Can I replace a DSI HWH with something (anything) else?

[stevennlv]

I have a fairly new unit, 2017.

It has a DSI hot water heater. I hate it with a passion. It is nothing but problems and headaches.

About this time of year, for the last two years, it starts to develop DSI faults. Last year I watched some YT vids and was able to get it to clear after a couple of days of headaches.

I cannot get it to clear this time. I have done everything I can think of and tried a bunch of stuff off the web and I cannot get it to clear.

I have cleaned the combustion chamber and the igniter. I have replaced the anode rod and flushed the tank. I have let it set with the gas shut off at the tank for hours. I have followed all kinds of suggestions, like resetting / restarting things in a specific order (ie furnace and stove before HW) to "clear air out of the lines"(?), resetting breakers, etc. About the only thing I have not tried so far is disconnecting from shore power. (Would that make any difference?)

All I know is that every year, so far, like clockwork it goes to **** after about 12 months of operation and this year I can't fix it; which means unless I get some brilliant advice here then it's a trip to the shop.

If it's a trip to the shop I'd just rather replace the entire thing with something far more reliable and easier to maintain.

Does such an animal exist (easy to care for HWH) and I can swap one of them out for the hunk of junk I have now?

I'm in a Outdoors, Black Rock 20rd, 2017 with a Suburban DSI HWH.

[stevennlv]

SoundGuy wrote:
I sure wouldn't do it but you could always replace your DSI water heater with a manual, pilot light version.

Thing is, most of this stuff is new to me and IDK what my options are and if they are any better or worse than what I have now.

One of the mods linked to a different type of on-demand heater and I'll look in to it.

I just want something that is not going to give me two week of headaches every 12 months like clockwork. I'd rather spend a grand or two, if I have to, to replace it and just be done with it b/c I'm a full timer.

This is my house. I don't want a hot water that "dies" EVERY YEAR!

[SoundGuy]

stevennlv wrote:
I'm in a Outdoors, Black Rock 20rd, 2017 with a Suburban DSI HWH.

I sure wouldn't do it but you could always replace your DSI water heater with a manual, pilot light version.

[2oldman]

A mobile mechanic may be easier than a trip to the shop. I kinda doubt you'll be able to find anything without DSI nowadays. I don't know of any breakers that need flipping, but you didn't mention anything about your battery and its condition.

Sorry about your troubles.. I have a DSI work flawlessly for 17 years.

[jplante4]

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