How to Troubleshoot a Suburban SW12DE Water Heater That Will Not Light
Since the late 1960s, Suburban Manufacturing has produced a wide range of appliances, including furnaces, gas heating systems, spark ignition systems, ranges and water heaters for the RV industry. The water heaters include models from 4 to 16-gallons in gas-electric, gas and motor aid models. Your Suburban SW12DE water heater does not have a pilot light, igniting instead automatically through its ignition device. Troubleshooting your water heater when it will not light can help you discover the problem, saving you time and money in service calls. (See Reference 1 pg 7, Reference 2 and Reference 3)
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Turn your water heater and gas supply off, and then wait about five minutes for the gas to clear.
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Smell around your Suburban water heater next to the floor before you attempt to light it, since gas settles on the floor. Leave your home immediately if you smell gas and use your neighbor's phone to contact your gas supplier. Call the fire department if you cannot contact your gas supplier. Do not touch any electrical switch or light any appliance in your home. (See Reference 1 pg 7)
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Turn on your gas supply and the electrical power to your water heater if you do not smell gas.
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Turn the switch on your water heater to the "On" position to light the burner. The ignition device should light the burner automatically. Your water heater will try two more times before lock-out to ignite automatically if the burner does not light the first time. Lock-out means your heater stops trying to automatically ignite. (See Reference 1 pg 7)
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Turn the water heater switch to the "Off" position, and then turn the switch to the "On" position after five seconds if lock-out happens before the main burner lights. This procedure restarts the ignition cycle. You may need to go through several ignition cycles to purge all of the air from the gas lines the first time you use your water heater. (See Reference 1 pg 7)
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Check to ensure you have the water heater switch turned on, and your heater's gas supply turned on if the burner still will not come on.
References
Resources
Warnings
- Never operate your water heater without water in the tank to prevent damage to the controls and the tank. Fill your water heater with water before using it. (See Reference 1 pg 5 of 12) (See Reference 1 pg 5 of 12)
- Do not use your Suburban water heater if any part was submerged under water. Have a professional technician inspect your heater and replace any necessary parts as soon as possible. (See Reference 1 pg 5)
- Turn the water heater power to the "Off" position when you refuel your vehicle and when your vehicle is moving. (See Reference 1 pg 5)
Writer Bio
Chyrene Pendleton has been a business owner and newsletter editor for more than seven years. She is a freelance writer with over 25 years experience and teaches a variety of topics, including alternative health, hair care and metaphysics. Pendleton is a certified television show producer, radio talk-show host and producer, and a computer programmer with a bachelor's degree in computer science.
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