RV Water heater - servicing and repair

Atwood RV Water heater keeps sparking

 Question: I have an DSI 6 gal Atwood RV Water heater. When it starts the igniter keeps sparking even after the flame is lit.

RV Tech answer: Blow out the burner and flue with compressed air (don't forget the safety glasses!)

Next remove the hex head screw that holds the burner tube to the flue projection. Clean the area where the screw contacts the tube and the flue to make sure you are getting a good ground connection. Clean the contacts on the circuit board and the connectors with electrical contact cleaner.

Then run a soft brush or a clean rag through the burner tube. Often there will be a spider web in there that even compressed air does not dislodge. Take care not to bend the flame spreader (if yours has one). Its a small metal plate located at the end of the burner tube.

Reassemble everything and check to see that you have a good strong blue flame and that the sensor electrode is in the flame (it should glow red after a few seconds.) Check the electrode gap - it should be about 1/8". If you need to adjust it, bend only the ground electrode - not the one in the ceramic sleeve.