forest river rv hot water heater not working

Would you have a recommendation as to a source for a high flow shower faucet? Then if you do not use your water filter, you can install this plate and forget about it. There are a couple of different ways you can do this.

The symptom was only addressed by realigning the electrodes. I'm just hoping it will survive the night without freeze damage, and then I'll dump it off at the dealer yet again. There are so many of these extra tasks you need to do that you do not normally have to do with a house water heater or other parts. If the heater still fails to operate properly after following all of the above, cut the power and check all wire connections (refer to your owners manual for the wiring diagram if needed). That happened to us when we were newbies (and occasionally still does! You must log in or register to reply here. We had used our outside shower, and wed turned the water off on the showerhead itself, rather than closing the faucets. Your 5-year-old should be able to handle the job without any trouble. Should I Leave My RV Water Heater on All the Time? Thanks for the kind words! Looking to find our personal choices for great RVing gear? switch.

take a few minutes to see if the upcoming data will help you solve your game of hide and seek. You can find these kits in most places where RV parts and accessories are sold.

If youve sanitized your water system, or if youve winterized your RV for the season, youve likely closed the water heater bypass valves to allow the water heater to be bypassed during the process. All you need to do is press the circular, rubber button(s) on the cover to reset each of your hi-limit/E.C.O. They will have the tools and the experience to guide you through it and make sure you get the right parts installed the right way.

You can tell if your RV water heater is gas or electric by consulting the owners manual for your specific brand and model of heater. ?? Contact Us. The two-valve system has a valve at the cold water inlet spot and another at the bypass line. I can disconnect all power (battery and shore) and it will fire up again with the fault light on. No Hot Water In Your RV? Camper FAQs is reader-supported. JavaScript is disabled. PLEASE NOTE: We're handy RVers, not professional technicians. It is a great game that RV makers put their customers through. We have many threads on this. ), and we like to share those experiences for the benefit of newcomers to the RV world who might encounter similar situations. The reason the water heater wouldnt fire up using propane was simple the water in the water heater was already hot! Look in the cabinet where the water heater is located.

Electric water heaters, of course, heat water using electricity.

What Does An RV Propane Gas Leak Smell Like? (You may have two one for propane and one for electrical as we do.).

One word of advice, look in your owners manual to see if the company listed the location for you. This is a hit and miss experience as some people have reported that different manuals do not mention everything and its location. The answer to this question is a common-sense answer. It seems the favorite one with RV manufacturers is hide and seek. Look at this picture for location of outside switch. Any task you perform or product you purchase based on any information we provide is strictly at your own risk. So, today were looking at how you get hot water in your RV, what might be happening if the water stops running hot, and (hopefully) how to fix it. But with both faucets open, the temperature of the water was lukewarm, at around 102 degrees. These bypass kits should be on sale anywhere plumbing supplies are sold or at RV accessory outlets near you. Do not use this link to ask for help with RV-related issues; Ask those questions in one of our forums. Can't you use the electric side of the water heater? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The exact location may differ between models even though they are built by the same company. One person suggested learning how to crawl under your RV, have long arms and plenty of light to access those valves. It is a simple system, but it may be the most difficult component to find. It turns out, it was entirely our own fault! Forest River Water Heater Bypass: Where Is The Bypass Valve? Those are two very good reasons why you should install a bypass system when your RV does not have one. You need a bright light .small black switch.

switch looks like under the cover. Can't do that. To install is not too difficult if you are handy with tools and know-how to work with plumbing. Other Forest River models have those valves placed on a manifold that can be accessed from the outside. What I meant was I disconnected all power to reset the lockout, and reconnected power to fire it up. Find o Lake Superior Campsites With Great Reviews. If you are lucky, the valves may be outside next to other controls making their access very simple. Depending on the make, model, and type of water heater you have in your RV, all the following suggestions may or may not apply. It's getting that time of year. The question is, where do RV makers consider before the water heater? I've never ran into anything new with as many issues as this travel trailer has had. Unfortunately when we turn on the cold water to lower the temperature the hot water flow drops low enough to turn off the gas flow for the water heater. The frustrating thing is you may have to remove doors, drawers, panels before finding the right one. If, however, you push on each reset button you have and they dont move/click they hadnt tripped and that WASNT your problem. Check out our: Watch us every Saturday morning at 8AM Eastern/Pacific, 7AM Central, 9AM Mountain on Discovery in the USA. You will have to check your specific Forest River model or other model and see what they did in your case. It's one of the things that has always concerned us with that style that when dry camping, and using very low flow, it wouldn't trigger and we wouldn't have hot water. 5 Awesome RV Staycation Ideas: Enjoy Your RV & Save on Fuel! From what you are describing, it sounds like you have Direct Spark Ignition (DSI), which will not have a pilot light. Brand new ones don't even look like that! You turn the correct valve or valves and close the system while opening your hot water heaters regular function. You cannot leave this step out as Teflon tape gets into those grooves and blocks the waters escape route. I turned them off and now i can take a hot shower after 3 days of warm ones. The camper is stored outside, in a campground. switches one for the electric heater and one for the propane heater. If they are not already marked. The electric side has not worked in a year due to a bad element, which I replaced today. We had run the outside shower using both the hot and cold water, and while using it, we had turned the water off using the control on the showerhead, but wed left the hot and cold faucets turned on. Weve discussed how to light an RV water heater pilot light, so now lets turn our attention towards electric water heaters. Being new to the business of RVing, we had investigated the issue of no hot water in our RV as thoroughly as we could, so we drove our rig to an RV repair person who quickly diagnosed our issue and the mistake wed made that caused that issue! Read your post after draining our tank and looking for the anode to replace. Unplug the wire bundle and check it out. If the panel does not have screws, you need to remove the two drawers next to the stove and see if that provides access. Once the valve is engaged, you can drain the tank and place your RV in storage for the winter. It fires up (even with switch off) as soon as power is connected (battery or shore). We checked the propane level as well. Replacing your electric heating element is not a difficult process. We participate in the Amazon affiliate program, which provides a means for us to earn a small commission by linking to products there. (What Are The Cons? Find the RV water heater on and off switch on the panel. Next, wrap Teflon tape around the male end of the fittings. What Size Is an RV Water Heater Drain Plug? While the water is doing that, open the hot water valve. For engaging and disengaging the valve, the position for each one may be different.

