Diagnose a Dometic water heater (propane)

This is a systematic approach to diagnosing a Dometic water heater. I have another video that runs through a quick diagnoses if you’re interested in that instead.
Dometic water heaters, formerly known as Atwood, are some of the most common tanked water heaters in the RV world. Like many things in the RV industry, they are prone to issues. Most issues stem from safety features, which are great to have, until they stop you from enjoying a hot shower or doing dishes. Because of these safety features, automatic ignition, duel heating options, and poor quality control, they can be a pain to diagnose. This video will help you not only understand each component, but also help you figure out which component isn’t doing what it’s supposed to. One small part of this water heater not working properly, can cause the entire appliance to stop working all together. After watching this you should not only understand how this water heater works, but also how to properly repair it when it doesn’t. I discuss the most common propane issues such as fails to light, fails to stay lit, does nothing, and potential LP system issues.
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[@mikevoutsinas4832]

This is by far the best step by step video on trouble shooting the hot water heater. This just saved me a couple hundred bucks, Thank you!!

[@k85ification]

Thank you, as an apprentice, I find these high quality videos invaluable as I learn the trade

[@robertbarcus1963]

better than a 2 minute tech tip tuesday😁🤣😂 Add this to my playlist so when mine goes out I have a reference to get it going again. Thanks🤙

[@Thatrvtech]

Thanks! I’m actually trying to focus more on my long form content here. I’ll keep the short ones on TikTok. These videos may be long but my goal is to give RV owners similar training to what technicians get, but easier to digest.

[@jerrypentecost3736]

Great video with one exception. The blue wire is NOT board input power. The blue wire is the fault output voltage that goes to the fault LED light after 3 failed attempts to light the burner flame.

[@daviscrt]

Great break down of a water heater. Thanks Don

[@vickymcintyre1958]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR HELP FOR DAYS. ❤❤

[@jasonmeeks2650]

Excellent video and very thorough..

[@Hugo-Hernandez]

Amazing video and explanation. Im saving this video as one my favorites. I subscribe as well.

[@seliestharvey5170]

Great video. Looking forward to more of the same.

[@doneriteptg]

Hi , I contacted you before about a dometic water heater issue. My water heater works perfectly on the electric side no issue. But on gas side not so good. I followed all your tutorials on this heater. The problem is that it lights and runs for 3 or 4 seconds and then shuts off. It does this three times and then locks out. I tested all wires and have just under 12 v. Blue wire gets just under 12 v when it gets lock out. I changed out board twice and changed out igniter twice. Still the same. I had a rv tech come and look at it and tested everything and came to no answer other then board. It seams it not getting signal back to board from flame sensor. Tested ground and now we're at a stand still . Any help at this point would be great. Thanks Your tutorials are very informative but this one I'm lost on

[@wdinternational]

Solved my problem, battery voltage was low enough to allow sparking but not enough to open the propane valve

[@GunorDoretich]

Both electric and propane quit working. Replaced the circuit board. Electric works just fine, but propane lights for about four seconds then kicks off. I also replace the igniter even though the old one got a reading when a flame was held to it.

[@mattr3438]

Thank you so much. I would definitely like to see one for the electrical side

[@FSULAUBACH]

Im having a hard time finding your electric side? Do you have a link to that? Your amazing btw thank you for all that you do!!

[@camerondeery9650]

Awesome video...thanks for sharing!

[@philipmorvitz4313]

Have gas but no spark only when light it runs. Found you video on testing wires going into control board very helpful and easy to follow. I tested all the wires as shown and only problem was bottom brown had very low voltage. T Stat and ECO good. Wire fine. Do you Do consult?

[@KennyHarrison-kk2jk]

Can you make a video on how to keep your awning from damage from wind and show anything that can be used to help?

[@mikekyle-y8i]

Great tutorial. I have an issue with the electric and the gas which I believe is tied to the thermostat and or ECO. The flame will come on and run for about 3 minutes then shut off. When I go electric, I get power to the heating element then I hear a click and result, power is shutoff. As a result, I get lukewarm water at the spigot. Your thoughts?

[@robertpickles1321]

Ok very good lesson but I can move on to some of the tests you are doing due to the fact the as soon as I flip the switch inside for the LP gas side it pops the 2 amp fuse. I have tested the ECO TSTAT and thermal limit switch for Continuity and there all good. Electric side is working fine but hit the LP switch and it pops the fuse ideas?

[@alexisstock5486]

Do you have a video on how to completely diagnose a tankless?

[@alexisstock5486]

My tankless is stuck in freeze mode and isn't wanting to restart. Ive tried leaving my hot water heater completely off for a week via control panel, ive tried turning off via the temp gauge and restarting via temp gauge and none have worked. I bought a new one but it's the middle of winter in the rockies and I want to try simplest answers first

[@AFasitgetz007]

Does the gas switch inside the coach need to be on when testing the orange wire? As long as the switch has power going to it (breaker on) right?

[@patrickstiltner1207]

Awesome video! Thanks!

[@jerrypentecost3736]

Great video with one exception. The blue wire is NOT board input power. The blue wire is the fault output voltage to the fault LED light after 3 failed attempts to light the burner flame.

[@NickArata-ri8ww]

2021 Lance if any breeze will not stay lit. Open cover will help sometime help fuse burned first day i had the rv replaced under warranty same thing. Heater and stove and fridge work perfectly so frustrating. If dead still it works

[@brianhall9350]

Can you make a video on diagnosing a suburban tankless?

[@trackingom78]

I have 5 v showing at blue wire. 13.6 v both white and orange wires for switch/signal. Thoughts?

[@trackingom78]

I get clicks of heater attempting to start. All my fuses and breakers inside looking good.

[@EdwinHernandez-gc2ef]

can you do one like this for a furrion tankless??!!!

[@lauriefriedo]

The issue our water heater is having is that it will light perfectly fine and run for some amount of time. Sometimes it’s 20 minutes other times it’s a minute or two. Then it will shut off but immediately restart itself. Then after a some time it will shut off and then start again. The duration it runs is random. Sometimes it’s up to 20 minutes but usually it only runs for a few minutes or even as short as 30 seconds. Sometimes the reset light comes on and we have to turn it off, wait a minute and turn it back on. It stays in this on off loop until we either have hot enough water and get sick of listening to it or sometimes it will eventually decide to stop running we presume because the water temperature is hot enough. We’re not sure which of the parts you went over would be the likely issue there. It seems to run fine when using electric instead of gas but we’re not really sure since it doesn’t make the sounds with electric.

[@cookingandgrillingwithmarcus]

What would cause a 12v everchill fridge to not cool. The unit comes on but the ligh under the setting number flashes

[@cookingandgrillingwithmarcus]

I’m new to rv’ing and have learned a ton from your videos

[@Robert-l8y2w]

What causes a dometic waterheater not to reheat on gas

[@Thatrvtech]

If it heats but does not heat again, the main culprit would be that the ECO is weak and opening before the Tstat, causing a fault. The second possibility would be a bad board.

[@williamtoney2599]

Or you could replace it with an Atwood….😂

[@vickymcintyre1958]

It is an Atwood😂