Atwood RV Water Heater Clicking But Not Lighting
On this page (5 sections)
The Short Answer: The clicking is the ignition system trying to light the burner with a spark. When it clicks but never lights, propane is not reaching the burner, the spark is not reaching the gas, or the gas valve is not opening. After a few tries the control locks out. Check propane first. If it still will not light after one reset, stop and call an RV technician.
What the clicking means
Atwood’s propane models use direct spark ignition: when the switch is on and the tank needs heat, the control opens the gas valve and sparks an electrode next to the burner. Once it senses flame, the clicking stops. If it does not sense flame within its trial period, it shuts the gas off and, after its set number of attempts, locks out. Many models show the lockout with a light on the inside switch.
| What you hear or see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Clicking, then lockout light, no flame | No propane reaching the burner, or air in the line after a cylinder change |
| Clicking, a brief flame, then lockout | The flame is not being sensed: dirty or misaligned sensor, low propane pressure, or wind |
| Clicking continues with no lockout | Control problem |
| No clicking at all | No 12-volt power, switch off, overheat safety open, or control fault |
Check the propane supply first
- Make sure the cylinder is not empty and its valve is fully open.
- Light a stove burner. If it lights and burns steadily, propane is reaching the coach. If the stove is also weak or will not light, the problem is the supply: cylinder, regulator, or excess flow valve.
- After a cylinder change or long storage, air in the line can take a few ignition attempts to clear. Lighting a stove burner first and letting it run briefly helps clear air from the shared line.
- Turn the water heater switch off and back on once to restart the ignition sequence.
If it still clicks without lighting, do not keep cycling the switch. Each attempt can release a small amount of unburned propane at the burner.
Other common causes
Insect nests and debris. Wasps and spiders like the burner tube and air openings, especially after storage. A blocked tube can stop propane from reaching the spark. You can look through the outside access door; cleaning the tube is a service job because it means working at the gas burner.
Igniter electrode. The electrode can crack, get dirty, or move out of position so the spark jumps somewhere other than the gas stream. A technician checks the gap and the ceramic insulator.
Gas valve or control board. If propane reaches the heater and the spark is good but the valve never opens, the valve or the board that drives it has failed.
Water in the tank. If the tank is empty or the bypass valves are set to bypass, a tripped overheat safety can stop ignition. Refill the tank with the bypass in the normal position before troubleshooting gas. See Atwood RV water heater troubleshooting for that check.
What the RV technician will check
The technician measures propane pressure at the appliance, inspects and cleans the burner tube, checks the electrode gap and condition, and confirms the control board sends power to the gas valve during ignition. They check the flame sensor if the burner lights briefly and goes out. Parts depend on the model number on the label, so photograph it before the visit.
If the burner lights and then goes out after running for a while, that is a different problem; see Atwood won’t stay lit and RV water heater fires up then goes out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: It started clicking without lighting right after I filled the propane. Why? A: Air entered the line when the cylinder was disconnected. Light a stove burner to draw propane through the line, then reset the water heater switch once. If it still will not light, call a technician.
Q: Can I use the electric element while I wait for the gas repair? A: Yes, if your model has an electric element and the tank is full. The electric side does not depend on the gas ignition.
Manuals and supporting references
These links distinguish general safety information from model-specific documentation. A manual directory helps you locate your unit’s instructions; it does not establish that every model uses the same parts, codes, or test values.
- Dometic: product support (opens in a new tab)Product manuals and support for Dometic equipment; confirm coverage of any legacy Atwood model.
- PG&E: recognizing and responding to a gas leak (opens in a new tab)Emergency actions for suspected fuel-gas leaks.
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