Hot Water Heater Pilot Light Wont Light

[Captain Cook]

Hi I am a newbie here and thought someone could shed some light on this for me.

Its a 96 Flagstaff by Forrest River. I bought it about a year ago and absolutely love it. Except the hot water heater pilot will not light. Someone suggested it may just be dirty ( looks clean) or the thermocoupler may be bad. Does this sound right? Other than this everything works great. Thanks in advance for any help !

added info......... I dont smell any gas while holding down the button at all. Ive held it down for several minutes and still no gas smell. The stove works fine. Full tank of gas also.

[wynot]

Hi I am a newbie here and thought someone could shed some light on this for me.
 
Its a 96 Flagstaff by Forrest River. I bought it about a year ago and love absolutely love it. Except the hot water heater pilot will not light. Someone suggested it may just be dirty ( looks clean) or the thermocoupler may be bad. Does this sound right? Other than this everything works great. Thanks in advance for any help !

We have a Coleman camper, but your hot water heater is going to be one of two brands (Atwood or ?)  Anyhow, it usually takes me about 2 minutes or so to get my hot water heater lit.
 
The first season, no problem, but it has been a nuisance ever since.
 
The way I think that most people do it is:
 
Start your inside stove burning (multiple burners will pull more gas, but not necessary).  Hold the pilot button down (it may not be down, mine actually has to be fiddled with a bit to be fully down).  Hold there for about 60 seconds (count to 60 slowly).  While still holding it down, bring your lit lighter into position to fire the pilot.  Keep your lighter there for about 30 seconds.  Release pilot button and see if it remains lit.
 
Sometimes, if I feel that I have gotten the thermocouple warm enough, but the pilot is acting annoying, I sometimes light the main burner.  This is dangerous (well, at least scary).  Turning to 'main' or 'on'.  If you hear gas flowing, the thermocouple is warm enough.  Standing to the side (not in front of) of the hot water heater, put the lit lighter in the opening.  Expect a flame to shoot out of the opening - it will be gone just as quick, but be careful if you try this.  I think the lines get air in them, and there just isn't a lot of gas flowing at the pilot.  The main burner will pull enough gas through the pilot line to keep it lit once it (main burner) shuts down.

[abbear]

To help in holding down the control knob I have cut a ength of pvc pipe that fits between the knob and the top of the compartment.  That way I only have to worry about watching the pilot light.

[wynot]

To help in holding down the control knob I have cut a ength of pvc pipe that fits between the knob and the top of the compartment. That way I only have to worry about watching the pilot light.

Great idea, my thumb would appreciate that!

[TexasCamper]

I rented a PU's for a few seasons before I got my own.  I could see the allot of people were tiring to light it in the wrong place by the black soot. The rental guy would say some people would come back and say the WH would not light. Make sure you are in the right spot. Follow the thermal coupler to the end and see it this is next to the pilot. hold the red button for a few seconds to heat up and then turn it on. Hope this helps

[Cheryl]

We had problems in the past with spider webs blocking the orafice.
Cheryl

[Captain Cook]

OK....I lit the stove to help draw some gas. I took off the line going to the pilot and blew everything out.  Held the button down, started to smell a little gas, tried to light it and nothing. I held it there for about 30 seconds and it NEVER lit.   :mad:  :mad:  Where is the gas smell comming from ? Why wont it light ?

[tlhdoc]

Just covering the basics here, were you using a long lighter to light the gas?  A match will burn out too quickly to use them.  You light the water heater near the tip where the gas line and thermocouple are.