LP Water heater not firing up

[fortycreek]

Hi:

I seem to have issues with my Suburban SW6DE water heater while camping this weekend on my Roo 233S. The hot water heater is having difficulty igniting on LP. When I flip the switch inside the trailer nothing happens. The DSI light which used to come on for a second does not turn red. I have gas flow in the trailer (oven burners work fine) and almost full LP tanks.

It hasn't malfunctioned over the last 10 months. Just wondering if there are any trouble shooting ideas from the forum?

Thanks!

[VinceU]

Originally Posted by fortycreek

Hi:

I seem to have issues with my Suburban SW6DE water heater while camping this weekend on my Roo 233S. The hot water heater is having difficulty igniting on LP. When I flip the switch inside the trailer nothing happens. The DSI light which used to come on for a second does not turn red. I have gas flow in the trailer (oven burners work fine) and almost full LP tanks.

It hasn't malfunctioned over the last 10 months. Just wondering if there are any trouble shooting ideas from the forum?

Thanks!

Check power supply fuse in Elec panel. On 12volt side colored plastic fuses.
There are two "trips" under the outside cover. They extend into rubber cover if tripped, check by pushing both one at a time.

Last resort while its starting, check for 12 volts at gas valve and ignitor panel

[Herk7769]

No red light is a big clue.

No 12 volts to the control board.
Thermostat on the right rubber circle high limit tripped or burned open (like the AC one on the left in the photo).

[fortycreek]

Herk:

So does that mean to take off the black plastic cover and check? How do I know if they are tripped or burned out?

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by fortycreek

Herk:

So does that mean to take off the black plastic cover and check? How do I know if they are tripped or burned out?

Don't have to take the cover off, just press the buttons and you will feel them reset.

[fortycreek]

I have pressed the reset button but it doesn't seem to do anything.

[OldCoot]

Start checking fuses in the fuse panel. You have to have 12 volt to the panel. Are you sure the water heater switch is in the on position?

[caper]

Do you have a gas / electric heater? If you do was the heater on electric? If it was did you have hot water? If you answered yes to the above questions then you do not have a problem. The gas will not light if the water is hot from the electric side of the unit.

[fortycreek]

Fuses are all fine. Electric is off and not running. The issue is the water heater will not ignite on propane anymore. The FDI FLT light doesn't turn red when I flip the switch inside the trailer.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by fortycreek

I have pressed the reset button but it doesn't seem to do anything.

There are two there. The left one (as you look at the water heater from the outside) is the AC side (electric element) and the right one is the DC/Propane side of the system.

If they don't click in, then they were not popped for an overheat condition. It does NOT mean they are "good." Remove 12 volt DC power by pulling the fuse in the power center and open the water heater circuit breaker by snapping the breaker to OFF. It may be on the same circuit as the fridge.

Remove the screws holding the rubber cover and examine the right thermostat.
The thermostat's high (or low) bellows may be damaged or the fusible link between the two may have melted (see photos).

If damaged, you can buy a new one here: Suburban RV Water Heater 12 Volt Thermostat 232282 | eBay

There is just one nut that holds it on. (don't drop it and lose it.)

Make sure you buy the correct one! They are not interchangeable and are "handed." The right one is DC/Propane and the left one is AC.

[fortycreek]

Thanks Herk. I removed the cover and it is hard to tell if anything is damaged. The right button was bent in an odd shape off to the side. So, maybe that is the problem?.....

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by fortycreek

Thanks Herk. I removed the cover and it is hard to tell if anything is damaged. The right button was bent in an odd shape off to the side. So, maybe that is the problem?.....

Was the camper "new to you"?
Sounds like the bellows is busted now though.

Use the link and order a new one. PLEASE post a photo of your bad one.
I have a burned out and a fuse link blown photo, but a bellows crush is a new one.

[fortycreek]

Herk:


It is brand new, bought last summer from RV Wholesalers. Funny thing, I pulled the fuse and reset the breaker like you said and just flipped the switch and voila it fired up.... Not sure what to make of this. Doesn't seem reliable and this is what happened yesterday while camping. It was working fine and now seems to be sketchy.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by fortycreek

Herk:


It is brand new, bought last summer from RV Wholesalers. Funny thing, I pulled the fuse and reset the breaker like you said and just flipped the switch and voila it fired up.... Not sure what to make of this. Doesn't seem reliable and this is what happened yesterday while camping. It was working fine and now seems to be sketchy.

Sounds like that crushed bellows is shorting out. Call RV Wholesalers and request that they send you a new DC Thermostat. You will need to take a picture of the crushed thermostat.

[fortycreek]

Herk:

Here is the picture. So, the red push out button is very loose and seems broken. Is this the part I should order and replace?

If so what am I to order again?

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by fortycreek

Herk:

Here is the picture. So, the red push out button is very loose and seems broken. Is this the part I should order and replace?

If so what am I to order again?

Suburban RV Water Heater 12 Volt Thermostat 232282 | eBay

This link I posted before is the correct part.
The color of the reset button is not important.

Let us know how it turns out.