hot water heater

Bobbo wrote:
Some water heaters have a heat exchanger from the engine's radiator to the water heater. If you have been driving, the coolant from the radiator goes through a line in the water heater heating the water in the heater. When you get to your destination, the water is not really hot, but it is very warm.

If you haven't been driving, then disregard.

It's a 5th wheel.

That switch in outside compartment is for electric element......only.

Now you could have another switch inside that is for electric also.
If you do then BOTH have to be on to heat with electric.

The outside switch is OEM (by Suburban).......the RV mfg. sometimes adds another switch inside for convenience so you can leave the outside one on and then turn inside one on/off for electric heating.

The electric uses 110V AC power from the AC Panel (circuit breaker)

To heat with propane you will have another switch that is for the propane only.
The propane uses 12V DC power from DC Dist. Panel (fuse)

Some water heaters have a heat exchanger from the engine's radiator to the water heater. If you have been driving, the coolant from the radiator goes through a line in the water heater heating the water in the heater. When you get to your destination, the water is not really hot, but it is very warm.

If you haven't been driving, then disregard.

The switch on the heater itself is for the electric element. It must be on to heat electrically. I am not sure which panel you refer to; however, if it is your breaker panel it affects electric operation only. If you have a little panel that has a switch and pilot light; that controls the operation on gas. When you turn it on the light should come on for a moment until the heater fires then go off.

Old Biscuit, Thank you for your help, does the switch have to be in the on position for the heater to work or does the switch that I use to turn on the hot water w/electric in my panel turn the hot water on. Sorry for all the questions but I did not get any info on this and I called Suburban and they have not returned my call. Thanks again Semper Fi

IF you have a Suburban Water heater the ON/OFF switch for electric is in outside compartment hiding down in left corner behind gas. They have a tendency to fail.

Check switch...replace or open AC circuit breaker



If you have an Atwood.......OLDER models had electric ON/OFF switch located on backside of WH (inside RV) on the electric junction cover (prior to 2004)


Which brand/model of WH?

Propane is easy cause you can hear it when flame is lit.
Electric is different as you can't hear it and most don't have any light that indicates on.

SO if water is hot..stays hot then electric is ON

Can't think of any reason other than what BTPO1 and donn0128 have stated. If you can't check the heater try turning the circuit breaker for the heating element off.

If the propane was on you would hear it.

I was helping a friend with his fifth wheel and he asked me why his water was hot when it was not on. I asked him if he had turned off the electric element. he told me the switch was off. I asked him if he turned off the electric element. He did not know there was a switch at the water heater. No more unexpected hot water. You might want to check that if you have not already done it. Possibly the switch has failed in the closed position. JMO

Then im guessing the controller has shorted out and is stuck on.

We have a 5th wheel, elite suites