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mobileray381's avatar
mobileray381
Explorer
Aug 06, 2015

Water Heater Dual Source Question

Hi All. I have an Atwood 10 gallon water heater on my rig. It is able to work on GAS and on ELECTRIC. Today we had an all day huge rain storm so I decided to wash alot of dishes while my wife went shopping. After sitting down to eat I noticed that the red light was on the control panel that the unit had failed to fire on gas. Figured that I must have been out of gas so I just turned to gas switch off and turned on the electric part. Light came back on and did not work on electric either.

Turned the sink on for hot water to see if there was anything there and it was SO HOT (dangerous hot) that it burned my hand. WAY hotter than it has ever been.

I ran the hot out and since the cold water went back in I hit the switch for fun and it immediately fired up on gas and started heating without any issues.

I opened the lid that is on the outside of the rig to see the water heater components and there was water (cool) laying inside the unit around the wired and around the burner tube...guessing it blew in the vents during a storm perhaps and there is alot of moisture in the air still.

Any idea's what may have fouled up my unit or suggestions?

Thanks
RC
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Aug 07, 2015
    Golden_HVAC wrote:
    Chances are that your main thermostat failed. However if it was just a few drops of water on the thermostat, it might have red a lower temperature than actual tank temp, and might be OK once dry.

    Do you have a thermostat to check the temp? That will give you an answer. If it is over 140F, then the main thermostat might have failed, and it is shutting off on the 160F safety thermostat.

    Replacement thermostats are fairly cheap. You should be able to buy one for less than $35, perhaps less than $20.

    Good luck,

    Fred.


    Normal t-stat OPENS at 140*F
    ECO (Energy Cut OFF----High temp t-stat) OPENS at 180*F
    Temp/Press Relief Safety Valve OPENS at 210*F/150 PSI
  • Golden_HVAC's avatar
    Golden_HVAC
    Explorer
    Aug 06, 2015
    Chances are that your main thermostat failed. However if it was just a few drops of water on the thermostat, it might have red a lower temperature than actual tank temp, and might be OK once dry.

    Do you have a thermostat to check the temp? That will give you an answer. If it is over 140F, then the main thermostat might have failed, and it is shutting off on the 160F safety thermostat.

    Replacement thermostats are fairly cheap. You should be able to buy one for less than $35, perhaps less than $20.

    Good luck,

    Fred.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Aug 06, 2015
    Seeing as your RV is a 2005 your Atwood WH uses the same set of t-stats for electric and propane temp control (normal t-stat/140*F and ECO/High temp t-stat/180*F)

    RED light is fault for electric and/or propane
    Propane....failure to light main flame
    Propane/electric....IF ECO Open
    Neither turn on.......thermal fuse blown

    Water was REALLY hot....Fault light......suspect normal t-stat didn't open/ECO did.

    You opened hot water......enough cold water refilled WH Tank. Fault light was able to be reset (turn switch OFF then back ON) cause ECO will auto reset when water temp is 110*F.

    Wet environment could have caused normal t-stat to not open (cool water on the t-stat or shorting across the terminals)

    Check that normal t-stat is being held tight against WH tank wall for proper temp sensing and that the terminals/wiring to t-stat is clean/tight and free of moisture.

    I had one that I had to put tape across when we were in heavy rain for a week otherwise I could not get any hot water

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