proper procedure to diagnose water heater

[mdfas]

Hi , I am in the process of trying to revive my 2006 Rockwood HW 256. When I shut it down and covered it up 4 years ago everything worked including the hot water.



I am hooked up to the city water ( low pressure) and electricity. Both water lines seem fine into the sink. The gas flow seems fine ( everything works including the pilot on the back of the water heater igniter). So gas is at least getting to the igniter as pictured below.


I replaced the anode and at the time the ( old) water in the hot water heater flushed out. So I am assuming the water heater is/was empty. After running the city water through the sink for about 10 minutes, I then flipped the red switch to ignite the water heater. It temporarily ignited briefly once. Now it recycles and fails to ignite every 30 seconds or so. The red light flips on and off as well during this cycle.



I assume the one valve in the heater closet points to the cold flow so water will get in and fill the heater. What am I doing wrong? I can feel/ see a little bit of water flowing into the cold, but the water heater seems blocked from receiving water. How do I know/check when the hot water heater is full? Is it not being full the cause of it not igniting? Thanks!

[SailorSam20500]

Easiest way to insure you have water in the heater, trip the pressure relief valve - lever over the blue circular piece of metal. I trip mine every spring to fill the tank.

[fonzie]

Did you open the valve on the hot side of water heater?

[mdfas]

Is there a second valve for hot? I see only one in the pic by the cold water.
oh it's hidden behind the tubes. That must be it. I have both valves now horizontal. Is this correct? Also, verified relief valve releases water, but still no ignition. Thanks.

[MtBiker]

I would clean the tip of the gas line and be sure the tube is completely free of spider webs or other bugs/debris.
Without good flow it will shut down.

[Capacitor]

Open the hot side of kitchen faucet, you should get water if not bleed off air till you do. Assuming both valves are not pointing toward bypass.

[mdfas]

alright got hot water! The issue was the inside of the tip going from the gas line to the igniter. unscrewed it with a 7/16" wrench cleaned it well with peroxide and a swab, saw the little hole was clear. screwed it back in and ignition! Thanks all for the tips that led to the solution.

[kcmusa]

Thanks for replying with the fix.