I am excited that I am on my first weekend ever in a travel trailer but I have a question about the water heater. My water heater is electric and or gas. The water heater heats up great on gas but if I try to use just electricity it does not heat up at all. Am I missing an additional step? I made sure the tank was full before I turned it on, the fuse is good, the switch is on and the warning light never came on. Is there something outside on the back of the heater that I overlooked? For additional information I have a 6 gallon water heater which is in a 2014 Keystone Passport 238ml. I waited 4 hours before I tried the hot water and it was not even lukewarm. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Some water heaters have a switch outside in the water heater compartment. Yours may and some have a 120 volt plug to plug in. I would think the W H is on a breaker and not a fuse.

My water heater has a 120V switch inside the control panel inside the coach and it has a small on off switch just inside the OUTSIDE access panel to the w/heater.Good luck. Keep us posted.Lakeside

One question - are you plugged in to shore power? The electric heater will not work on 12 volt."...the switch is on and the warning light never came on…" sounds like no 120 electric.

The heating element may be burned out!

The 700 to 1,000 watt electric element is much slower to heat than the 8,800 Btu gas heat. However after 1 hour, the water should have gone from about 55F to at least 85 or 100F. 4 hours and it should have shut off at 120 - 140F. So yes, something is not working right. Look for a outside switch - just inside the outdoor access panel, like suggested above, and make sure it is plugged in to shore power too.Good luck,Fred.

Water Heater Question | Good Sam Community

25 Replies

Golden_HVAC
Explorer
May 10, 2014
The 700 to 1,000 watt electric element is much slower to heat than the 8,800 Btu gas heat.

However after 1 hour, the water should have gone from about 55F to at least 85 or 100F. 4 hours and it should have shut off at 120 - 140F. So yes, something is not working right.

Look for a outside switch - just inside the outdoor access panel, like suggested above, and make sure it is plugged in to shore power too.

Good luck,

Fred.
MrVan
Explorer
May 10, 2014
The heating element may be burned out!
Dennis_M_M
Explorer
May 10, 2014
One question - are you plugged in to shore power? The electric heater will not work on 12 volt.

"...the switch is on and the warning light never came on…" sounds like no 120 electric.
lakeside013104
Explorer
May 10, 2014
My water heater has a 120V switch inside the control panel inside the coach and it has a small on off switch just inside the OUTSIDE access panel to the w/heater.
Good luck. Keep us posted.

Lakeside
jamway
Explorer
May 10, 2014
Some water heaters have a switch outside in the water heater compartment. Yours may and some have a 120 volt plug to plug in.

I would think the W H is on a breaker and not a fuse.

Forum Discussion

Water Heater Question

25 Replies

About Technical Issues

Related Content

Identify water heater

Water Heater Replacement Recommendations

Atwood water heater problem

Water Heater Leak on start up.

Suburban SW12DEL Water Heater On/OFF switch melts???