Why Atwood Water Heater Won’t Light [Reasons + Solutions]

Your Atwood water heater won’t light because of the defective thermocouple, faulty circuit board, and malfunctioning ECO.

Besides, a damaged or dirty igniter, blown fuse, and tripped circuit breaker can also be the culprits behind your RV water heater not lighting.

First, try cleaning the igniter or replacing the thermocouple, and fixing the blown fuse may bring your heater to life and ignite it again.

But, if these efforts don’t work, then go on reading to know the details of all the factors and their simple solutions. Plus, by reading our today’s Atwood water heater troubleshooting guide, you will also know why your heater clicks but does not ignite and has no spark. So, let’s get started…

Why My Atwood Water Heater Won’t Light [5 Reasons To Fix]

There are several issues behind why your Atwood Rv water heater doesn’t ignite. In this chapter, we break down every possible cause and provide the solution as well. 

1. Bad Thermocouple

A thermocouple is a device that senses the heat of a pilot and lets the gas flow to the burner. If the thermocouple is malfunctioning, it doesn’t allow the gas to run through the pilot and the burner. In return, the pilot light goes out repeatedly and would not stay lit. 

Fortunately, you can replace the thermocouple with a new one without mechanical knowledge and ignite your electric water heater again. Here is how you can light the water heater pilot light again:

Step 1: Make sure you have the following equipment at your fingertips:

• Wrench set
• A screwdriver
• Adjustable wrench
• Thermocouple
• Dish soap
• Long matches

Step 2: Turn the shut-off valve and the control valve off. Then, pull the burner access cover out and use your screwdriver to unscrew the nuts on the thermocouple lines, gas, and pilot. 

Step 3: Break down the assembly by pulling out the pilot light burner. Next, remove the thermocouple and get a new one that fits the old one in size and length. 

Step 4: Install the new thermocouple and set the assembly back. Then, attach the control valve and the shut-off valve. Make sure you tighten the nuts evenly with the wrench. 

Step 5: Finally, test the leak. To do so, open the shut-off valve again and relight the pilot light also. Next, turn on the control valve. Afterward, make a mix using 50% water and 50% dish soap, and then apply it to every screw joint. The bubbles indicate there is a gas leak. 

2. Faulty ECO

Faulty ECO is also responsible for preventing your water heater from firing up. If you can’t hear the gas valve click when turning the switch on, then discern it is for the ECO.

The Eco switch wires up between the control board and the gas valve. It is also attached to the thermostat. If it gets faulty, no power will pass to the gas valve. In return, your RV water heater will not ignite. 

Solution:

Firstly, remove one of the wires on the ECO and check its continuity with VOM. Make sure it shows you 12 volt on the meter. It should be a short circuit.

If it doesn’t show the exact volt, then it’s time to replace the new ECO. Also, you should get a new thermostat as the manufacturer sells them as a pair. 

3. Bad Circuit Board

Atwood Rv water heaters are famous for their faulty circuit boards. The design of it is horrible. If there is a problem with your circuit board, it won’t allow the gas to pass. 

The best way to check whether your circuit board is functioning well or not is by using a VOM to see what volts you get on ECO. 

The meter will show you the volt lower than 12 if the circuit board is malfunctioning. In this case, it will be best to replace the circuit board to get rid of the ignition lockout fault.

4. Defective Igniter

Another possible reason behind the Atwood water heater igniter not lighting is its defective igniter. Now, you may ask- how can I understand the igniter is faulty. 

Well, if you hear the click of it but see no spark, then know the broken ignitor is responsible for this.  

Solution:

To fix the issue, first off, remove the igniter by unscrewing the nut that holds it. Then, take a wire brush and clean the probe and the area where it sparks.

Afterward, set the igniter back where it was and turn your water heater on to check whether it is lit or not.  

5. Fuse or Circuit Breaker Get Tripped

Check your circuit breaker and make sure it doesn’t get tripped. It is also a reason that may prevent your igniter from working. How can you understand the fuse of the unit is defective?

 The fuse may get tripped for these three potential causes:

• A bad thermostat
• Problem with the breaker
• Water drops on the electrical lines

As a remedy, we recommend replacing the thermostat as it is the most common issue for a tripped fuse. Therefore, it would be best if you also change the RV water heater fuse or breaker. Further, every leak that allows water to drip on the electric lines should be repaired. 

Other Troubleshooting Guides

From the chapter, you can learn other common issues responsible for a malfunctioning water heater. 

1. No spark On the Electrodes

You may face the issue of no spark on the electrodes of your Atwood water heater.

Well, for the followings reasons, this issue happens including: 

• Clogged Electrodes
• Loose wire connection
• Defective circuit board

To get rid of the problem, clean the electrodes and suck away every dirt from them. Secondly, attach the electrodes to the main burner securely.

Make sure there is no loose wire connection on the circuit board. Also, change the board if it is faulty. 

2. Atwood Water Heater Clicks But Won’t Ignite

The possible reason behind this is a faulty control board. To confirm this issue, check for power on the wire that goes from the board to ECO. Or, check the wire that goes from the ECO to the gas solenoid while the igniter is clicking. 

If the VOM doesn’t show you 12 volts on the wire, know your control board is defective. In this case, replacing the board will be your best solution to get rid of this problem. 

On the other hand, if you get 12 volts, we recommend hiring a qualified technician to solve the issue for you. 

FAQ:

Conclusion

In the above, we have explained all the possible issues why your Atwood water heater won’t light. Plus, we also elaborated on the remedies to those problems. So, apply all the solutions we suggested above until your Rv water heater ignites. 

If you fail to light your Atwood water heater after trying all the tricks, we recommend you call the Atwood support team. Alternatively, you can hire a qualified technician to solve the issue for you.

Finally, we can help you with a serious issue. If you find your Atwood water getting hot, to fix the issue, simply reset your Atwood water heater. You will instantly get the solution.

Still, if you have any more struggles with your RV heater, you can let us know in the comment box. Our experts will be happy to help you.