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Very noisey water heater

D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Explorer
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.
"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to go". R. L. Stevenson

David Bishop
2002 Winnebago Adventurer 32V
2009 GMC Canyon
Roadmaster 5000
BrakeBuddy Classic II
14 REPLIES 14

drsteve
Explorer
Explorer
In my experience, a noisy WH flame is often caused by a bug nest inside the burner tube.
2006 Silverado 1500HD Crew Cab 2WD 6.0L 3.73 8600 GVWR
2018 Coachmen Catalina Legacy Edition 223RBS
1991 Palomino Filly PUP

NYCgrrl
Explorer
Explorer
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
Explorer III
Explorer III
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
Explorer
Explorer
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...
2014 RAM 2500 CTD 6.7 CCLB Auto
2015 Forest River Rockwood Signature Series Ultra Lite 8289WS w/ Diamond Pkg.

SCVJeff
Explorer
Explorer
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
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
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.
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

SCVJeff
Explorer
Explorer
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
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350

ken56
Explorer
Explorer
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
Explorer III
Explorer III
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.
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

NanciL
Explorer II
Explorer II
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
Jack & Nanci

wbwood
Explorer
Explorer
Normal
Brian
2013 Thor Chateau 31L

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
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.
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

kenwautoone
Explorer
Explorer
Very normal....Ken

tinstartrvlr
Explorer
Explorer
In both campers I've had, the burner was very loud. Think it's normal.