Hot Water too Hot

[ed-myrna]

I have a 2013 Cougar High Country. The hot water is very hot. On my old trailer there was a way to turn it down. I don't see any adjustment available on this one. Any clues?? How to adjust it?

[campigloo]

I thought I had the same problem with one of mine. The manufacturer told me to get a meat thermometer and it should read around 180. Sure nuff, that's what it was, 180. No problem, it's just the temp they use to stretch hot water capacity.

[Old-Biscuit]

'CavemanCharlie'

Thanks!

Somethings I know, lots of things I don't......always try to make that don't list smaller and pass on the know list

".....we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know." Rumsfield

[ed-myrna]

Thank Gents, at least I know that I've not missed something when I was looking for an adjustment.

[CavemanCharlie]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
RV electronic ignition water heaters use fixed pre-set thermostats (Pilot flame ones have a temp adjustment on gas control....DSI units don't)

Suburban uses 2 sets of t-stats (one set for electric/110V AC Type and one set for gas/12V DC Type)......the 'normal' temp t-stat is set for 130*F and the ECO (high temp) t-stat is set for 180*F

Atwood uses 1 set of t-stats (since 2004....prior to that 2 separate sets) for both electric/gas......the 'normal' temp t0stat is set for 140*F and the ECO (high temp) t-stat is set for 180*F

Atwood does have an aftermarket adjustable replacement t-stat for the 'normal' temp t-stat. Can adjust temp from 110*F to 150*F

Atwood also has an 'XT' model that uses a mixing valve to 'increase' water capacity
Normal temp t-stat is pre-set for 160*F.....hot water goes to mixing valve when cold inlet water mixing with the very hot water to provide 130*F output water in hot water plumbing system

Some lower temp pre-set t-stats are available.
120*F for Suburban gas (12V DC type) and 130*F for Atwood

Is there anything you don't know Old-Biscuit? Have you ever considered writing a book or something so that your knowledge will be around forever. I'm not kidding. A RV help book written by you would be great!

[Old-Biscuit]

RV electronic ignition water heaters use fixed pre-set thermostats (Pilot flame ones have a temp adjustment on gas control....DSI units don't)

Suburban uses 2 sets of t-stats (one set for electric/110V AC Type and one set for gas/12V DC Type)......the 'normal' temp t-stat is set for 130*F and the ECO (high temp) t-stat is set for 180*F

Atwood uses 1 set of t-stats (since 2004....prior to that 2 separate sets) for both electric/gas......the 'normal' temp t0stat is set for 140*F and the ECO (high temp) t-stat is set for 180*F

Atwood does have an aftermarket adjustable replacement t-stat for the 'normal' temp t-stat. Can adjust temp from 110*F to 150*F

Atwood also has an 'XT' model that uses a mixing valve to 'increase' water capacity
Normal temp t-stat is pre-set for 160*F.....hot water goes to mixing valve when cold inlet water mixing with the very hot water to provide 130*F output water in hot water plumbing system

Some lower temp pre-set t-stats are available.
120*F for Suburban gas (12V DC type) and 130*F for Atwood

[skipnchar]

Supervise small children using showers etc but without the water being quite hot and mixing at least 50/50 with cold, 6 gallons of hot water will likely not even last for two showers. That's the theory they use to stretch hot water use.
Good luck / Skip

[rbpru]

My water heater runs way to hot for me. It is a gas or electric model. I have alway use the electric option and there appears to be no adjustment mentioned in the manual.

Since it heats in about 20 minutes an stays hot a long time, I just turn it off and on as needed.

If I do leave it on the water really get to smell funky.

[tenbear]

I don't think I would know if the water was too hot. We only turn the water heater on when we want hot water and turn it off when we think we have enough.

Works for us.

[rockhillmanor]

Be VERY careful.
That's the first sign the thermostat is on its way out and the water will reach dangerously hot levels.

I had mine hit boiling temps and the relief valve did NOT open enough to relieve the hot pressure!

Almost burned up the entire side of my MH. And would have, had a neighbor not pointed out the dripping water. The side of the MH was so hot you could not place you hand on it! :E

Since that day I NO longer EVER leave that darn HWH on unless I am in the MH and using it period. And it gets shut off right after that.

BTW: Mobile Repair said 99% of the time the relief valve does NOT work. And he has seen some pretty bad damage to RV's.

[Mandalay_Parr]

They are designed to be very hot. That way they last longer when you mix in the cold water.
It effectively increases the size of the hot water tank.

[Colo_Native]

Unless it has an adjustable thermostat no you can't, but you can buy an adjustable one on amazon for about $30 I did this for my WH it is a Atwood