Soot coming from burner - a new 'feature'

[je]

In the past 2 months (and not the 14 years this water heater has been operating) there's quite the buildup of soot around the inspection door of my GSW natural gas water heater. This flash picture doesn't show you as much soot as there is, more dirty than can be seen here.

It's a simple unit consisting of a burner and lighter, and temperature control system.

In recent times I've brushed the burner with a wire brush, but nothing else, and I've never had to do any maintenance on any water heater before. Gas consumption seems about the same as it has before, it seems anyhow.

What's unique  is there's a cat box next to the water heater with dusty cat litter. But there's been one there for a couple of years too. 

What is the next step, clean the burner, or just clean the water heater and be done with it?

[RegUS_PatOff]

is this Natural Gas ?

check the Flame color

should be Blue with small Yellow tips ...

 

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

You'll probably have to disassemble the burner assembly and remove the gas metering orifice and clean all with alcohol and compressed air.

[je]

I also notice that it doesn't fire right away - it clicks a lot, it takes a few tries. Could this be related?

It's a rental appliance but I don't think they'll come out and clean it.

[appl.tech.29501]

[user=1]Samurai Appliance Repair Man[/user] wrote:

You'll probably have to disassemble the burner assembly and remove the gas metering orifice and clean all with alcohol and compressed air.