Water heater only lights with outside door open

[davidkingham]

If the outside door is closed the water heater will not ignite, obviously a lack of oxygen, same results at sea level and 5000', is there anything that can be adjusted? It stays lit when I close the door, it's only the initial lighting that doesn't have enough air. Thanks!

[Al and Missy]

I'm guessing a misalignment of the igniter. With the door open, breezes carry the gas to the igniter. If it were insufficient air, it wouldn't keep running. If you have a manual, see if it tells how to align/install the igniter. Better yet, take it to the dealer for warranty repair.

Al

[AWCHIEF]

David, Welcome. Definetly not normal. I would guess a warranty covered issue.

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by davidkingham

If the outside door is closed the water heater will not ignite, obviously a lack of oxygen, same results at sea level and 5000', is there anything that can be adjusted? It stays lit when I close the door, it's only the initial lighting that doesn't have enough air. Thanks!

*******

If you take your Airstream into the local AS shop... hope they know what they are doing.

If your water heater lacked oxygen... I cannot imagine the interior of the trailer.

Of all the components in our Airstreams, the water heater and furnace never gave us a problem.

The refrigerator ignitor, which was about 1/32nd of an inch off and by bending the sheet metal it was attached, to center the ignitor over the flame, did fix the problem and we lived happily ever after. Our water heater is sealed, so obviously something you cannot do yourself. Please tell us what the problem was and how they fixed it!

[davidkingham]

Thanks guys, I did a little more testing and I have found that it barely stays lit when I close the door. So I'm presuming too much gas vs. a lack of air. We're full timers so getting in for a warranty repair is no easy task, I guess we'll have to open the door until we get back to Denver this summer!

[Ducky2]

Ck and see by using pipe cleaner in burner pipe sometime spiders make a parcel nest in it

[Drathaar]

Originally Posted by Ducky2

Ck and see by using pipe cleaner in burner pipe sometime spiders make a parcel nest in it

Yes, and lighting it can result in toasted wiring (don't ask how I know). A plastic wire tie will also work.