Water Heater

[Weldon]

MY WH only works on Elec. IT will not work on LPG. Thank for all the help

[1retired06]

I will make the assumption everything else works on LPG. Is the igniter working, you should hear it trying to start. If so, I would inspect and clean the pilot tube and orifice as it can clog and block the gas flow. That would be a first step. A dumb thing I did in the past when I had the same problem was to spend hours troubleshooting only to realize that because the HWH was hot since on electricity, the thermostat was never going to kick the gas on.

[DQDick]

Mike's got it exactly right. First thing to do is light the range, that will clear air out of the lines so you are working with gas and not air. If the range will light and the water heater won't, open the panel and make sure the orifice is clear. Spiders and wasps just to name a couple like the smell of propane and will build nests and webs there. If it's not those two easy things then parts will probably be needed.

[pineranch]

Read Mike"s last sentence again before you tear into anything.
Mike

[Irlpguy]

quote:Originally posted by pineranch

Read Mike"s last sentence again before you tear into anything.
Mike

Yup, if the LP thermostat thinks the water is already hot it won't activate the gas valve or the igniter. Hope the solution is as simple as that.

[Phil P]

quote:Originally posted by 1retired06

A dumb thing I did in the past when I had the same problem was to spend hours troubleshooting only to realize that because the HWH was hot since on electricity, the thermostat was never going to kick the gas on.

I did that one also. LOL

Phil P

[Weldon]

I should have said this first I cleaned the tube, the initer, I redid all the connections you can get to without taking the panel loose in the toy box. After cleaning it would lite the first time then never again. It has always work fine on elec. I would try it again and it would do the same thing. We lived in the trailer for 18 mounths, at first it work fine on both elec and LPG. Thank You For Your Help

[Irlpguy]

quote:Originally posted by Weldon

I should have said this first I cleaned the tube, the initer, I redid all the connections you can get to without taking the panel loose in the toy box. After cleaning it would lite the first time then never again. It has always work fine on elec. I would try it again and it would do the same thing. We lived in the trailer for 18 mounths, at first it work fine on both elec and LPG. Thank You For Your Help

It sounds to me like it might be the Gas valve solonoid. You can take the two wires off and check for continuity through the coils, they have been known to fail. The other possibility is the flame sensor, this is located beside the igniter, if it is getting propane and lights and the sensor does not recognize it has lit then it will shut down power to the valve and turn the propane off again. You might need to remove 12V to the heater to reset that safety feature or it may reset itself after a short period of time.

If it happens to be the coil, you can buy them separately without having to buy the whole valve assy.

[8.1al]

If you go online and google rv waterheater troubleshooting you will find good information for your heater that will lead you through it step by step