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09-08-2010, 02:35 AM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Unknown
Posts: 436
M.O.C. #6570
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water heater
having an issue with the water heater while on gas. The burner will fire up and run anywhere from 30 seconds to around 2 minutes and then shut off. Sometimes it re-ignites and goes another 30 seconds but usually just tries to relight and then locks out. I can shut the switch off and then back on and the above sequence repeats itself. Any ideas?
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09-08-2010, 03:18 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Bakersfield
Posts: 5,316
M.O.C. #15
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Phil and Rudee,
Are you also heating the water with electricy? If so it could be as simple as the thermometer at first does not recognize the temp so kicks on the burner. Then as it runs it detects water temp and kicks off.
Are other propane devices experiencing any problems. For instance does the furnace start and then cycle off after just a few minutes? Or do you get a nice clean blue burning stove burner? If not then perhaps a blockage or cold temps could be causing a problem.
Then there is the ever present 'bad regulator'. A number of folks have simply replaced the regulator and all was well.
Good luck and let us know what happens.
Thanks,
Dennis
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09-08-2010, 03:26 AM
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#3
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Unknown
Posts: 436
M.O.C. #6570
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The problem occurs when it is set to only heat on gas, electric is off. Don't think it would be the thermometer since it tries to come on and finaly locks out. I'm thinking it may be a gas supply issue or the "valve" in the heater that turns the gas supply on and off?
I have a nice blue flame on the stove but have not tried the furnace.
Anyway to know for sure if the regulator might be bad?
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09-08-2010, 03:46 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Bakersfield
Posts: 5,316
M.O.C. #15
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Phil and Rudee,
I don't know the answer to the "for sure" is it the regulator. But someone should be along soon that will have that info for you. By the way this sounds a lot like the problem I had with my furnace. The problem with it turned out to be a bad control board. Replaced and all is well with the world.
Dennis
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09-08-2010, 05:12 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Arroyo Grande
Posts: 504
M.O.C. #6460
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Phil, Have you tried turning the propane off, and bleeding the line.Then remove the bottle,tap it on a block of wood on the ground to make sure the check valve hasn't closed. Bill
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09-08-2010, 06:47 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Casa Grande
Posts: 5,369
M.O.C. #6333
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Phil, Mine quit last year and I had to have a new gas valve installed. All was well after that. I took the gas line off and tried to cycle it and no gas flowed thru the valve. About a 100 dollars replacement by a certified RV Tech......
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09-08-2010, 01:36 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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Had that problem in Florida last winter... Turned out to be low gas flow and a bad regulator. It did not effect the stove or the fridge. It did effect the furnace. IF the furnace does the same thing it MAY well be the regulator.
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09-08-2010, 05:03 PM
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#8
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Unknown
Posts: 436
M.O.C. #6570
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thanks Rich I'll give the furnace a try and see what it does.
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09-08-2010, 07:02 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Gardnerville
Posts: 749
M.O.C. #2165
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You might also check the burner and pilot to make sure it is clean.
Bob
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09-11-2010, 02:29 AM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Unknown
Posts: 436
M.O.C. #6570
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Update: called Suburban and they seemed to think it was the igniter element. The element not only lights the gas but also is a flame sensor and if it does not "sense" that the burner is lit will shut off the gas flow.
Drove the 40 miles (one way!) to Campers World and picked one up. It was an easy change out but did not fix the problem :-(
I guess I have a spare element now.
Broke down and called a mobile repair guy who came by yesterday afternoon. Changed out the circuit board but still no go. Put my circuit board back in and fiddled around with the gas valve. He showed me where he could wiggle the valve and it would shut off and then he could wiggle it again to get it to come on. Of course he didn't have the right valve and is ordering one. Says he will be back the first of next week to replace the valve.
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09-11-2010, 02:39 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: South
Posts: 2,499
M.O.C. #5140
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There are two solenoid valves for the gas in the water heater. If I remember (it happened to us), the resistance will be open on the bad one. Replace this valve, if you can find a source for them. If not, buy a new valve assembly (it will have both solenoids and the tubing) and replace. If you do buy the assembly, keep the good solenoid for the next time.
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09-11-2010, 02:44 PM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Unknown
Posts: 436
M.O.C. #6570
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Thanks for info. I know which one he was wiggling to make it act up (the bad one) so I'll make sure I keep the good one.
Thanks.
Phil
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09-11-2010, 04:44 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Casa Grande
Posts: 5,369
M.O.C. #6333
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Glad you found it was the valve and not something else. At least you will have it fixed soon......
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