fails to operate due to high water temperature, the water heater will go into a lockout condition (indicator light on).

6: When water cools, reset by opening switch (WHAT SWITCH???) for at least 30 seconds, then close.

7: If lockout condition occurs again call Atwood blah blah blah.

That's it.

Sorry to make this such a long post but I thought it might help if you saw what my manual says.

thebearII · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sounds like you need service.

Or just to make sure, try to find a fellow RVer with the same type of furnace in your area that might be willing to come over to try and get your's lit.

Try posting on the escapees website at http://www.rvnetwork.com/

You'll find RVers love to help each other.

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

4: For complete shut-down and before servicing:
A: Place remote switch in "off" position.

This makes it sound like something needs to be turned on. Best bet is have a qualified technician take a look at it, if for no other reason than safety. I do not take the DIY approach on items that burn propane. Best to leave it for the experts.

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

As a former Gas Company Employee, I agree with Dan. Have a qualified Service Tech look at it. Explosive gas is nothing to take chances with.

tanakh777 · RV-Dreams Community Member

I think I've come to the same conclusion. Thanks for all your help and advice. It is most appreciated. I will also look for someone in my area that has the same set up.

Thanks again,
Greg (tanakh777)