On Thu, 4 Sep 2014 04:40:50 -0700 (PDT), bob haller
wrote:

a realtive of mine had this problem, turned out to be low gas pressure in her neighborhood

I replaced my WH and could not get it lit. Closed the ball valve,
disconnected the line at the valve and opened the valve until I
smelled the odor. Closed the valve, connected the line and opened the
valve - presto, the WH fired right up.