I have a Suburban SW10DE water heater on my 2003 DSDP 4005. I have replaced a non-working electric element with the proper part number according to the manual.However it does not seem to heat the water very well - you can comfortably hold your hand in it even after it has been on all night.Works fine on propane (but I'm very low right now), just won't get hot enough on electric.Any ideas on what I can do?ThanksChris

Suburban Water Heaters have 2 tstats.1. Is for LP2. The other is for 120 operationSuburban offers 2 different temp tstats. The standard is 130 degrees. BOTH LP and 120 are 130 degrees. There is an optional 140 degree. The WATTAGE for your element should be 1440. IF the wattage in your replacement is lower, it still should heat to 130 but will take longer.I think your electric side is not operating. Doug

Adjust the thermostat to a higher water temperature.

download this manual and follow the steps. http://bryantrv.com/docs2/docs/subsw.pdf

Could you have bought a 220 volt heater coil? I almost did.

"Suburban offers 2 different temp tstats. The standard is 130 degrees. BOTH LP and 120 are 130 degrees. There is an optional 140 degree. The WATTAGE for your element should be 1440. IF the wattage in your replacement is lower, it still should heat to 130 but will take longer.I think your electric side is not operating. Doug"I will check out the thermostats - the electric side is working but not correctly.----------------"download this manual and follow the steps. http://bryantrv.com/docs2/docs/subsw.pdf "Thanks for the link to the document, it has more info than my original manual and it also has some good trouble shooting plus the thermostat part numbers.---------------------"Could you have bought a 220 volt heater coil? I almost did"No, it was the correct part number and matched the old one and it was confirmed as correct by the parts department--------------------------------Thanks all for your replies, I think I will have to zero in on the thermostat as the water does not get hot enough, hopefully will find the time before we hit the road for a few days.Chris

Hotter water on electric? | Good Sam Community

dougrainer
Nomad
Jun 08, 2013
Suburban Water Heaters have 2 tstats.
1. Is for LP
2. The other is for 120 operation
Suburban offers 2 different temp tstats. The standard is 130 degrees. BOTH LP and 120 are 130 degrees. There is an optional 140 degree. The WATTAGE for your element should be 1440. IF the wattage in your replacement is lower, it still should heat to 130 but will take longer.
I think your electric side is not operating. Doug
I_am_still_wayn
Explorer
Jun 08, 2013
Adjust the thermostat to a higher water temperature.
MountainAir05
Explorer II
Jun 08, 2013
download this manual and follow the steps.

http://bryantrv.com/docs2/docs/subsw.pdf
Vet_Man
Explorer
Jun 08, 2013
Could you have bought a 220 volt heater coil? I almost did.
cvbdsl
Explorer
Jun 08, 2013
"Suburban offers 2 different temp tstats. The standard is 130 degrees. BOTH LP and 120 are 130 degrees. There is an optional 140 degree. The WATTAGE for your element should be 1440. IF the wattage in your replacement is lower, it still should heat to 130 but will take longer.
I think your electric side is not operating. Doug"

I will check out the thermostats - the electric side is working but not correctly.

----------------
"download this manual and follow the steps.

http://bryantrv.com/docs2/docs/subsw.pdf "

Thanks for the link to the document, it has more info than my original manual and it also has some good trouble shooting plus the thermostat part numbers.

---------------------
"Could you have bought a 220 volt heater coil? I almost did"

No, it was the correct part number and matched the old one and it was confirmed as correct by the parts department

--------------------------------

Thanks all for your replies, I think I will have to zero in on the thermostat as the water does not get hot enough, hopefully will find the time before we hit the road for a few days.

Chris
Ex-Tech
Explorer
Jun 08, 2013
I am still wayne_tw wrote:
Adjust the thermostat to a higher water temperature.

Not adjustable on a Suburban brand.
NolalSafari
Explorer
Jun 08, 2013
Stat still could be bad, not all new stats work correctly. Switch with the LP stat.
crasster
Explorer II
Jun 08, 2013
It's either the thermostat is too low or the heating element is going bad.
dougrainer
Nomad
Jun 09, 2013
NolalSafari wrote:
Stat still could be bad, not all new stats work correctly. Switch with the LP stat.

Do NOT do that. The 120 is designed for 120- 12 amp draw and the LP is designed for milliamp 12 volt draw. NOT identical tstats even tho they may look the same. Doug
dougrainer
Nomad
Jun 09, 2013
Long shot is the nut holding the 120 tstat is NOT tight and not pressed hard against the tank. Check the mount nut. Doug