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D_E_Bishop's avatar
D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Mar 16, 2017

Very noisey water heater

I have not thought much about the sound of our water heater until a couple of weeks ago when we were in a campsite that is side by side with another site. Our neighbors were very close and nothing between us and them. Being dry sites, we try not to wash dishes more than once a week and so we hadn't used the WH.

I've never noticed how loud the burner is until that trip. I don't know much about gas burners except for the blue flame test. Our 2002 Atwood, Model GCH10A3E, 10 gallon water heater with the engine coolant tubes that heat the water when traveling.

Does the make and model normally make a loud whoosh sound while heating the water? If so is there any way to quiet it down.
Seeking Advice
  • drsteve's avatar
    drsteve
    Explorer
    Mar 23, 2017
    In my experience, a noisy WH flame is often caused by a bug nest inside the burner tube.
  • NYCgrrl's avatar
    NYCgrrl
    Explorer
    Mar 21, 2017
    D.E.Bishop wrote:
    Being dry sites, we try not to wash dishes more than once a week and so we hadn't used the WH.


    Slightly off topic.. how does one accomplish taking a week to wash dishes?
    Use predominately paper plates and hobo packets? I'm asking this question in all earnestness since we'll be tent drycamping for over a 2 week time frame this summer for the first time.
    TIA!
  • CavemanCharlie's avatar
    CavemanCharlie
    Explorer III
    Mar 21, 2017
    My water heater is not noisy but, I heard a very loud one in another RV at the park once. I don't know why it was so loud but, it was awfully loud. Loud as a generator.
  • tdsxt51's avatar
    tdsxt51
    Explorer
    Mar 19, 2017
    NanciL wrote:
    I must be deaf !
    I am on our third trailer and all three of them have been very quiet.
    I no longer use the gas on this one and have switched to the electric, but when we were using it and turned it on several times I would have to go out and open the compartment door to make sure there was a flame.

    jack L


    Me too! I've never noticed ours and really don't know when it's on or off. But then again, we mostly (read always so far) run on electric. And yes, my hearing is going fast...
  • SCVJeff's avatar
    SCVJeff
    Explorer
    Mar 18, 2017
    2oldman wrote:
    SCVJeff wrote:
    Yeah.. the WH's camped with us in Q will wake me up every time one fires up. 50' when it's dead quiet ain't enuf
    Some newer MH's (go figure) have gas only WH. That's extremely loud when packed in like sardines in a park.
    ironic isn't it :h
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Mar 17, 2017
    SCVJeff wrote:
    Yeah.. the WH's camped with us in Q will wake me up every time one fires up. 50' when it's dead quiet ain't enuf
    Some newer MH's (go figure) have gas only WH. That's extremely loud when packed in like sardines in a park.
  • SCVJeff's avatar
    SCVJeff
    Explorer
    Mar 17, 2017
    2oldman wrote:
    If I'm ever in that situation I'll ask my neighbor to please turn it off after dark. Some WHs will actually wake me up...from a hundred feet away. It's *really* loud at 3am.
    Yeah.. the WH's camped with us in Q will wake me up every time one fires up. 50' when it's dead quiet ain't enuf
  • ken56's avatar
    ken56
    Explorer
    Mar 16, 2017
    Mine has always been loud enough to hear its burning since its been new. Not annoyingly loud but I know its on. On a nice warm night with the windows open I can see it being loud enough to be heard by my neighbors given the proximity in some parks so I only heat with propane initially to get things hot and I shut it off and go electric when we are plugged in. I can have hot water for many hours even when everything is shut off. I only heat things up again for showers. Yours is most likely just fine but I would check the flame just in case.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Mar 16, 2017
    Atwood uses a 10,000 btu burner in their 10 gallon units (8000 in 6 gal)

    IF flame is nice blue flame then is it correctly burning

    If orange/yellow.......then it needs air shutter adjusted (more air)

    Noise level
    Correctly burning..noticeable
    Incorrect flame.....LOUD

    Caveat: Noise is subjective and dependent on surroundings

    Good flame



    That motoraid you have.
    Good for roughly 130*F on trips over 2 hrs long
    Nice feature. Hot water available for rest stops, lunch breaks, when you first set up at CG w/o having to RUN water heater.
  • NanciL's avatar
    NanciL
    Explorer II
    Mar 16, 2017
    I must be deaf !
    I am on our third trailer and all three of them have been very quiet.
    I no longer use the gas on this one and have switched to the electric, but when we were using it and turned it on several times I would have to go out and open the compartment door to make sure there was a flame.

    jack L

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