Water heater not working

[tamdle]

Hello all,

I am in the middle of a long 2 months trip and currently at the campground. I have the Suburban water heater, the system produced hot water fine yesterday and for some reason today the water getting just warm and not hot.

I went and check the water heater system and the system is stone cold, not have any sign of being working for the last few hours.

I went to the control panel, turn off the switch and wait for few minutes and turn it back on. The RED RESET LIGHT right next to it does not lite up as it attempts to ignite the water heater as it should. I check the circuit panel and the switch did not trip.

Could someone give me a hint on what did happen?

Note that the air conditioning unit ran fine, the gas stove works fine, the gas frig works fine.

I do have water in the water heater, I pulled the relief valve and the luke warm water did come out.

Thanks in advance.

[BillMFl]

take the outside cover off and have your wife activate the switch inside the coach. if you don't hear the click/zap of the igniter you have an electrical issue. if the igniter sparks but does not light up the flame you have a gas issue. check for mud dobber hornet or other debris at the ignition tube.

[fonzie]

Also press the two reset button for the heater

[donniedu]

Which model? And are you trying to start on gas or electric?
There are two different systems and two different troubleshooting scenarios.

[tamdle]

Originally Posted by BillMFl

take the outside cover off and have your wife activate the switch inside the coach. if you don't hear the click/zap of the igniter you have an electrical issue. if the igniter sparks but does not light up the flame you have a gas issue. check for mud dobber hornet or other debris at the ignition tube.

Hello Bill,

Just check, and no click. The ignition tube is clean.

Other than the circuit breaker that I have in the coach, is there any other circuit breaker that I may missed?

Thanks.

[tamdle]

Originally Posted by fonzie

Also press the two reset button for the heater

Thanks Fonzie,

The reset button did not pop. I think the breaker that you mentioned should be fine.

Tam Le

[tamdle]

Originally Posted by donniedu

Which model? And are you trying to start on gas or electric?
There are two different systems and two different troubleshooting scenarios.

I am currently having the problem with the gas system. I am turning on the electric now to use while trying to figure out what is the problem with the gas system.

Thanks.
Tam Le

[markb5900]

Depending on the model there might be black reset button.
It is on the upper left of the unit when looking at it from the outside, if I remember correct on some models.
Looks like a big piece of rubber, you push it in and it resets the unit.

[tamdle]

Originally Posted by markb5900

Depending on the model there might be black reset button.
It is on the upper left of the unit when looking at it from the outside, if I remember correct on some models.
Looks like a big piece of rubber, you push it in and it resets the unit.

Thank Mark,

Fonzie did mention that and I did push both of that reset switches few times today already and no cigar.

Tam Le

[markb5900]

Have you checked your 12v fuses?

[donniedu]

There is a black square rubber like cover in the upper left quandrant. Near the top there are what appears to be two soft buttons. One for the 120VAC the other for 12VDC. With the heater off, push both buttons in. Wait a few munites and try to start gas. It is quite posaible the hi limit temp pack for the 12V side is burned out. To check, remove that black cover and using a volt meter check for voltage thru the temp packs. Burned wires are also not uncommon on these things.

[tamdle]

Originally Posted by markb5900

Have you checked your 12v fuses?

Sound like a good advice there Mark. Do you happen to know where should I check the fuse? I could only found the circuit breaker and it was fine.

[markb5900]

I am sorry but I don't know your particular coach.
You should have a bank of fuses that look like regular car fuses, but they are for the 12v systems on your coach.
In my 5th wheel, they are in the same panel as the breakers.
In our last motorhome, we had a "bank" of fuses that were just for the coach right next to the breakers.

[tamdle]

Originally Posted by markb5900

I am sorry but I don't know your particular coach.
You should have a bank of fuses that look like regular car fuses, but they are for the 12v systems on your coach.
In my 5th wheel, they are in the same panel as the breakers.
In our last motorhome, we had a "bank" of fuses that were just for the coach right next to the breakers.

Thanks for trying Mark. There is a fuse box right next to my circuit breaker box, it does not have any fuse that labeled for the water heater.

Let me look for more.

I am assuming that the circuit breaker which labeled "water heater" in my circuit breaker box is for the electric portion of the water heater, and the 12 volts fuse would handle the trigger for the gas portion. Right?

Many thank Mark, I will look around for more fuse.

[markb5900]

I would pull every fuse in that box next to the breakers.
It is probably in there, just not marked.
Yes the breaker should be for the 120V electric heating element.
Your propane should be on the 12V side as most are designed so that you don't have to have 120V to light the water heater.

[donniedu]

If all else fails then you need to dig out your volt meter and start checking voltage.
There will be a white square box, maybe 4 inches square that has a heavy brown cable running from it to the igniter. It is quite possible that that control board has died. But without 12VDC to it, you will never get gas ignition.

[tamdle]

Thank everyone,

Yes, I dug out my volt meter and take the control panel off the wall and found the loose wire. Looks like all working well now.

Many thanks again for all of your support.

Have a wonderful day,

Tam Le