Odd suburban hot water heater problem

[Wildman13]

Hello all,

We have a 6 gallon gas / electric.

When there is a gentle breeze blowing it has problems lighting. You can hear the gas catch like a small explosion as it blows itself out as it catches all at once.

If the wind is stronger it catches and stays lit just fine.

If I hold up something to block the wind it catches then stays lit.

Is there something that needs to be adjusted?

TIA

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Wildman13

Hello all,

We have a 6 gallon gas / electric.

When there is a gentle breeze blowing it has problems lighting. You can hear the gas catch like a small explosion as it blows itself out as it catches all at once.

If the wind is stronger it catches and stays lit just fine.

If I hold up something to block the wind it catches then stays lit.

Is there something that needs to be adjusted?

TIA

Is this on a new or older RV as you don't have your RV make/model listed?


You may possibly need to "clean" the burner flue instead of "adjust"anything. Bugs/spiders are known to get inside the burner flue and clog it up that can help cause hard to light problems which could be compounded by the wind.


You could also have a misaligned/misgapped electrode that makes the sparks for the gas to ignite.


Some members have made an air diverter that can be placed on the water heaters outside cover to keep wind from directly blowing.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by wmtire

... Some members have made an air diverter that can be placed on the water heaters outside cover to keep wind from directly blowing.

I might benefit from that. Does anyone have pics?

[Wildman13]

This is a 2019 year RV so on the newer side. No wind today it fired right up and looks/sounds good. I watched a video on a replacing the unit and then went out and looked at ours and ours looks in good shape.

No carbon deposits in the firebox area either. See pictures attached blue flame clean port, etc.

[Sammici]

I have sorta the same issue with my DSI gas WH.
I need to keep the access door open so it will ignite. I looked for signs of blockage, didn’t find anything. Had this issue from day 1.

[jeff64]

Originally Posted by wmtire

Is this on a new or older RV as you don't have your RV make/model listed?


You may possibly need to "clean" the burner flue instead of "adjust"anything. Bugs/spiders are known to get inside the burner flue and clog it up that can help cause hard to light problems which could be compounded by the wind.


You could also have a misaligned/misgapped electrode that makes the sparks for the gas to ignite.


Some members have made an air diverter that can be placed on the water heaters outside cover to keep wind from directly blowing.

X2
And while your at it, remove the sheet metal around the burner, that will give you access to the igniter . Remove it from its mounting to the burner and wire brush the stud,nut ,lockwasher and scotchbrite the igniter and reassemble all parts.
That is the flame presence return path to the board from ground