| House water heater issues [message #362936] |
Sun, 21 March 2021 21:59  |
Larry
Messages: 2875
Registered: January 2004
Location: Menomonie, WI
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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HI all,
I have an Atwood GH6-8E 6gal Propane water heater with a build date of 12/2001. When I turn it on in the morning, sometimes it lights on the first start. Sometimes it takes 5 or more starts for it to light. Sometimes after it is lit, the fire will just go out. Sometimes that is right away, sometimes it is 5-10 minutes after it is lit that the fire goes out. Seems to be worse in cold weather. I suspect it is the thermocouple going bad and thinking the fire went out so is shutting the propane off. Any ideas how to diagnose this? Or do you recognize these symptoms and know what the problem is. Getting tired of shaving with cold water...any help is welcome.
Larry 
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
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| [GMCnet] Re: House water heater issues [message #362937 is a reply to message #362936] |
Sun, 21 March 2021 22:25  |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Larry.
It could be the two temperature sensors located on the tank.
There is a way to test. My mind has gotten to where I need to review before
I can help you.
On Sun, Mar 21, 2021 at 7:59 PM Larry wrote:
> HI all,
> I have an Atwood GH6-8E 6gal Propane water heater with a build date of
> 12/2001. When I turn it on in the morning, sometimes it lights on the first
> start. Sometimes it takes 5 or more starts for it to light. Sometimes
> after it is lit, the fire will just go out. Sometimes that is right away,
> sometimes it is 5-10 minutes after it is lit that the fire goes out. Seems
> to be worse in cold weather. I suspect it is the thermocouple going bad
> and thinking the fire went out so is shutting the propane off. Any ideas
> how to diagnose this? Or do you recognize these symptoms and know what the
> problem is. Getting tired of shaving with cold water...any help is welcome.
> --
> Larry
> 78 Royale w/500 Caddy
> Menomonie, WI.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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| Re: [GMCnet] Re: House water heater issues [message #362944 is a reply to message #362937] |
Mon, 22 March 2021 01:59 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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The thermcouple located in the burner flame area is a good guess. They are so cheap, that my diagnostic procedure is to just replace it and see if it works now. It is a hardware store part.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: House water heater issues [message #362947 is a reply to message #362936] |
Mon, 22 March 2021 09:14 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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Larry wrote on Sun, 21 March 2021 22:59HI all,
I have an Atwood GH6-8E 6gal Propane water heater with a build date of 12/2001. When I turn it on in the morning, sometimes it lights on the first start. Sometimes it takes 5 or more starts for it to light. Sometimes after it is lit, the fire will just go out. Sometimes that is right away, sometimes it is 5-10 minutes after it is lit that the fire goes out. Seems to be worse in cold weather. I suspect it is the thermocouple going bad and thinking the fire went out so is shutting the propane off. Any ideas how to diagnose this? Or do you recognize these symptoms and know what the problem is. Getting tired of shaving with cold water...any help is welcome.
Larry,
I just had similar trouble with the heater in my shop. An HVAC friend suggested that maybe the thermocouple needed cleaning. So, I did that and have had reliable heat since.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: House water heater issues [message #363576 is a reply to message #362936] |
Wed, 21 April 2021 08:36 |
Larry
Messages: 2875
Registered: January 2004
Location: Menomonie, WI
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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Just an update on my water heater issue. I pulled the igniter out and cleaned it. That seemed to help but did not cure the problem. Some mornings it would start first try. Other mornings It would take 5 tries and after a month of monkeying with it, I pulled the igniter again to clean it again. There are two probes that extend into the propane flow, kinda like a spark plug accept that both are 2" long. I started to clean it and the negative (ground probe) felt loose and fell off in my hand. Went to a RV sales place, bought and installed a new igniter. That was it!! Starts every time. Thanks for all of the suggestions. Your suggestions led to the solution. BTW, igniter at an RV place was over $30. Same igniter on Amazon was under $10 delivered. We were on the road, and could not wait to get home, so we were forced to get it at an RV place. STILL....life is good.
Larry wrote on Sun, 21 March 2021 21:59HI all,
I have an Atwood GH6-8E 6gal Propane water heater with a build date of 12/2001. When I turn it on in the morning, sometimes it lights on the first start. Sometimes it takes 5 or more starts for it to light. Sometimes after it is lit, the fire will just go out. Sometimes that is right away, sometimes it is 5-10 minutes after it is lit that the fire goes out. Seems to be worse in cold weather. I suspect it is the thermocouple going bad and thinking the fire went out so is shutting the propane off. Any ideas how to diagnose this? Or do you recognize these symptoms and know what the problem is. Getting tired of shaving with cold water...any help is welcome.
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
[Updated on: Wed, 21 April 2021 08:40] Report message to a moderator |
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| [GMCnet] Re: House water heater issues [message #363577 is a reply to message #363576] |
Wed, 21 April 2021 08:56 |
BobDunahugh
Messages: 2465
Registered: October 2010
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
Karma: 11
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Senior Member |
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I've been having that same issue with our 78 Royale gas water heater. I'll get the part today. Alwas been glad the ours GMC came with a gas heater. Over electric.
Bob Dunahugh
78 Royale since 2003
________________________________
From: Larry
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2021 8:36 AM
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: [GMCnet] Re: House water heater issues
Just an update on my water heater issue. I pulled the igniter out and cleaned it. That seemed to help but did not cure the problem. Some mornings it
would start first try. Other mornings It would take 5 tries and after a month of monkeying with it, I pulled the igniter again to clean it again.
There are two probes that extend into the propane flow, kinda like a spark plug accept that both are 2" long. I started to clean it and the negative
(ground probe) felt loose and fell off in my hand. Went to a RV sales place, bought and installed a new igniter. That was it!! Starts every time.
Thanks for all of the suggestions. Your suggestions led to the solution.
Larry wrote on Sun, 21 March 2021 21:59
> HI all,
> I have an Atwood GH6-8E 6gal Propane water heater with a build date of 12/2001. When I turn it on in the morning, sometimes it lights on the first
> start. Sometimes it takes 5 or more starts for it to light. Sometimes after it is lit, the fire will just go out. Sometimes that is right away,
> sometimes it is 5-10 minutes after it is lit that the fire goes out. Seems to be worse in cold weather. I suspect it is the thermocouple going bad
> and thinking the fire went out so is shutting the propane off. Any ideas how to diagnose this? Or do you recognize these symptoms and know what the
> problem is. Getting tired of shaving with cold water...any help is welcome.
--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
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