Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-19-2017, 04:55 PM   #1
ed9
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 27
Suburban Water Heater won't stay lit

Hi. The propane flame goes out after a minute or three minutes. Flame looks large when on. Checked for webs. Electric water heater runs good.
Have 2013 Rockwood Signature Lite.
Does the heating element run on electric? Or any other causes?
ed9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-19-2017, 06:33 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
HONDAMAN174's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Big brown desert
Posts: 3,003
Do you have water in it? Does the stove work?
__________________
2014 Stealth Evo 2850- "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra Rock Crawler TRD 5.7- "Clifford"
2013 Honda Accord Coupe V6 w/Track Pack- "Julia"

Just glad to get away
HONDAMAN174 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-19-2017, 06:35 PM   #3
ed9
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 27
Yes stove works and water in it.
ed9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-19-2017, 07:12 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
McRabbet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Hendersonville, NC
Posts: 239
If it is like every other gas-fired appliance, there is a thermocouple that controls the gas valve so the gas will only flow if the pilot flame is on. I'm not familiar with the Suburban unit, but yours may need a replacement thermocouple.
__________________
Rob Payne
Hendersonville, NC

2018 Rockwood Ultra Lite 2304DS, 10K Equal-i-zer Hitch
2007 Toyota Tundra SR5 Double Cab 4WD 5.7L iForce V8
FROG Member since March 2017
McRabbet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-19-2017, 07:15 PM   #5
Site Team
 
wmtire's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northeast Louisiana
Posts: 33,695
Quote:
Originally Posted by ed9 View Post
Hi. The propane flame goes out after a minute or three minutes. Flame looks large when on. Checked for webs. Electric water heater runs good.
Have 2013 Rockwood Signature Lite.
Does the heating element run on electric? Or any other causes?
Do you have the electric on at the same time as the propane? The electric heating element and the propane side work independent of one another and each have their own thermostat.

If both sides turned on:

If the electric heating element has the water already heated, then when you use the hot water (like taking a shower) and the temp inside the tank drops to a certain level, then both sides are going to start heating. The propane heats a lot quicker than the electric. Once the the water heats back up, then the thermostats for both side turns them both back off once the water inside the tank comes back up to the preset heated temperature.

--------------------------------------

If just the propane side turned on:

OR, is the water cold, and the propane never heats it up fully....with the electric heating element being off.

If you have a Suburban water heater, this thread may help:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...tml#post327988
__________________
2011 Flagstaff 831 RLBSS

A 72 hour hold in a psych unit is beginning to intrigue me as a potential vacation opportunity.
wmtire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-19-2017, 07:44 PM   #6
Georgia Rally Coordinator
 
aceinspp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: GA
Posts: 24,293
How long has camper been siting? May have obstruction in gas jet area. Check for dirt from mud dubbers and or spiders . Later RJD
__________________
2020 Shasta Phoenix SPF 27RKSS (sold)
2018 Dodge Ram 2500 6.4 3:73 gearing. Traded 2015 Chevy 2500 6.0, 4:10
Traded 2015 30WRLIKS V-Lite
Days camped 2019 62
Days camped 2020 49 days camped 2021-74 2022-40 days 2023 5 days
aceinspp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-19-2017, 08:02 PM   #7
ed9
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 27
Electric turned off. Propane never heard it. Flame keeps going out. No wonder. No spiders ECT. Thanks for the link.
ed9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2017, 02:30 PM   #8
AKA: 'tiredTeacher
 
awellis3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 1,045
Quote:
Originally Posted by ed9 View Post
Hi. The propane flame goes out after a minute or three minutes.
Do you have electronic ignition or pilot light?
__________________
Wright and Penny
(with Fitz and Lizzie, the camping kitties)
Richmond, Va.
2010 Tundra 4X4 5.7L V8
2014 Rockwood 2604WS
Life is a cruel teacher. She gives the test first; the lesson then follows.
awellis3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2017, 03:02 PM   #9
ed9
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 27
Elelectic ignition.
ed9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2017, 03:05 PM   #10
ed9
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 27
Also, my pilot light goes out every few minutes in my stove.
ed9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2017, 03:29 PM   #11
Pickin', Campin', Mason
 
5picker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,051
Quote:
Originally Posted by ed9 View Post
Also, my pilot light goes out every few minutes in my stove.
But you said in post # 3 the stove works.
Is this the pilot in the oven?

