How do I operate my propane water heater in my 1979 coachman RV?

One Comment

1. megofish2day says:

   November 5, 2009 at 11:13 am

   Before you turn on anything that could blow up, fill it with water, pressurise it, and check for leaks. Next, go to each faucet, turn the hot water valve, and let run till all the air leaves the system. With that done, turn on your propane valve, (assuming it is full), and if you smell strong or even slight propane odor, turn it off. With that handeled, and finding no leaks, go to the hot water heater . You will find a valve marked ‘off’, ‘on’, and pilot , meaning pilot light. Put in the pilot position. Usually you have to push down on the switch, or a valve close by. Now, remember all the lines are emty, and you are going to have to hold that down for quite awhile. (Short Cut). Take a cressent wrench, and just crack the line going into the main valve. It is usually a 3/4 in. fitting. Leave the line cracked loose till you can hear and smell the propane coming threw. DO NOT do this inside. Tighten the fitting, put a little dish soap around it to be sure is isn’t leaking. If it bubbles at all, tighten it more. Give it some time to clear itself of excess propane, 15 to 20 minutes or so. Most have a stricker to light the pilot light. READ the instructions in the cover if their still there. Hold down the gas valve switch for a few seconds, and hit the stricker. Watch threw the glass to see if it lights. If not, wait a few more seconds and try again, and again, until the gas gets to the valve, and lights. Once it does light, you have to hold the valve down for about 30 seconds to allow the thermocupler to get hot enouigh to maintain the pilot light. Let the valve up slowly, and if the pilot starts to die out, hold it down a little longer. It will evenually stay lite, unless the cupler is bad. If it dont light, you will need to go to the hardware store and get a new thermocupler. When it does light turn the valve to the ON possition, and happy camping.