Hot water problem

ipeltier wrote:
Sorry for the delay. We were on the road. The water heater is an Atwood GC6AA -10E, 6 gallons.

OK.....
Electric & Propane use the SAME t-stat for temp control ---opens at 140*F

Electric is the SLOWEST for recovery....6 gal/hr from initial fill temp
Propane is faster recovery.....10 gal/hr
BOTH at same time....fastest 16 gal/hr


When was last time you drained/flushed WH Tank?
How hard is the water...calcium/scale can build up on element and impede heat transfer.

How does it heat/recover using propane?

Have you checked/verified the 'bypass valve' is not open/leaking thru?
(connects Cold water to Hot water on backside of water heater...leaking thru will dilute the Hot)

Also need to collect straight hot water via closest faucet in a glass and measure the temp right after heating cycle is done.

Sorry for the delay. We were on the road. The water heater is an Atwood GC6AA -10E, 6 gallons.

Seriously, if you really need help, OPEN THE OUTSIDE DOOR ON THE WATER HEATER and get make/model and perhaps something intelligent can be said. I know Suburban hot water heats and they have a electric heating element which operates via a thermostat on the outside and they also work MUCH better using propane as the first fuel source. The electric heating element alone would take forever to heat the water and then doesn't replenish quickly at all.

ipeltier wrote:
Some answers to your questions. The water heating system worked fine for 1 1/2 years—enough for two showers. When the problem started, the dealer replaced the thermostat. It worked well for three days; today there was enough hot water for a short shower only. Husband checked the outside shower, which is turned off. We have been using electric.

Brand/Model????

Some answers to your questions. The water heating system worked fine for 1 1/2 years—enough for two showers. When the problem started, the dealer replaced the thermostat. It worked well for three days; today there was enough hot water for a short shower only. Husband checked the outside shower, which is turned off. We have been using electric.

IB853347201 wrote:
Is it possible that your winter bypass valve on the back of your water heater us not fully closed? That would definately cause cokd water syptom you mention.

Or, like I had happen- someone used the outdoor hose with a spray nozzle with hot and cold water on. When the water wasn't turned off, hot and cold mixed giving lukewarm water in the shower. Fortunately we figured it out pretty quick (and even learned that I was to blame for leaving them on... ahem).

Is it possible that your winter bypass valve on the back of your water heater us not fully closed? That would definately cause cokd water syptom you mention.

Brand/Model of water heater for specific response

Shower(s) not being turned off via knobs....
Water heater bypass still open
Mixing valve clogging up
T-stat wire connections loose
Bad circuit bd

Lots of possibilities.....generic answers

1) Brand/Model
2) Does it turn back on when water cools down
3) DO you leave water running or turn on/off

More info would help

Use gas.

Also if you have an outdoor shower, make sure the valves are both closed. If they are open, the water mixes with the cold, resulting in warm not hot water.