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Steve writes... Water heater problems My problem is my hotwater heater. Since the spring T-Stat was replaced I now get black soot out of the grate and it has started up the outside wall of the coach. If this is hopefully only an adjustment, what color flame should I be looking for and how can I tell when the air adjuster is positioned correctly.

Steve ... You didn't mention what make of water heater you have, although the following information will be pertinent to virtually any make. Replacing the T-stat should not have affected the flame characteristics and this is most likely a co-incidence. The black soot is the result of incomplete combustion of the fuel, and can be caused by several factors. If all your other appliances are operating correctly, then it can be assumed that the gas system is not at fault, here. During periods of unuse, insects, especially spiders, are attracted by the scent of propane, and tend to nest inside the burner tube. The resulting webs or other debris will alter the flame properties, and cause the symptoms that you describe. The first step is to make sure the burner tube is free of obstructions. You can remove the tube by unscrewing the single screw holding the burner bracket to the water heater and disengaging the burner tube assembly. Blow out with compressed air or use a brush to clear out any obstacles. Where the burner tube is attached to the valve assembly, you should see a small nut in the end of the protruding piece. This is the orifice and it controls the amount of gas that exits the gas valve. Remove it, soak it in a solvent such as brake cleaner or alcohol for 10 minutes and then blow it out with a gentle blast of compressed air. Do not poke a wire or any other object into the orifice in an attempt to clean it, as this will surely alter its dimensions. Reassemble everything and fire up the heater. The flame should have a hard blue appearance with no visible yellow components. Note: the occasional yellow burst is simply dust particles burning off. A slight roaring sound from the flame is normal. Slight adjustments can be made to the air shutter which is located on the burner tube (just after the orifice), however, the shutter is factory set, and if everything else has been cleaned, then this should not have to be altered. In your case you most likely have a build up of carbon in the flue of the heater. Use a strong blast of compressed air to dislodge the loose carbon deposits in the flue. Regards Les