Hot Water Heater problem

[junmy3]

We have a 2005 Sunline Solaris T2553 with an Atwood hot water heater. It works on both gas and 120V. Last evening we found out that the hot water was not flowing in the camper. However it was the night before. I checked the hot water bypass valve and it was open to allow water into the water heater. Opened up the pressure relief valve on the outside of the camper and there was plenty of hot water in the water heater. Not sure what else to check. Any ideas on what I could check. Thanks

[schlep1967]

Typical big business answer. "The check valve is not our product." The question was "Other than winterizing what purpose does the check valve on the hot out line serve?

[schlep1967]

I sent an email to Atwood regarding this subject. If/when I get a reply I will post it. It said they will reply within 48 hours.

[schlep1967]

powderman426 wrote:

schlep1967 wrote:

powderman426 wrote:

schlep1967 wrote:
You will want to replace it. You'll need it to winterize in the future.

Wrong answer.

Just replace the check valve with a single throw shutoff valve and close it to winterize. Problem solved forever instead of fixed till the check valve goes again. And it will. JMO

Yeah, I'm sure those engineers that designed the system put that $10 check valve in there instead of a $3 valve because the manufacturers wanted to make less profit. Not because it also keeps cold water from back flowing into the water heater.

You can find some good reading here

As was suggested by the guy from atwood, it is there to keep cold water from returning to the tank causing unnecessary cycling of the water heater. This is not cold water from the supply side. It is the water that once was warm and has now cooled off on the outlet side of the water heater. The check valve does not allow the cooler water to reenter the water heater. Cooler water sinks and warmer/hot water will rise.

[powderman426]

schlep1967 wrote:

powderman426 wrote:

schlep1967 wrote:
You will want to replace it. You'll need it to winterize in the future.

Wrong answer.

Just replace the check valve with a single throw shutoff valve and close it to winterize. Problem solved forever instead of fixed till the check valve goes again. And it will. JMO

Yeah, I'm sure those engineers that designed the system put that $10 check valve in there instead of a $3 valve because the manufacturers wanted to make less profit. Not because it also keeps cold water from back flowing into the water heater.

You can find some good reading here

[schlep1967]

powderman426 wrote:

schlep1967 wrote:
You will want to replace it. You'll need it to winterize in the future.

Wrong answer.

Just replace the check valve with a single throw shutoff valve and close it to winterize. Problem solved forever instead of fixed till the check valve goes again. And it will. JMO

Yeah, I'm sure those engineers that designed the system put that $10 check valve in there instead of a $3 valve because the manufacturers wanted to make less profit. Not because it also keeps cold water from back flowing into the water heater.

[Bird_Freak]

Dakota98 wrote:
Check Valve failure on the hot water outlet line from the tank.

Ditto. Happened to mine.

[powderman426]

schlep1967 wrote:
You will want to replace it. You'll need it to winterize in the future.

Wrong answer.

Just replace the check valve with a single throw shutoff valve and close it to winterize. Problem solved forever instead of fixed till the check valve goes again. And it will. JMO

[schlep1967]

You will want to replace it. You'll need it to winterize in the future.

[junmy3]

Thanks for the great help. It was the check valve. schlep1967 was right on. I temporarily fixed it until I decide if I need to replace the check valve or just leave it like it is.

[opnspaces]

Can you bypass the hot water and see if you get cold water our of the hot tap? Also I agree it sounds like either there is a second valve that you didn't see, or the check valve might be stuck closed.

Do you have hot water through any of the faucets inside or outside the trailer?

[westend]

junmy3 wrote:
We have a 2005 Sunline Solaris T2553 with an Atwood hot water heater. It works on both gas and 120V. Last evening we found out that the hot water was not flowing in the camper. However it was the night before. I checked the hot water bypass valve and it was open to allow water into the water heater. Opened up the pressure relief valve on the outside of the camper and there was plenty of hot water in the water heater. Not sure what else to check. Any ideas on what I could check. Thanks

The supply valve should be "open" and the bypass valve should be closed. If you have no water flowing from fixtures (hot or cold)when selecting "hot", there is a valve failure.

[schlep1967]

I vote check valve also. If you leave the hot off for a few minutes, when you first turn it on do you get a little bit of water then nothing? This is what I had last year when my check valve broke. The valve is basically a flat surface with a stem coming out the bottom. Think of an intake/exhaust valve on a gas engine. There is a spring on the stem and a clip that hold the spring in place. The spring holds the valve closed so water can not feed back into the out port of the water heater. On mine the clip came off, allowing the valve to flow with the water. About 1 inch until it hit the elbow where the hot out line screws to the water heater. At that point it became a plug. Preventing water from flowing out of the water heater.

Temp fix is to turn of water heater, turn off water, and drain water heater down to below the hot out line. At this point you can take off the hot out line and remove the piece that is stopping things up. Put it back together, fill water heater and return to normal use until you can get the valve replaced.

[dbbls]

The check value may be stuck. Depending on the type of bypass system you have there could be a check valve on the outlet side of the heater.

[Dakota98]

Check Valve failure on the hot water outlet line from the tank.