Well Isn't THIS embarassing?

[maggieevans]

We have recently purchased a 1966 Tradewinds with Updated appliances. It's a long story but we were unable to pick up the trailer from the PO anddid not get an extensive run through of operating systems. SIGH. And now its time for some Fall camping. And we need heat and hot water. I have spent some time trolling around the net, AND the trailer AND the manuals but not having much success getting this stuff operating.

First the HW Heater - a Suburban SW6PE. Manual Light. Havent had any success in actually getting it to light, but more importantly - How canI tell if the Hot Water Tank is full or empty? I have tried running the hot water Tap and I get cold water but I dont know if that water is coming from the HW Tank or the main water Tank? Is there some way to figure this out?

Is there a switch INSIDE the Trailer that I need to turn on to turn on the HW Tank? I have just been trying to light the pilot with no success. (Propane on open and full)

Next the Furnace. Also a newer model. Suburban DynaTrail NT30SP.

NO WHERE does the manual explain WHERE I light it! I assume the Pilot is located outside the trailer, but there is no hatch to open around the vent area.

I feel really dumb right now...

Thanks for any wisdom you can offer.

[andreasduess]

Edit: Ignore me. Our heater is switched on via a switch, not a pilot. I didn't realize yours was different. Good luck.

[DKDarrow]

Really NOT familiar with your EXACT appliances but; I will give it a shot. A lot of trailers have a red bypass handle on the inside under a cabinet or such that turns off or on the flow of water to the water heater. Look for that????? It is usually there right by the heater on the inside.

Most hot water heaters have a door outside for access. Open that. On the bottom side of the tank you will see a 3/4" nut that is actually a drain plug. Get a proper size wrench and remove it or loosen it. If water flows, you have water in the tank, if not, you don't. Most folks remove that plug and allow the tank to drain for storage or winter to prevent rust damage.

There are many ways to light or turn on a heater. For me, I would call the customer service at the company and find out what THEY SAY. Some are as simple as a switch for on and off on the bottom of the thermostat and others you have to remove a panel on the heater itself and light it by holding down a button while you hold a match on the pilot burner and thermocouple............God bless.......Dennis

[cwf]

Howdy!

Let me be the bad guy and ask ... Have you fired up a manual start device before?

If not, would you like to know how?

3 things are needed for combustion, air, fuel, heat source.

Air is usually easy. Fuel, propane in case of AS, needs to be turned on and at about 11 inches of water column pressure(set by regulator). Heat source can be a spark, flame or other adequate source.

Make sure your gas line is flushed of air and you are getting propane. Otherwise the rest of this is futile.

Time to start the PILOT.

On manual, you turn fuel/gas valve on water heater to "pilot" or start. Then press a button and hold down to release fuel. The fuel flows as long as button is held, until the thermocouple heats enough to hold the fuel on without pressing button.

With button held, apply spark or flame in the fuel stream. Do this quickly so you don't have a buildup of fuel which can give you a little surprise when it lights.

Once this small pilot lights, release the button after about 10-30 seconds. If the flame goes out hold longer, up to a minute at first attempt. When you release, if flame goes out, the thermocouple or valve is bad, usually.

If it stays lit, once you release the button, great!

Now turn the valve to ON, RUN, etc. within a couple seconds the main burner should light. The thermostat should let water heat to selected temp then main burner shuts off, the pilot stays on. This cycle of the main burner continues to maintain temp.

[Minno]

Google search found both manuals.

Link to furnace manual:

http://webspace.webring.com/people/j...1/ntseries.pdf

Link to water heater manual:

http://dutchmen.com/image/data/docum...per_Manual.pdf

Hope these help.

Your water heater has bypass valves installed. The cold water inlet valve shows in the third picture, and it's in the open position, meaning that the water heater is not being bypassed. The valve on the hot water outlet must also be in the open (not bypassed) position since you're getting water out of the hot water faucets. So, with both bypass valves set to the not-bypassed position, and you're getting water out of the hot faucets, then the water heater is full.

The bypass position of both valves would be 90 degrees from their current position. Then the water is bypassed. You use that position to fill up the fresh water system with RV antifreeze for winterizing. The water heater should be drained for winterizing using the drain plug mentioned in one of the above post. It does not need to be filled with antifreeze, saving you 6 or 10 gallons.

Chris

[maggieevans]

Hi All! As of today, I have heat AND hot water in my trailer! So very happy, and could not have figured it out without everyone's suggestions and tips!

Cheers!

[featherbedder]

Just safety follow up, do not have face in proximity to burner when trying to lite. Glad you got hot water and heat its bummer without when temps drop

[mandolindave]

First light your stove. It's easy to light, and hear the gas coming out, which verifies that the propane gas bottle nozzle is open, and that you have gas. It also bleeds a lot of air from the lines.
Opening the hot water valve on a sink or shower is the easy way to see if there is water in the water heater tank. Run the water until it stops sputtering. Yeah you don't want to light a water heater that is empty.
One kinda nice thing about that water heater is that the pilot will keep the water warm for a long time. Water takes a while to cool off even with the pilot off.

[Sbb]

DKDarrow- we r also a Dennis & Susan!

[Stefrobrts]

Originally Posted by mandolindave

First light your stove. It's easy to light, and hear the gas coming out, which verifies that the propane gas bottle nozzle is open, and that you have gas. It also bleeds a lot of air from the lines.

I just wanted to second this: This is really good advice, it will save you a lot of frustration waiting for the gas to get back to the WH and furnace! We do this every time.

[cwf]

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