cancel
Showing results forย 
Search instead forย 
Did you mean:ย 

Hot Water Heater

beetleman
Explorer
Explorer
I am asking this information for a single lady friend. She has a 2000 Kountry Star 5th wheel. Her hot water tank is a 10gal electric/gas water heater. Since she is hooked up to electric, she has been using the electric to heat up her hot water heater. She has not had any problems having hot water until now. Today she went to use hot water and did not have any. The electric was not working. I will tell you that the area has been saturated with rain and storms. Up to 4 inches in a matter of couple of hours. A lot of flooding. I have tried to walk her through some steps, but when the water recedes a little I will try to get out to her campsite. Any suggestions of what I can check on. I have a 2007 Mountaineer and can kind of trouble shoot. Thanks for helping this elderly lady.
12 REPLIES 12

BB_TX
Nomad
Nomad
Agree with above. Typical when public water supply is shut off, water drains from pipes, water supply is reestablished, pipes are repressurized with air inside, and air blows out faucets next time they are opened. Even happens at our house sometimes in our semi rural area.

beetleman
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for info. Just waiting for chance to get out there.

94-D2
Explorer
Explorer
Sounds like air in the system. If the city water supply has been compromised by flooding, there may be an interruption in supply that has put a large air pocket in the WH (not to mention contamination) Verify city water, bleed the WH (whole system actually) and reset everything. If the element went bad it stays bad. Never seen one self correct.
2018 Ram 3500 Crew Cab Laramie 6.7L, Aisin, air ride, Ram puck prep, SuperGlide 20K auto slide.
2018 Bighorn Traveler 4 slide w/Apt.



Itโ€™s not what youโ€™ve done that commands respect, itโ€™s what you do.

Happy Campinโ€™

beetleman
Explorer
Explorer
Visited with my friend and she did get hot water. However this morning she was rinsing dishes, heard a loud thump, and air shot out of faucet. Reset light came on. I haven't been able to find out if heater is Atwood or Suburban. Water is starting to recede, so someone can get to her campsite. Any ideas about what is going on. I told her to turn off heater.

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
Does she have a Suburban or an Atwood Water Heater?

2000 year model
Suburban
*Electric On/off switch in outside compartment. They fail/exposed to elements
*High Temp T-stat trips at 170*F ...manual reset (Push To Reset cover above gas valve----Left button is for 120V AC element)
*Connecting wire between High t-stat and normal temp t-stat can burn into
*Element under cover below gas valve-----with 120VAC circuit breaker off disconnect the black/white wires
Check continuity between the 2 terminals. NO continuity...element bad.
Check continuity between white wire terminal and element flange...Got continuity---element shorted


Atwood
That vintage has separate controls for electric & propane
120V AC circuit breaker>>>>>On/Off switch on backside of Water Heater
On/Off switch to set of t-stats....ECO (High Temp has manual rest button in center of t-stat)
Element...same continuity tests as above

(Element and set of t-stat UNDER the cover on backside of water heater)
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

laknox
Nomad
Nomad
If the heater hasn't been cleaned in a while, it could be full of sediment, which doesn't play well with electric heating elements. She should still be able to have hot water by switching to gas.

Lyle
2022 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Denali Crew Cab 4x4 Duramax
B&W OEM Companion & Gooseneck Kit
2017 KZ Durango 1500 D277RLT
1936 John Deere Model A
International Flying Farmers 64 Year Member

BB_TX
Nomad
Nomad
Some problems that have been reported in the past.
-Bad heating element
-Tripped circuit breaker
-Bad or tripped thermostat/hi temp cutout
-Bad little black switch at bottom left corner of water heater if Suburban
-Burned or loose wiring in junction box on back of WH if Suburban

Lynnmor
Explorer
Explorer
beetleman wrote:
Yes, everything else works. Her hot water switch as a reset light. If she runs her finger along the reset light it will comes on. It is not a button. But if she touches it light will come on or go off. Wondering about a short.


That light may be normal and may be for the gas portion of the heating.

A short will trip a breaker, cycle the breakers off and on, then retest. If the water was off, perhaps the water heater was not full and that will smoke a heating element in seconds. Bring a meter and check for voltage at the element, if voltage is present then replace the element, available at most hardware stores. A cheap tool is also available for changing elements.

If you have no success, come back with the make and model,

beetleman
Explorer
Explorer
Water is connected and hot water tank has water in it.

beetleman
Explorer
Explorer
Yes, everything else works. Her hot water switch as a reset light. If she runs her finger along the reset light it will comes on. It is not a button. But if she touches it light will come on or go off. Wondering about a short.

agesilaus
Explorer III
Explorer III
The electrical heating element is an obvious thing to check. They can burn out often caused by operating the heater w/o water in it. Otherwise anything in the electrical chain can fail so a multi meter would be handy and a copy of the heater manual which you should be able to get online.
Arctic Fox 25Y Travel Trailer
2018 RAM 2500 6.7L 4WD shortbed
Straightline dual cam hitch
400W Solar with Victron controller
Superbumper

MFL
Nomad II
Nomad II
The obvious thing is to check the breaker inside at converter. Most WHs have a reset on the outside as well, to check when rain lets up.

Is the WH the only electric not working?

Jerry