Hey everyone, I've been scouring the internet for an answer to this and I'm stumped. I purchased a brand new Surveyor 32BHDS in Texas and have been living in it since. While in Texas, I was able to take showers for as long as I wanted, easily 15-20 minutes (I know because my girlfriend has like 3 feet of hair she likes to spend all day washing in there).We moved to Arizona after about 3 months, and ever since the move, our water hot shower water (and sink water) won't last for more than 5 minutes. Any ideas why this could be?

Did someone open a bypass valve?

Do both the LP and electric still work? Try them one at a time.

I've only ever used the electric, never propane.The outside shower is turned off (used it for the first time today just to check).I'm not sure about a regulator, and I'm not sure where the bypass valve would be located. The water heater seems to be the Suburban type.

Water Heater doesn't last! | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

MFL
Nomad II
Jan 15, 2016
Well :h

Lol, they say no news is good news!

Jerry
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jan 15, 2016
Axebeard wrote:
Old-Biscuit wrote:

Remove drain plug/anode rod.....flush and clean inside of tank
Look thru drain hole at element.....if really scaled up you may need to remove to clean
(Warranty will not cover ROUTINE Maintenance---which this is)

First I've heard of this! I'll give it a shot and report back.

Well :H
Houston_Remodel
Explorer
Jan 11, 2016
In South Texas our groundwater is quite warm most months of the year. In the mid 50's. This makes washing clothes much easier. When we travel to Yankee-land the groundwater temperature drops noticeably.

One more reason to add an on demand HWH or use both electric and propane to heat your water.
dougrainer
Nomad
Jan 11, 2016
10.2/6.0

Recovery rate for suburban water heaters
10.2 gallons per hour LP
6.0 gallons per hour 120
I think this says it all. Doug
TurnThePage
Explorer
Jan 11, 2016
I wondered about flow rate too. You may want to consider a different shower head. I don't know if the Oxygenics actually uses less water than the typical RV shower head, but it sure made my wife a happy camper.
tpi
Explorer
Jan 11, 2016
I'd sure inspect the electric element for deposits.

No changes to the flow rate at the shower head? New head, restrictor removed, etc?

On mine I've noticed distinctly shorter showers in cold weather..simply mixing in more hot water.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jan 11, 2016
Lynnmor wrote:
dougrainer wrote:
Simple fact is, you CANNOT expect adequate Hot Water on 120 ONLY. The recovery rate of 120 is about 50% of LP. You need to run the water heater on LP and 120 for faster recovery and more hot water production. I will bet if you run LP also, your problem will go away. Doug

Only those that waste water will have a problem on 120 only. While some say that buildup on the element is the problem, you have to remember that that same amount of energy (1500 watts) is still going into the water. If the energy would stay within the element, it would burn out. It is a rather simple matter to pull the element and inspect it for damage.

A scaled up element is less efficient at transferring that energy to the water
OPs water is getting hot.......just not lasting as long as before.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Jan 11, 2016
dougrainer wrote:
Simple fact is, you CANNOT expect adequate Hot Water on 120 ONLY. The recovery rate of 120 is about 50% of LP. You need to run the water heater on LP and 120 for faster recovery and more hot water production. I will bet if you run LP also, your problem will go away. Doug

Only those that waste water will have a problem on 120 only. While some say that buildup on the element is the problem, you have to remember that that same amount of energy (1500 watts) is still going into the water. If the energy would stay within the element, it would burn out. It is a rather simple matter to pull the element and inspect it for damage.
MFL
Nomad II
Jan 11, 2016
Like OB said, flushing the WH is part of maintenance. The element is likely scaled, and needs cleaning or replaced. This needs doing, even if running on propane fixes the hot water shortage. It is nice to have the electric feature, it may as well be working properly.

The colder the entry water into the system, the more you will appreciate both gas and electric working together.

Jerry
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jan 11, 2016
dougrainer wrote:
Simple fact is, you CANNOT expect adequate Hot Water on 120 ONLY. The recovery rate of 120 is about 50% of LP. You need to run the water heater on LP and 120 for faster recovery and more hot water production. I will bet if you run LP also, your problem will go away. Doug

Sure running propane will help.....the recovery rate using both electric & propane is the quickest
BUT OP stated he has never used propane (electric only).....hot water lasted long time but 3 months later noticed a significant drop in how long hot water lasted.

Hard water prior use.......scaled up electric element is OPs current problem.