Water heater flame adjustment

Zuzu's Dad

New Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2024
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6
Ameri-Lite 189dd

The water heater has suddenly started running rich - yellow flame, soot on the side of the camper where it exhausts. The flame is yellow, not blue. There does't seem to be any way of adjusting the air intake as on some other water heaters. I did proble the intake and exhause paths with a copper wire to make sure there wasn't a wasp nest, spider web, etc. blocking the flow. Any other ideas?

Thanks

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This is really interesting. If you don't have an adjustment sleeve and you ensured that there was no obstructions in the tube to disrupt airflow, something else is going on. Just to confirm, what's the make/model of your water heater? Suburban?
 
It's a Dometic
 

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I would use a small brush instead of a piece of wire. Doesn't take much to change the mixture.
 
It definitely seems to indicate you have either a dirty orifice or burner tube or both. If you remove that orifice, just soak it in isopropyl alcohol and don't push anything through. Let us know how it goes.
 
I agree with proost.
It may just need a good cleaning. The system is pretty simple.
 
Thanks to all of you for your help and input. I'm back on the road after having filled the propane tank that was about 3/4 empty. Interestingly, the flame is now a normal bright blue and no soot apparent. I am of the mind that it was either somewhat low pressure in the tank or perhaps, a bad batch of propane.
 

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