Water Heater Pilot Light Problem

[rock_hound]

I could not find anything in previous threads about this problem.  So her goes, I lit the pilot on the water heater with no problem.  The flame kicks on and heats the water as it should.  Once the heater kicks off, the pilot goes out.  Now I am not able to light the pilot again.

The next day when everything had cooled down.  I was able to light the pilot with no problem.  This is a Suburban 6-gal. unit.  What could the problem be; Propane regulator?  Thermocouple?  Moisture in Propane?  

I am going to try to figure this out today.  Any help would be appreciated.

[griffsmom]

Hey Rockhound,
 
 I'm sorry I odn't have an answer for you, but I did want to bump this back up so that maybe someone who does will see it.
 
 Hope you're able to solve your problem!

[ForestCreature]

Did you figure it out yet?
 
 If it light and runs, the regulator should be ok. Do the other gas appliances work correctly?
 
 It could be spider webs in the tube. Not sure how to clean that out.
 Or like you said the thermocoupler, that would be an easy fix.
 

[MtnCamper]

I had spider webs in mine, take an air nozzle, canned air, whatever and blow it into the big tube on your heater. It should have a opening where the orifice is and then just a hollow tube going to the pilot. About an inch in diameter. Might work for ya.

[rock_hound]

I took the "big tube" off and it is clean (no spider webs).  I lit the pilot again and let it kick on and heat the water for about ten minutes.  I then turned it off.......the pilot stayed lit like it should.  Thinking it may have something to do with the thermocouple, I blew out the pilot light.  The thermocouple kicked in and shut off the gas as it should.  I let it sit for 5 minutes and was able to relight the pilot.

I guess I will have to wait for our next trip and see if it does this again.

[bob]

I took the "big tube" off and it is clean (no spider webs).  I lit the pilot again and let it kick on and heat the water for about ten minutes.  I then turned it off.......the pilot stayed lit like it should.  Thinking it may have something to do with the thermocouple, I blew out the pilot light.  The thermocouple kicked in and shut off the gas as it should.  I let it sit for 5 minutes and was able to relight the pilot.

I guess I will have to wait for our next trip and see if it does this again.

I have seen this before on a propane stove where pilot would stay lit until main burner fired and  then pilot would go out .We found dirt in pilot orfice so when main burner lit pilot did not get enough gas and pilot would go out.

[rock_hound]

Update:

I took the camper to Florida for a week in July and had the same problem.

I went on trip this weekend and everything worked as it should....This is puzzling.  Could it be that the thermocouple is on the brink of going out?  I went ahead and bought the thermocouple so when this happens again I will replace it.

Now I am having a problem lighting the frig.  However, I have not cleaned anything yet and it has not been used in a while.

[Venatic]

I have the same problem with mine. I've replace the thermal coupler, but get the same results. I took off the gas tubes and cleaned them out, but still the same problem. Sometimes it seems that leaving the door open keeps it going, but that's not the smartest thing to do.

This past weekend, it worked fine. Wierd!

Trying to avoid going to the dealer.

[atcontroller]

I've noticed with my 2002 Utah that the slightest bit of wind and the pilot is out. I'm not sure if it's lack of oxygen by design or the door design and the wind is getting to it.  but it's driving my nuts and thinking of some kind of baffle mod to attach to see what I can figure out.

Tubes, etc.. are all clean.. It lights, runs great.. a puff of win (door is closed) and out it goes.

Alan

[lkw]

I've noticed with my 2002 Utah that the slightest bit of wind and the pilot is out. I'm not sure if it's lack of oxygen by design or the door design and the wind is getting to it.  but it's driving my nuts and thinking of some kind of baffle mod to attach to see what I can figure out.

Tubes, etc.. are all clean.. It lights, runs great.. a puff of win (door is closed) and out it goes.

Alan

Hi, Both water heater companies, Atwood and Suburban, make a supplemental part that will spark at the pilot til it relights. it is called a "pilot igniter". Some work with a 9 volt battery, however, the one i installed is hard wired to my pop up battery. To be honest with you, They shouldn't even manufacture a water heater without some sort of automatic pilot system! My mod works great, wasn't to dificult to install and only cost about $55.00 (3 years ago). There is also a cover that was made to shield the wind from the pilot, however, these sometimes refract the heat from the waterheater and that sometimes melts the ABS or plastic panel around the heater so i don't advise these. I purchased mine from Campimg World. Hope this helps. Larry

[rock_hound]

My mod works great, wasn't to dificult to install and only cost about $55.00 (3 years ago).

WOW that seems kind of expensive.  The whole water heater is around $260.

[lkw]

WOW that seems kind of expensive.  The whole water heater is around $260.

yea it is a bit expensive, however, what is a hot water that works right worth? There is nothing more frustrating that no hot water. That is one of the main reasons I have A pop up. As I said in my earlier post, the mfg should have made this mod in all units from the factory! Sorry for the expense. Larry

[Jim]

Hi, Both water heater companies, Atwood and Suburban, make a supplemental part that will spark at the pilot til it relights. it is called a "pilot igniter". Some work with a 9 volt battery, however, the one i installed is hard wired to my pop up battery. To be honest with you, They shouldn't even manufacture a water heater without some sort of automatic pilot system! My mod works great, wasn't to dificult to install and only cost about $55.00 (3 years ago). There is also a cover that was made to shield the wind from the pilot, however, these sometimes refract the heat from the waterheater and that sometimes melts the ABS or plastic panel around the heater so i don't advise these. I purchased mine from Campimg World. Hope this helps. Larry

I have had the same problem with mine.  It just takes a slight breeze to knock it out.  I am interested in the pilot system you are talking about.  It does require a new valve assembly doesn't it?

[lkw]

I have had the same problem with mine.  It just takes a slight breeze to knock it out.  I am interested in the pilot system you are talking about.  It does require a new valve assembly doesn't it?

No, just this small electronic box that installs above the original gas valve and the sparking rod that attaches near the pilot, A wire to the positive side of the battery. All in all it took me a couple of hours ( I work slow). Definately a worthwile endeavor.