Smoke signals from water heater

[BIMGuru]

Greetings all,
I am new to RVing and recently became a full-timer. Getting along well so far. However (you knew this was coming, right?), I recently upgraded to two 30# propane tanks and have been checking all the propane devices. Range? Check! Refer? Check! Water heater? SMOKE SIGNALS!
There is black, sootie looking puffs of smoke coming from the exhaust port. I noticed flames dancing around the mixer screen. Additionally, I see a new light on my monitor panel next to the GAS-water heater switch, PLT-LIT. My hunch is the new red light is for PILOT LIGHT.
So before I accidentally blow my new home sky high... What do you think is the problem?

[Jagiven]

Spiders would be my first suspect. They absolutely love propane. Take the burner tube off and clean it. If you can blow out the heat exchange unit too (exhaust port)

[JFlightRisk]

Welcome to the Forum from Western NY State!

The black smoke is from an improper air/propane mixture. A couple of things to check.
1-Is there anything in the burner tube, like a spider web, or bug nest?
2-Possibly a tiny piece of material partially blocking the orifice itself?
3-The air/fuel collar on the burner tube needs adjusting? Be careful with this one.

[RedHorse1]

Once you get it working look into insect screens for the WH, furnace and fridge vents.

[BIMGuru]

Originally Posted by RedHorse1

Once you get it working look into insect screens for the WH, furnace and fridge vents.

I have the screens installed. This issue likely is the result of the prior owner as I am finding maintenance was low on his honey-do list.

[BIMGuru]

Originally Posted by JFlightRisk

Welcome to the Forum from Western NY State!

The black smoke is from an improper air/propane mixture. A couple of things to check.
1-Is there anything in the burner tube, like a spider web, or bug nest?
2-Possibly a tiny piece of material partially blocking the orifice itself?
3-The air/fuel collar on the burner tube needs adjusting? Be careful with this one.

Check. Check. Check.
I blew out the water heater compartment, the tubes...anything I could access.
I will look at cleaning the orifice, I could imagine a bit of rust or similar pinching the opening closed.

[BIMGuru]

Originally Posted by Jagiven

Spiders would be my first suspect. They absolutely love propane. Take the burner tube off and clean it. If you can blow out the heat exchange unit too (exhaust port)

Thanks,
I started out by blowing out the fuel tube and the burn chamber. After several attempts, still no change. So I broke out a water hose and flushed the same tubes. A substantial amount of soot was ejected. I decided to wait a day for everything to dry before I make another attempt.

[RedHorse1]

Originally Posted by BIMGuru

I have the screens installed. This issue likely is the result of the prior owner as I am finding maintenance was low on his honey-do list.

Yeah, there’s that. I hear spiders are a common culprit but dirt daubers are also possible. Some folks call em mud dauber. Their nests might be difficult to remove. The “blow out” will hopefully do the trick.