Our portable water heaters have a control system operated by water pressure. This includes the models L5, L10, EL5, EL7, EL10, CEL5 and CEL10.

This control system senses when there is a demand for hot water and activates the gas and ignition sequence. The system also senses when there is insufficient water pressure to operate without overheating. The operating water pressure range is 20-40psi. Water must maintain pressure between these ranges to operate properly. Fluctuations in water pressure can cause the water heater to shut off or overheat.

If your portables water heater ignites but shuts back off after a few seconds, below are some things you can check:

Check the brass fitting on the end of the regulator hose where it screws into the heater.
There should be a black washer inside that fitting. They tend to fall out and remain in the plastic bag. Just push it back in. Without the washer, the pressure is not sufficient to sustain combustion.

Note – the black rubber washer is on our older models. Our new models have a flared gas fitting and there is no need for the black rubber washer. In addition, some models have a permanently affixed brass fitting. If it does not detach easily, do not try to remove it.

Water is being supplied by a pump or gravity feed and the pressure is falling as the water heater is operated. When the pressure falls too low, the circuit that opens the gas valve will close making it inoperable for safety reasons.

If you're using a pump, we recommend using a diaphragm pump rated at 55 PSI. We don’t recommend submersible pumps or bilge pumps.

If it is possible that you are in a high wind area, that is making the flame on your water heater shut off. Try finding an alternate location for the water heater.

You are out of or low on gas. Also, a brand-new propane bottle may have air trapped in the hose. This air throws off the fuel-to-air mixture in the combustion chamber. Cycle the unit on and off by starting and stopping the water flow several times, this can be as many as 10 attempts, depending on the amount of trapped air. If this doesn't clear the air, then the tank must be purged. Turn your propane tank off. Loosen the regulator hose connected to your tank so that you hear air released. Now tighten it back up.

One of the ignition pins or the flame sensor is bent and/or too close to the burner. Look to ensure that the ignition pins and the flame sensor are completely vertical and that they do a 90-degree stretching out over the burners. If they are not level over the burners, then you can straighten them with pliers. The flame sensor has a small piece of blue tape on the black wire going to it. The flame sensor is also different in shape from the two ignition pins and is located between them. This sensor should be approximately 1/4” from the burner to function properly. Please see the image below:
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If you refilled your propane tank recently it may have been overfilled. You will know this because when you try to operate the water heater, the regulator on the hose gets extremely cold. Follow up with the company that filled the tank.
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Disconnect the incoming water line. There is a screen immediately inside of the incoming water pipe that may have clogged over time and is reducing the water flow and water pressure.