Water heater sputters

[BigT]

I have an Atwood water heater. It was running rich and putting black soot on the side of my RV. I cleaned the heater up by blowing out the system. A lot of stuff came out. So I lit it up and adjusted the flame to where it was burning blue. But after awhile it starts sputtering and burning yellow. Then it will clear up for awhile. And after awhile it will sputter again. What do I need to look at next?

[javelin]

Sputtering Waterheater - Technical Tips and Tricks - Escapees Discussion Forum


Hi, are you at high altitude and does opening the water heater door allow for normal burn? The attached hyperlink discusses some others having burn issues.

[Steve70605]

I would begin by adjusting the air mixing tube slide.

[BigT]

Originally Posted by javelin

Sputtering Waterheater - Technical Tips and Tricks - Escapees Discussion Forum


Hi, are you at high altitude and does opening the water heater door allow for normal burn? The attached hyperlink discusses some others having burn issues.

Thanks for the reply. I am not at high altitude, I'm in Tampa, FL. I also have already adjusted the Slider to get a blue flame, but it doesn't stay blue all the time, the sputtering comes and goes. When it sputters the flame goes yellow. It does this for a minute or so then it goes clean again for a few minutes, then more sputtering. I have looked at your link and saw a few things I can check. Something to do this weekend.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by BigT

Thanks for the reply. I am not at high altitude, I'm in Tampa, FL. I also have already adjusted the Slider to get a blue flame, but it doesn't stay blue all the time, the sputtering comes and goes. When it sputters the flame goes yellow. It does this for a minute or so then it goes clean again for a few minutes, then more sputtering. I have looked at your link and saw a few things I can check. Something to do this weekend.

Maybe it's not your heater but your propane? Moisture in the lines? Etc?

[BigT]

Originally Posted by Tfryman

Maybe it's not your heater but your propane? Moisture in the lines? Etc?

Maybe, I'll check the stove burners and see how they are working.