RV propane water heater acting odd

[Rob]

On day 6 of a 9 day dry camp with my travel trailer (new to me but first year i have had it.  It is a 2005).

The propane source for the water heater has decided to stop staying lite.

Situation:
-Power it on
-gas flows followed by the pezzio (sp?) Igniter
-fire roars to life
-gas flow stops after 2 seconds

This repeats for each attempt.

I put a lighter near the flame souce and after it goes out, there is zero propane flowing.


Any ideas?  Seems like some kind of controler may have failed.  (Electrical side of the water heater works fine)

[Ridgeratt]

First guess check the thermocouple.

[Rob]

Not my area of expertise (had to look up what a thermocoupler is!).  But would that fail for gas, but not electric?

[Ridgeratt]

Thermocouple is what opens the gas valve.  The electric has a separate element

[getreal711]

Yes thermocouple keeps thw gas flowing saying the pilot is lit.

[Ghost Hunter]

Looks to be fairly inexpensive part.  I could help you out with tools and install if I ever make it over.     Maybe just needs a little cleaning on the fire end?

[Stein]

It's either the thermocouple (or thermopile or both depending on the model) or the valve itself.  Usually, people swap out the thermocouple as it's easy and cheap and most often the culprit.  If you have a meter and knowledge you can test it, but once you pull the old one out to test it's usually easier to put a new one in anyway.

[ghosthunter]

Try cleaning it while you wait for help or part. 

[Rob]

Excellent!  I will try to disassemble and clean it.

Appreciate the advice!

[getreal711]

If you need the new part go visit doug in startup. Dougs rv has alot of odd parts in stock and is very helpful with any questions.

[Rob]

I will write that down for sure.

Hoping to look it over tomorrow.   Was in the field all day not seeing bears.

[Ridgeratt]

You should be able to get one at any hardware store. Some are longer than you would need.  But just make a coil for the excess.

[carlyoungs]

My fridge doesn't work when ever I switch it to propane. Would it be the same fix?

[JKEEN33]

My fridge doesn't work when ever I switch it to propane. Would it be the same fix?

Is the fridge staying lit? If it’s just not getting cold, the cooling system needs to be replaced. It’s a sealed system, I found a place online that rebuilds them. It’s easy to do. Hardest piece is getting the fridge out of the cabinet. Mine was getting cold on electric, but not on propane.

[Ridgeratt]

My fridge doesn't work when ever I switch it to propane. Would it be the same fix?

Is the fridge staying lit? If it’s just not getting cold, the cooling system needs to be replaced. It’s a sealed system, I found a place online that rebuilds them. It’s easy to do. Hardest piece is getting the fridge out of the cabinet. Mine was getting cold on electric, but not on propane.

Propane produces a tremendous amount of condensation. Perhaps the burner tube on the condenser is plugged up with rust. RV fridges work on a ammonia boil to get cold.
The last one I replaced I ordered from RVCool.com. But with the craziness we have had last year not sure if he's still in business.   

[Sandberm]

My fridge doesn't work when ever I switch it to propane. Would it be the same fix?

Probably just spiders nest in the little oriface the propane comes out.

I'm no expert on this stuff, nor know the names of any of the parts, but I was able last fall, in the dark while camping, pop the out side cover off that shows where all the gas comes in to work the fridge. I was able to take some simple stuff apart and get the blockage cleared and when i put it back together i was able to see things light up.

Same thing happened with the furnace the fall before. Something had built a nest in the little hole where the propane comes out. That was a bit of a pain as i had to pull the furnace out of the wall to get to it.

Now, instead of going a year between fireups, i go out every 6 weeks or so and get the furnace and fridge fired up on propane to kill spiders and such

[carlyoungs]

My fridge doesn't work when ever I switch it to propane. Would it be the same fix?

Probably just spiders nest in the little oriface the propane comes out.

I'm no expert on this stuff, nor know the names of any of the parts, but I was able last fall, in the dark while camping, pop the out side cover off that shows where all the gas comes in to work the fridge. I was able to take some simple stuff apart and get the blockage cleared and when i put it back together i was able to see things light up.

Same thing happened with the furnace the fall before. Something had built a nest in the little hole where the propane comes out. That was a bit of a pain as i had to pull the furnace out of the wall to get to it.

Now, instead of going a year between fireups, i go out every 6 weeks or so and get the furnace and fridge fired up on propane to kill spiders and such

Thanks! I will try that. Sounds pretty easy.

[Rob]

Did not get a chance to disassemble the unit today to clean is bcs 45 min before i was to head to camp for chores and a siesta I filled my spring bear tag!

Perhaps tomorrow!

I did, just for kicks, try to fire it up and amazingly it fired and stayed lite!  So that was wierd.

[Ghost Hunter]

Did not get a chance to disassemble the unit today to clean is bcs 45 min before i was to head to camp for chores and a siesta I filled my spring bear tag!

Perhaps tomorrow!

I did, just for kicks, try to fire it up and amazingly it fired and stayed lite!  So that was wierd.

Maybe because you needed a hot shower?       Better karma?   

[Rob]

Without a doubt!

[hal]

sometimes the thermo gets cruddy