We have a grand junction 5th wheel. The water heater is dual heat source, gas & electric. If there is no water in unit, will the gas or electric burn the unit up if they are not turned off.

If you leave the electricity on in an empty heater then the electric element will burn up. However I'm not sure what leaving the gas on will do, other than waste propane. The element is inside the tank, the gas burner is outside.

As previously stated Yes. After I "fried" one on my first trailer with hot water I read the manual. Switched to propane til we got back from trip. Bought new element and replaced. Now I make sure the HW tank is full (no air passing from the faucet when Hot Water is on) and then turn the switch to on. On 2nd trailer with HW and no issues. Greg

Now that you have heard the bad news....the good news is that if you do fry the electric element, they are easy and inexpensive to replace...

Rookie question on water heater | Good Sam Community

EgorKC
Explorer
Jul 27, 2015
As previously stated Yes. After I "fried" one on my first trailer with hot water I read the manual. Switched to propane til we got back from trip. Bought new element and replaced. Now I make sure the HW tank is full (no air passing from the faucet when Hot Water is on) and then turn the switch to on. On 2nd trailer with HW and no issues.
Greg
agesilaus
Explorer III
Jul 27, 2015
If you leave the electricity on in an empty heater then the electric element will burn up. However I'm not sure what leaving the gas on will do, other than waste propane. The element is inside the tank, the gas burner is outside.
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Jul 27, 2015
yes it will burn the element
rskeans
Explorer
Jul 27, 2015
Yes

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