Attwood Water Heater Solenoid/Valve Issue

[jimewebb]

I have an Attwood 6 gal water heater in my Sunset Trail. Electric heating is working, but gas is not. I have gas to all 3 burners on the cook top, so I know I have gas flowing in general. I hear and see the spark igniter. I hear the valve solenoid clicking, but couldn't tell if the valve was actually opening. No smell or sound of gas. I removed the gas line coupling at the intake side of the valve and turned the gas back on and had gas flowing. I removed the valve/solenoid so I could bench test. Removed the orifice - no blockage. With the orifice removed and the gas line removed from the valve input end, I applied 12 v to the solenoid, heard the solenoid click and tried to blow through the valve from the input end. Could not blow through - not even a little. Next steps to try other then buy a new valve assembly? Would love some additional guidance on how to (or how NOT to) take this thing apart or try to thread something through it to remove any blockages.

[mark5w]

Here's a link to a website that can help you. Attwood Hot water heater
Plus there is a copy in our documents section

[jimewebb]

With the solenoid/valve assembly on my bench, I sprayed WD40 into the gas inlet and outlet sides of the valve. I then hooked up 12 volts to the red connection and grounded to the case. I "switched" the solenoid on and off rapidly around 15 times and then tried to blow through the valve and it had opened. Put everything back together and works like a charm. I think the moving part of the valve must have corroded a bit and gotten stuck and just needed some help to free up. I figure I saved $80 on a new valve assembly and at LEAST an hour of labor, probably more if you include the fact that they would repeat the troubleshooting I did.

[MartyinSC]

Great job! NOBODY would have cleaned the solenoid valve; they would have all just replaced it. This is good to know, and worth remembering!

[LeBo]

Thanks again for the tip!