Water heater issues

[sato4000]

When we first got the RV I never had issues with running out of hot water. We have a 2014 forest river forester. Now after one shower it takes about 30 minutes before the water heats back up. I'm pretty sure the propane is working with the water heater because I can hear it ignite. Could something be wrong with the heating element?

[cgmartine]

If you are getting hot water, then the heating element is working ok. I don't believe the element would fully work one time, then half-way the next. It either works, or it doesn't. When you have hot water, how long does it last? If you have at least 10 minutes of hot water, then everything is ok. Find out how large the tank is and you will know how much water is at your disposal.

[cgmartine]

If you are already getting heated water then there is no problem with the heating element. If I understand that you are getting hot water for a full 30 minutes, then you are doing great. I am surprised that hot water would last that long. If so, then you do not have a problem and there is nothing to do. However, if you mean that after using hot water you then have to wait for 30 minutes, that also would not be a problem. I had the same thing happen to me today. I think that when it reaches a certain temperature it shuts off, or it has to wait until sufficient water is in the tank. In my case, I had to manually re-start the heater because I got impatient and did not want to wait for it to re-ignite by itself.

[64thunderbolt]

I have a longer run so my Truma takes 15 sec and after 20 min full flow still 118*

[funpilot]

Have to tease a bit .... 10 seconds for me to get hot water from my Truma ...

[JPeyton]

30 minutes is not that bad for cool water. A brand new sparking shiny one will always work better because there is no calcium corrosion, heating element is nice and clean, etc.

[Old-Biscuit]

Did you check out the suggestions by Scott?

Suburban uses 2 separate sets of t-stats....one for electric an done for propane
So even of a t-stat trips/goes bad or component fails the other heat source can still function.

T-stats are under the rubber cover (top left) in outside compartment
'Push to Reset' allows manual reset of Hi Temp T-stat if tripped
Left button is for 120V AC electric
Right button is for 12V DC propane

If t-stat not tripped/no reset..........electric element is probably bad
If t-stat tripped/can reset.........then normal t-stat is probably bad & HI limit will trip again

[sato4000]

It is a suburban and it is a combo. Electric and propane are both turned on. It never had this much of a delay before its about 30 minutes now not sure what the water supply temp is but i've had this problem at multiple camground now. It definitely takes longer than before to reheat water and it goes quicker than it did.

[Old-Biscuit]

What Brand of water heater...Suburban or Atwood?

Is it a combo (electric/propane) water heater?

Are you using both electric & propane at same time to heat water?

What size WH......6 or 10 gallon?

What is water supply temp.....colder than previous?

30 minute recovery is close to normal......depending on inlet water temp.

[sato4000]

Thanks I'll check those things.

[ScottG]

The electric element could be burned out or a high temp limiter could be tripped - check the two black rubber buttons inside the access cover. You could also try running it solely on 120VAC to see if it heats.