Atwood Water Heater: “Spark present, no gas”
warning RV water heater fault codes
What it means
A diagnostic sub-condition of the DSI lock-out from the official trouble-shooting guide: the electrodes are sparking (you hear/see the spark) but no gas reaches the burner, so no flame is proven and the board locks out after three tries.
Most likely causes
- Incorrect gas pressure or no gas to the solenoid valve (set inlet to 11 inch W.C. with two or more appliances running) most likely
- Blocked main burner tube or blocked/dirty main burner orifice common
- Low DC voltage (below ~10.5 VDC) so the solenoid valve will not fully open common
- Loose or corroded wiring at the ECO, the solenoid valve, or the circuit board pin connector common
- Defective ECO, defective solenoid valve, or defective circuit board less common
Safe checks you can do yourself
- Verify another LP appliance runs normally to confirm gas pressure and that air is purged from the line.
- Check 12V supply voltage is at least about 10.5 VDC at the heater while it is trying to fire.
- With power off, clean the brass burner orifice with isopropyl alcohol and never enlarge it, and brush out the burner tube.
- Secure and clean the wire connections at the ECO, solenoid valve, and the pin connector on the board.
How to reset / clear Spark present, no gas
- Switch OFF about 30 seconds and back ON after correcting gas pressure, voltage, or a blockage.
- Do not repeatedly retry without fixing the cause, since each failed try releases unburned gas into the chamber.
When to call a technician
If gas pressure, voltage, orifice, and wiring are all good but gas still will not feed during spark, have a technician test the solenoid valve and board.
Applies to
G6A-8E · GC6AA-10E · GCH6A-10E · GC10A-4E · GCH10A-4E
FAQ
What does Atwood Water Heater code "Spark present, no gas" mean?
A diagnostic sub-condition of the DSI lock-out from the official trouble-shooting guide: the electrodes are sparking (you hear/see the spark) but no gas reaches the burner, so no flame is proven and the board locks out after three tries.
How do I reset Atwood Water Heater Spark present, no gas?
Switch OFF about 30 seconds and back ON after correcting gas pressure, voltage, or a blockage. Do not repeatedly retry without fixing the cause, since each failed try releases unburned gas into the chamber.
What is the most common cause of Spark present, no gas on a Atwood Water Heater?
The most likely cause is incorrect gas pressure or no gas to the solenoid valve (set inlet to 11 inch w.c. with two or more appliances running).
Related · Atwood water heater
On Atwood DSI (Direct Spark Ignition) water heaters there is… ECO open / tripped
The ECO is a backup high-limit temperature switch wired in s… Gas & spark, no flame proven
A diagnostic sub-condition of the DSI lock-out: both gas and… Gas present, no spark
A diagnostic sub-condition of the DSI lock-out from the offi… No spark / no ignition
Dead unit with no spark at the electrode and no lockout-ligh… TCO (thermal cut-off) tripped
Current Atwood DSI water heaters have a one-shot thermal cut…
Sources
- Atwood Electronic Ignition Water Heater Trouble Shooting Guide — Trouble Shooting Guide, section 'WATER HEATER LOCK OUT - SPARK PRESENT BUT NO GAS', effective 2/10/14 (Atwood Mobile Products LLC)
Note: This is a sub-condition within the single lock-out lamp indication, not a separate displayed code.
● Last verified 2026-06-29 · compiled from manufacturer documentation. Codes can vary by model year — always cross-check your unit’s manual.