chief916 Posted December 30, 2019 Report Share Posted December 30, 2019 I have a Dometic 6 gal water heater on my 2019 Grand design Imagine that we used over the Christmas holidays. When we broke camp while doing my prelaunch walk around, I noticed black soot all over the exhaust vent on the water heater and soot on the siding as well. Yes we used it several times but for the most part we just used the electric hot water feature. When I got home, I dug out all the info that came with the appliance that was with the TT when we purchased it 5 months ago. There was nothing in any of the paperwork that discussed this issue. Perchance could anybody have experienced the same thing and if so what was the cause and how did you correct it. Thanks in advance. Ben "chief916" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiljoball Posted December 30, 2019 Report Share Posted December 30, 2019 soot is usually caused by an incorrect air/gas mix - usually insufficient air. There should be an aadjustable slider on the gas line to admit the air - or you may have a spider or wasp nest blocking the airflow. John Quote JohnTitanium 29EX 29/34 Fifthwheel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray,IN Posted December 30, 2019 Report Share Posted December 30, 2019 You will find the service manual for your Dometic/ATwood water heater here: http://bryantrv.com/docs.html. It will show you how to disassemble the burner assembly, clean everything, then re-assemble and adjust the burner flame. Quote 2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA ." And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy 20 Jan 1961 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chief916 Posted December 30, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2019 1 hour ago, hiljoball said: soot is usually caused by an incorrect air/gas mix - usually insufficient air. There should be an aadjustable slider on the gas line to admit the air - or you may have a spider or wasp nest blocking the airflow. John Thank you Sir. This will be of help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chief916 Posted December 30, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2019 1 hour ago, Ray,IN said: You will find the service manual for your Dometic/ATwood water heater here: http://bryantrv.com/docs.html. It will show you how to disassemble the burner assembly, clean everything, then re-assemble and adjust the burner flame. Wow...lots of good stuff here. Thank you Ray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray,IN Posted December 30, 2019 Report Share Posted December 30, 2019 Helping is what it's all about! 1 hour ago, chief916 said: Wow...lots of good stuff here. Thank you Ray. Quote 2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA ." And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy 20 Jan 1961 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted December 30, 2019 Report Share Posted December 30, 2019 6 hours ago, hiljoball said: soot is usually caused by an incorrect air/gas mix - usually insufficient air. As those previous replies have said, the soot is from air/gas mixture not burning completely. In most cases a through cleaning will resolve the problem. Not all of the air mixtures are adjustable so do the cleaning first. The first picture is of the Atwood burner which is adjustable. The second is of a Suburban burner tube and it is not. If yours is Dometic it should be the Atwood as Dometic bought them several years ago. Note the screw on the side away from us along with the sliding tube with slots in it. Both types are easily removable but use care to put them back in the previous location. While you have it out, use a vacuum to suction the burner area as well. Quote Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chief916 Posted December 31, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2019 17 hours ago, Kirk W said: As those previous replies have said, the soot is from air/gas mixture not burning completely. In most cases a through cleaning will resolve the problem. Not all of the air mixtures are adjustable so do the cleaning first. The first picture is of the Atwood burner which is adjustable. The second is of a Suburban burner tube and it is not. If yours is Dometic it should be the Atwood as Dometic bought them several years ago. Note the screw on the side away from us along with the sliding tube with slots in it. Both types are easily removable but use care to put them back in the previous location. While you have it out, use a vacuum to suction the burner area as well. Thanks Kirk....this pix is what my water heater looks like. Now all I have to do is vacuum and lean out the air. Thanks to all of you guys. Everyone have a safe and Happy New Year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray,IN Posted January 1, 2020 Report Share Posted January 1, 2020 (edited) Spiders are attracted to the odor in LP gas and will build a nest in the mixing tube and orifice. When you clean these, do not use hard metal as it can scratch or mar the surfaces, which disrupts the fuel flow and burners flame size and shape. Edited January 1, 2020 by Ray,IN Quote 2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA ." And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy 20 Jan 1961 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raylen Posted January 1, 2020 Report Share Posted January 1, 2020 had the same problem and found mixer tube plugged with spider or wasp nest. cleaned it out no more problem Quote SKP 980101990 Bounder 27D by FleetwoodRay and Elen living this beautiful life style and exploring this beautiful country Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chief916 Posted January 2, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 On 12/31/2019 at 7:14 PM, Ray,IN said: Spiders are attracted to the odor in LP gas and will build a nest in the mixing tube and orifice. When you clean these, do not use hard metal as it can scratch or mar the surfaces, which disrupts the fuel flow and burners flame size and shape. 22 hours ago, raylen said: had the same problem and found mixer tube plugged with spider or wasp nest. cleaned it out no more problem Yeah....update on soot problem....cleaned the flame tube and found maybe 6 to 8 roasted stinkbugs in the burner tube. Reassembled everything and beautiful blue flame. I want to tell all of you thank you so much for your help. Thanks again Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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