An Inquiring Mind Wants to Know

[j2cool]

I am new to travel trailer ownership. I would like to know:
1) How to clean the rust inside the hot water heater panel
2) If I should and how to clean inside the pipe just below the instructions
What is the purpose and function for the pipe with debris inside it?

There are the images associated questions below.

[EMD_Driver]

I dug up the Atwood manual, for their water heaters.. That PDF can be found HERE

Refer to this picture, when reading the instructions:



PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
Spiders, mud wasps, and other insects can build nests in burner tube.
This causes poor combustion, delayed ignition or ignition outside
combustion tube. Listen for a change in burner sounds or in flame
appearance from a hard blue flame to a soft lazy flame or one that is
very yellow. These are indications of an obstruction in burner tube
(FIG 9-C). Inspect and clean on a regular basis.
a. Remove air shutter screw (FIG 9-A) and slide air shutter (FIG 9-B)
down burner tube.
b. Run a flexible wire brush down burner tube (FIG 9-C) until it is visible
at end of burner tube.
c. Vacuum burner where it enters combustion tube.
d. Return air shutter to original position and replace screw.
e. The orifice, burner tube and shutter must be aligned so that the shutter is not
binding on the air tube.
HOW TO CLEAN PILOT MODELS
1. Check main burner orifice and pilot assembly for contamination
(dirt, spider webs, etc.).
2. Clean main burner tube with small brush.
3. Main burner adjustment - open air shutter 1/4 way.
4. Low pilot flame. Check for contamination - if clean have the pilot
orifice replaced.


As far as cleaning the rust in that area, you could wire brush it, clean the dust up and spray paint. Be careful not to paint anything that wasn't painted before...

[EMD_Driver]

For lighting your water heater, follow the following directions:

FOR WHITE RODGERS® CONTROL (FIG 7)
a. Turn lighting control knob (FIG 7-B) to PILOT position and hold
against stop while lighting pilot burner (FIG 9-D).
b. Allow pilot to burn 30 seconds then release lighting control knob.
c. Turn lighting control knob (FIG 7-B) to ON position.
d. If pilot does not remain lit, repeat operation allowing longer period
before releasing lighting control knob.
e. Set temperature selection lever (FIG 7-A) at mark between warm
and hot position.
f. Close access door.

[j2cool]

Thank you so very, very much for these helpful files! I truly appreciate your help, EMD Driver.

[Musikaldave]

The sell pipe cleaners at Lowe's/Home Depot, you can pretty much get whatever size your looking for. That's for cleaning the inside of the pipes with. As far as the surface rust goes on the boxing/frame area I'm not sure what to tell you except maybe wire brush it the best you can and then get at it with some good non-combustable engine paint. That's what I'm going to do with mine.