Stranded without hot water.

[redT2go]

This is our first camping trip with our motorhome. So we r trying to get hot water. This is what we have done so far: we had the switch on bypass by accident and have since corrected this. Before we corrected this the electric was running for 1-2 hours and then we turned on the propane. So we were heating the tank without water by accident. Now the switch is off bypass and water is in tank. We have tried propane and electric but still no hot water. The flame was visable on the hot water tank. The panel switch inside the motorhome flashed red for a moment but they r not on now. Not sure if that is normal or not. Any suggestions?? It's a little chilly and staying at campground without facilities.

[BrianinMichigan]

IT will take a good 40 minutes before the hot water heater shuts off on our unit. It will take a good 15 minutes before it starts to get warm. If you have a flame that you can see and water flows out of the hot water spigot just wait awhile.

[RJsfishin]

Quote:
Shoot. You still have a safety device. Just boil it until the pressure relief valve pops
-------------------------------------------------
Hey, whatever works, I guess !

[TucsonJim]

Gjac wrote:

RJsfishin wrote:
Its perdy simple,....
If the tank has water in it, and the burner is burning, you'll have hot water.
So if the burner will not burn for any reason, you can always get hot water by hot wiring 12v to the gas valve, and manually light the burner. Only problem w/ this is safety,.......you must shut it off after 30 minutes or so, because you have by passed all the thermostats and safety devices.
Now, let the hammer come down for me giving a remedy for hot water in an "emergency"?? situation.

I had to do the same thing to mine this summer before replacing the board when I came home. The long gas grill lighters work well to get to the flame.

Shoot. You still have a safety device. Just boil it until the pressure relief valve pops.

[Gjac]

RJsfishin wrote:
Its perdy simple,....
If the tank has water in it, and the burner is burning, you'll have hot water.
So if the burner will not burn for any reason, you can always get hot water by hot wiring 12v to the gas valve, and manually light the burner. Only problem w/ this is safety,.......you must shut it off after 30 minutes or so, because you have by passed all the thermostats and safety devices.
Now, let the hammer come down for me giving a remedy for hot water in an "emergency"?? situation.

I had to do the same thing to mine this summer before replacing the board when I came home. The long gas grill lighters work well to get to the flame.

[RJsfishin]

Its perdy simple,....
If the tank has water in it, and the burner is burning, you'll have hot water.
So if the burner will not burn for any reason, you can always get hot water by hot wiring 12v to the gas valve, and manually light the burner. Only problem w/ this is safety,.......you must shut it off after 30 minutes or so, because you have bypassed all the thermostats and safety devices.
Now, let the hammer come down for me giving a remedy for hot water in an "emergency"?? situation.

[Valkyriebush]

TucsonJim wrote:
This may sound crazy, but on both your inside and outside shower, make sure that the handles are completely shut off and not just the shower nozzle. I've read several cases recently where this solved the same kind of problem you're having.

Exactly, happened to me once. Out side hot shower knob on. Turned off, and voila! Hot water

[midnightsadie]

OLD Biscut has it right,I think its tripped.

[RoyB]

Or do like we Rv Campers do it... Heat up water on the stove top or the propane grill or camp fire.... hehe You can wash up at the sink...

Just saying one must have a good PLAN B

Roy Ken

[Old-Biscuit]

No water in tank-----electric element ON=======element burnt up so until replaced forget heating using electric

Propane turned on .....no water ....tank got hot
Suspect hot enough to trip HI Temp T-stat

IF you have a Suburban water heater..HI Temp T-stat has to be manually reset.
Outside compartment....above gas valve rubber cover with 'Push To Reset'
Left button....electric (don't bother---element is burnt out)
Right button....propane......push in hard to reset tripped t-stat


Course........
All posts with suggestions are just GUESSES because you have no real info on which brand/model/year...RV or water heater etc.


Water heater has water in tank?
open hot side on a faucet and water flows?

So just guesses.

[kalynzoo]

Also, if the water heater is not hard wired into the rig, check the plug, which might be in the compartment next to the water heater, and see if the plug became loose or disconnected (Don't ask me how I know :))

[TucsonJim]

This may sound crazy, but on both your inside and outside shower, make sure that the handles are completely shut off and not just the shower nozzle. I've read several cases recently where this solved the same kind of problem you're having.

[newman_fulltime]

you burned the electric elemant up so that needs replaced.If it is a attwood water heater go outside unplug the ignition board in the upper right corner and replug it back in then try it again

[boogie_4wheel]

Electric element may be burned out from being powered without water in the tank.

Run on propane...
Turn on switch. Light will illuminate for a few seconds and then the water heater should light and the switch light will go out. The burner will remain lit until the water is hot (~10-15 minutes depending on your water heater size. I've never timed mine, I'm just grasping a time out of the air).

You could walk outside and listen for the burner and feel heat from the water heater door on the outside.