Forum Discussion

MainerBob's avatar
MainerBob
Explorer
Mar 16, 2016

Hot water system problem

I have a gas/electric Suburban water heater in my Everest. When I am boondocking (no hookups) and I turn on the hot water at any outlet, I hear a lot of gurgling, coughing noises coming from the hot water heater and a lot of air comes out of the faucet with much sputtering. After a few seconds I start to get water, the noises stop and the water gets hot and I can go on with what I needed the water for. It happens if I have not used hot water for more than ten minutes or so. It only happens on hot and only on the pump, which was new last year. If I am on city water everything is normal. I have no water leaking anywhere. Any ideas on where to start looking?
  • nomad_297's avatar
    nomad_297
    Explorer
    Mar 17, 2016
    Do you have a winterizing inlet on the outside of your RV for antifreeze uptake for winterizing? If so, you have a valve right at your pump to change over from fresh water tank to winterize. That valve may be only partially closed, Check it and make sure it is turned all the way over to fresh water tank instead of winterize.

    Bruce
  • DirtyOil's avatar
    DirtyOil
    Explorer
    Mar 17, 2016
    A couple of the posters maybe on the right track here. If your not seeing any water dripping or any puddles, you may want check the hot water tank isolating valve(s)... the ones you would close/open to isolate the tank when winterizing the water system. The valve(s) may not be fully closed/opened, or are as posted may be leaking.

    If the safety valve is indeed leaking, you will see water dripping/spraying from it or even see steam vapours and/or hear air escaping from the safety.

    As asked, do you leave the pump on all the time, if so does it run fairly constant? That'll tell you if you have a leak.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Mar 17, 2016
    Do you leave our pump ON when boondocking or do you turn it ON when you go to use water?

    With pump left ON..........it would run momentarily every so often IF there was a leak in system due to drop in system pressure.
    Temp/Press Relief Valve on water heater would show signs of leaking---scale etc on gas solenoid valves directly below it.

    With pump only being turned ON when you use a faucet/toilet then back off water could backflow thru pump back to fresh water tank.
    But when on city water fresh water tank should fill up/over fill if pump check valve was weak.

    So ........how do you use your pump when boondocking ON or On/Off??
  • TakingThe5th's avatar
    TakingThe5th
    Explorer
    Mar 16, 2016
    Just another guess, but check your pressure relief valve and work it a few times. It might be letting air into the hot water tank as the water cools. Working the valve might get it to re-seat itself.

    Why does it only happen with the pump? Maybe you have less pressure with the pump. Or maybe you have a loose connection or a leak somewhere between the pump and the tank which allows the air in when the pump is off.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Mar 16, 2016
    You might want to install one of those additional pressure tanks..

    They look something like this... Available from LOWES - AMAZON...



    I have never had any dealing with something like this but it seems this would at least get a good source of water already pressured up to use...

    Might solve the not using the hot water deal you mentioned????

    Roy Ken
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    Mar 16, 2016
    Just a guess, if there is a check valve in the hot water line it may be letting water drain backwards when the pump is off. A weak check valve in other words. The question would be where is the air coming from to fill the line. Do you have a dripping faucet?

    When you are on city water the high pressure to the pump would keep the line filled.

    Someone with a more informed opinion may come up with a better idea tho.

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