What happens when you light a stove burner and try to light the water heater?
Sounds like a propane delivery problem.
Bad regulator, kinked hose, bad connector, etc.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA

Days Camped '19=118 '20=116 '21=123 '22=134 '23=118 '24=64
5picker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2017, 06:21 PM   #12
ed9
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 27
That's what I'm thinking. Stove works, oven pilot goes on and off. Will check lines.
ed9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2017, 08:31 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
BillyBass's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Brownsville
Posts: 1,166
maybe you have dirt in the line or you have air
in it
__________________
2019 Flagstaff 26 RBWS
2015 GMC Sierra 1500
2019 camp 17 nites. Bill,Alley and are two kids Sierra,Ivy. 2020 camp 9 nites
BillyBass is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2017, 10:22 PM   #14
ed9
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 27
How do you get dirt out of a propane line? Or air?
Stove works good.
ed9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-21-2017, 04:36 AM   #15
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Texas
Posts: 13
It is possible that you are having problems with your regulator. My first check would be to get a manometer to check the pressures at the tank (11 inches on the water column) then regulator out put. (should be on regulator) Then check the appliance.
If you have dirt and crud you can clear the lines with compressed air. NOTE: propane is heaver than air and will puddle in low lying areas. With the proper mixture of air it could explode. Make sure to leak check all joints before calling the job done.
If all pressures check good it may be a flame verification problem and you should have a certified tech. look at it.
ka7cxa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-21-2017, 09:28 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
DouglasReid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
Quote:
Originally Posted by aceinspp View Post
How long has camper been siting? May have obstruction in gas jet area. Check for dirt from mud dubbers and or spiders . Later RJD
X2

Im betting there is an obstruction somewhere. MUCH more common than a bad thermocouple. Besides, if it stays on for 3 minutes, the thermocouple is working just fine or it would extinguish as soon as you let go of the button or fail to light if it is DSI.
__________________
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
DouglasReid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-21-2017, 11:49 AM   #17
ed9
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 27
Quote:
Originally Posted by ka7cxa View Post
It is possible that you are having problems with your regulator. My first check would be to get a manometer to check the pressures at the tank (11 inches on the water column) then regulator out put. (should be on regulator) Then check the appliance.
If you have dirt and crud you can clear the lines with compressed air. NOTE: propane is heaver than air and will puddle in low lying areas. With the proper mixture of air it could explode. Make sure to leak check all joints before calling the job done.
If all pressures check good it may be a flame verification problem and you should have a certified tech. look at it.
Okay. Not into explosion. Thanks.
ed9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-21-2017, 12:15 PM   #18
AKA: 'tiredTeacher
 
awellis3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 1,045
Quote:
Originally Posted by ka7cxa View Post
It is possible that you are having problems with your regulator.
Sounds right to me. Or those OPD valves on the tanks.
__________________
Wright and Penny
(with Fitz and Lizzie, the camping kitties)
Richmond, Va.
2010 Tundra 4X4 5.7L V8
2014 Rockwood 2604WS
Life is a cruel teacher. She gives the test first; the lesson then follows.
awellis3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2017, 05:38 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
BillyBass's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Brownsville
Posts: 1,166
you might have a cob web in it
__________________
2019 Flagstaff 26 RBWS
2015 GMC Sierra 1500
2019 camp 17 nites. Bill,Alley and are two kids Sierra,Ivy. 2020 camp 9 nites
BillyBass is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2017, 11:11 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
Crockett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 847
water heater in bypass could cause it to run for a few then shut off. check bypass. could have oil in lp line from reg to manifold. pull hose to reg and drain if necessary. check connections with soapy solution afterwards for leaks.
Crockett is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
suburban, water, heater

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:52 AM.