Water heater help? Whoosh!

[Peteludwig]

When camping this weekend my hot water heater started to act up, when it tried to ignite I could hear the ignitor clicking and then whoosh! , flames would shoot out the side cover. It would sometimes light but other times it wouldn't and then the dsi fault light would come on . Any suggestions? I'm thinking it's something to do with the ignitor..., I obviously have gas flowing into the burner , but it builds up and lights way too late. Btw it's a Suburban 6gal , SW6D, its in a 2017 Salem Cruise Lite, 273qbxl.

[crunchman12001]

Originally Posted by Peteludwig

When camping this weekend my hot water heater started to act up, when it tried to ignite I could hear the ignitor clicking and then whoosh! , flames would shoot out the side cover. It would sometimes light but other times it wouldn't and then the dsi fault light would come on . Any suggestions? I'm thinking it's something to do with the ignitor..., I obviously have gas flowing into the burner , but it builds up and lights way too late. Btw it's a Suburban 6gal , SW6D, its in a 2017 Salem Cruise Lite, 273qbxl.

Blow out or remove and clean the burner tube. You most likely have a spider web or a bug in the tube, blocking the air / gas mixture.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by crunchman12001

Blow out or remove and clean the burner tube. You most likely have a spider web or a bug in the tube, blocking the air / gas mixture.

Yellow Jacket nests here

[Iwannacamp]

There are problems with the boards....your symptoms aren't the same. I would also bet on the dirty. If it's like mine it's very simple to blow out.

[crunchman12001]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

Yellow Jacket nests here

That stinks, did you get 'em?

[Peteludwig]

Thanks guys, I did take it apart and blew it out , it seems to have fixed the problem, I physically couldn't see anything in there but I guess it only takes a small amount of debris. I tried it several times and it fired right up , we'll see ,going camping again this weekend , knowing my luck it'll screw me at the campground, anyhow I already warned the wife it may be cold showers or head to the bath house.... thanks again for the quick reply, thankful for this FR forum too, as a newbie to camping in an TT it helped me a lot.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by crunchman12001

That stinks, did you get 'em?

Blew out the tube and lit off the heater. What I didn't blow out got burned out.

[crunchman12001]

Originally Posted by Peteludwig

Thanks guys, I did take it apart and blew it out , it seems to have fixed the problem, I physically couldn't see anything in there but I guess it only takes a small amount of debris. I tried it several times and it fired right up , we'll see ,going camping again this weekend , knowing my luck it'll screw me at the campground, anyhow I already warned the wife it may be cold showers or head to the bath house.... thanks again for the quick reply, thankful for this FR forum too, as a newbie to camping in an TT it helped me a lot.

Excellent, glad to help.
You should buy some screens to cover the exhaust on the exterior of the WH door to help prevent further issues.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by crunchman12001

Excellent, glad to help.
You should buy some screens to cover the exhaust on the exterior of the WH door to help prevent further issues.

Better yet, go camping more often. Keep the bugs burned out.

[DaGrinch]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

Better yet, go camping more often. Keep the bugs burned out.

[Chrissy Camper]

I had similar issues with my hot water heater on my first trip last week. Something fixed itself. BUT, in reading the paperwork that came with the rig, it clearly says DO NOT COVER THE VENT for safety issues (even though the dealer tried to sell me covers and I have been shopping around for them). I don't know what the real answer is, cover or don't cover them?

[crunchman12001]

Cover with screens that are made for the WH. (water heater)
Here is a link.

https://www.google.com/search?q=rv+w...hrome&ie=UTF-8

[ben31]

Originally Posted by Chrissy Camper

I had similar issues with my hot water heater on my first trip last week. Something fixed itself. BUT, in reading the paperwork that came with the rig, it clearly says DO NOT COVER THE VENT for safety issues (even though the dealer tried to sell me covers and I have been shopping around for them). I don't know what the real answer is, cover or don't cover them?

I believe they mean cover, as in tape, metal, etc. Something that blocks air. The screens don't block anything, except the little buggers trying to get in! I put screen anywhere that insects might get in...Hot Water Heater, Furnace, Refrigerator, etc.

[crunchman12001]

Originally Posted by ben31

I believe they mean cover, as in tape, metal, etc. Something that blocks air. The screens don't block anything, except the little buggers trying to get in! I put screen anywhere that insects might get in...Hot Water Heater, Furnace, Refrigerator, etc.

X2, install screens on everything.

[jtesta1]

If you cover your vent with a screen please maje sure it's a metal screen. Plastic screens like to catch fire.

[Wolverine 1945]

I made a cover for our intake vent out of 2 layers of a zip lock bag,,, and covered the exhaust vent with tinfoil,,, I have a note in the MH reminding us to remove covers before we turn W/H on !!!