Maintaining air gap in new Atwood water heater

Thanks I thought a bad valve was probably the problem.

rk911 wrote:

Skipg wrote:
I am familiar with the procedure of how to get an air gap in a RV water heater to prevent
pressure valve leak, but this new Atwood water heater just will not maintain the air gap.
Do you think it is A bad relief valve? Thanks for your feed back.

well, I'm not. we're in year 33 of this RV thing and have never heard of a WH air gap. not being sarcastic...just wondering what the heck you're talking about.

40 plus years for us never heard of it either.

B.O.

tnks.

The air gap is actually an expansion tank. Water being uncompressible will rapidly increase in pressure when heated. If there is no air bubble at the top of the water heater, then the water pressure will pop the P/T valve every time the burner or element kicks on. With the air bubble in the top of the tank, it just compresses the bubble. Re-establish the bubble by shutting off water to the camper, open the P/T valve and drain some hot water. Close the P/T valve and open things back up.

Skip - if the bubble keeps collapsing, I'd replace the P/T valve. The seat isn't holding.

Rich - you've probably never had to deal with this because you drain your water heater every fall, thereby re-establishing an air bubble every spring.

Skipg wrote:
I am familiar with the procedure of how to get an air gap in a RV water heater to prevent
pressure valve leak, but this new Atwood water heater just will not maintain the air gap.
Do you think it is A bad relief valve? Thanks for your feed back.

well, I'm not. we're in year 33 of this RV thing and have never heard of a WH air gap. not being sarcastic...just wondering what the heck you're talking about.

Skipg wrote:
I am familiar with the procedure of how to get an air gap in a RV water heater to prevent
pressure valve leak, but this new Atwood water heater just will not maintain the air gap.
Do you think it is A bad relief valve? Thanks for your feed back.

I have never tried to get an air gap and never had an issue with a leaking pressure relief valve either. I would think if your pressure relief valve is leaking under normal use than it is defective.

Rob