Atwood electric/gas hot water heater trouble

[Orcuttclan]

The water heater lock out light comes on & water heater won't work on gas. It still works on electric.
This is in a brand new Jayco Eagle 339flqs that we have had for approx. 1 1/2 months.
Any suggestions as we can't get it into the dealer yet & want to go on a camping trip next week.
Thank you!

[Robbbyr]

Several questions:
First the obvious - Is propane tank turned on with fuel in tank?
Do other propane appliances work okay such as the stovetop and furnace?
Can you hear the igniter trying to light the flame?
Are you shutting off the gas switch for a time to let the electronics "reset" before trying to fire it again?

[norty1]

Did it ever work? Check the burner tube for a spider web or dirt dauber nest.

[WyEm]

Also check your Venturi tube for spider nest. What you described happened to me twice this year and both times a spider nest was to blame. Cleaned it out and the Water heater fired right up on propane.

[Wanderer]

I'm having the opposite issue. My water heater works fine on propane, however I cannot get it to work on electric whether on generators or 30 AMP pedestal.

Other than the option on my control panel of LP or Electric I cannot find anywhere at the water heater panel outside a switch of any kind that maybe I'm supposed to flip for Electric option.

Would appreciate any tip or tricks to get this working or at least determine if Warranty replacement might be in order.

[oldmanAZ]

When using the generator and you flip the switch for the water heater to use electric power, do you hear any change in the generator running?
For most generators (mine included), you will hear a change (RPM change etc.) when it goes from 'no load' to 'load'.

If you hear that change, it probably means your water is working on electric. Please note that water takes A LOT LONGER to heat using electric... at least mine does. I've never timed how much longer.

[Wanderer]

Yes, my generators definitely increase RPM when Electric is enabled. When on 30 AMP pedestal I have a PI EMS and I clearly see the AMP draw increase as well. Like you said which I didn't consider the time in which it takes.

Stupid question, when on electric will I hear anything like I do when on LP knowing it's working?

Thank you

[oldmanAZ]

I hear a very soft, very high-pitched whine when I am outside, right next to the WH. The DW says she doesn't hear it.
In a campground with electric, I turn on the WH on electric long before we need hot water and leave it on.

On propane it sounds like a blow torch ignited!

BTW, you can have the WH on propane and electric at the same time. It will speed up the heating that way.

[Wanderer]

Ok great, I really appreciate the advice. Will try again in 3 weeks.

Thank you

[Ela1948]

Originally Posted by oldmanAZ

I hear a very soft, very high-pitched whine when I am outside, right next to the WH. The DW says she doesn't hear it.
In a campground with electric, I turn on the WH on electric long before we need hot water and leave it on.

On propane it sounds like a blow torch ignited!

BTW, you can have the WH on propane and electric at the same time. It will speed up the heating that way.

That high pitch whine is probably calcium buildup on your electrodes. Sometime down the road, you may want to give the water heater a white vinegar cleaning treatment. Will breakup the mineral deposits on your water heater element.