RV Repair: Hot Water Heater, hot water heater, pilot tube


Question
Can not ignite.  When I follow the instructions and try to bleed the pilot before igniting with a match I get no smell of propane, therefore, it does not ignite.  Also, when I push down the button to bleed the propane I can see some water come out from the top of the Pilot control nob.  Water may have gotten in when the trailer was being washed with the hose.

The trailer is a 1999 Rockwood Ultrlite 26 ft

Answer
Ozzie,
     Water should not be coming from the top of your control.  If you have water in the LP system you wont be able to get any gas through it.  To make sure that's not what the problem is try this.  With one of those long lighters (like for lighting the BBQ, etc.), light it and hold it on the thermocouple to simulate that the pilot is lit.  While you are doing this hold the pilot knob in as if you were trying to light it.  After 30 seconds to a minute while keeping the fake pilot going turn the knob to on as if the pilot had lit.  You should hear the main gas valve open and be able to hear gas coming out and since you still have the fake pilot going it will light.  At this point the pilot itself may or may not light itself. If it does, then there was just an abundance of air that needed to be bled out.  If it does not then the pilot orifice or pilot tube may be blocked.  I hope this helps.  Good luck.

Darren