They are designed to fit both 10 and 5-inch housings, and you should not need any tools to install them. However, those same pleasures can bring a lot of frustration. That is a good question. Here are the steps involved after you buy the right bypass kit: 1. In that vein, we always suggest printing/downloading a copy of owners manuals that you dont have for any appliances or equipment in your RV so that if youre in a remote location and cant access the internet, youll have what you need on hand (and, of course, youll have trouble and need the manual when youre in a remote location without access to the internet late on a Friday of a holiday weekend ). This is one of the things you have to be careful of when you buy an RV. And you blame forest river why? However, if the switch trips repeatedly, then your thermostat needs to be replaced. These plates are made from stainless steel and should last you forever, or so the company says. But there is a dirty trick that can be played on you as well. That will make operating them easier. The valve is manually operated, and you do need to physically turn it to open or close the system. We recommend you always refer to your owners manual for the exact step-by-step process to turn on your water heater, as each brand and model may be slightly different. We're 5000 miles into our cross country trip with yet another Forest River quality control issue on our 2021 22MKSE. Do You Grease a Trailer Hitch Ball? Yep, what jdc1 said.. That's how mine is too. The problem needs to be addressed by a qualified person.

Going to a higher-flow faucet/showerhead could definitely be a solution, though we don't have a recommendation for you as we're constantly looking for LOWER flow to conserve water! 10 Best Outer Banks Campgrounds For RVers. If your propane tank is empty, or even if its very low, and youre trying to heat your water using propane, you wont get hot water. Again, you can likely pick up a replacement thermostat for your RVs water heater at a local RV parts supply shop or you can get them online: Suburban 12V/Propane Thermostat (#232282): Atwood ECO Thermostat Assembly (#91447 for gas/electric water heaters): If youve got low pressure at your hot water sources if your water is flowing at a trickle, for example you may have a water heater check valve malfunction. We checked to make sure the propane was turned all the way on at the tank. switch(es), just like that. That is the one valve system. When your RVs hot water system is working properly, you have all the hot water you desire, within the limits of the water heater tank size. The switch can trip, and simply pushing the button back in can reset it and have you on your way to a nice hot shower. How Fast Should You Replace A Chipped Windshield? If youve ruled that out, then we have some additional suggestions for your troubleshooting list.

Stupid question on my part. are you camping with electric hookup? There is a gasket included for a tighter fit. Once you have that number, use the chart below to decipher the type of heater you have. Once you see the system, you should know what to do as it is a basic system used in all cases. Fortunately, there are easy ways to check your propane level. These install easy enough and block the flow of anti-freeze, ensuring that liquid goes along your intended route. Very early on in our tenure as RVers, we experienced the problem of no hot water in our RV. In electric/gas combination water heaters, you can use one or the other, or both gas and electric at the same time, to heat your water. Not too tight, but you do not want them loose either. Then, do not expect to find those valves in the same location as a previous model you may have owned. What Else Could Be Wrong With Your RVs Water Heater? Are you sure you have a pilot light? You should make a checklist for when you are going to winterize or store your RV. Related: Should I Leave My RV Water Heater on All the Time? Plastic valves tend to wear out faster and break easier than brass fittings. If not, be sure to check out the links and videos posted above in this article for more detailed information that will (hopefully) lead to an easy resolution, bringing the luxury of hot water back into your RV. Lastly, check the heating element for continuity with a voltage meter. lots of different things can go wrong and I think you covered them alllol.

These can corrode over time and can even melt if the water heater is left on with no water in it. After that, you can see if you can reach them. Again, it is all super easy to do. once you do that, the water heater is removed from the plumbing system in your RV and does not get any water sent to it. We cannot be specific here because the designs are not universal and the same for every RV. But it is understandable as so many RVs have a myriad of features. Unfortnately I didn't have time to stick around to see if the electric side worked. Fired up today, heated to temp, shut down, fault light is on, would not refire to reheat. If you use this method, however, be sure not to leave your stove running for too long just long enough to perform this check. The valve may be a push-button style where you have to push in to engage it or push a second time to disengage it. You are using an out of date browser. I got it figured out. Hi Kevin. Having been a HVAC service tech for 28 years I can unequivocally state that your HWH has been experiencing repeated flame roll out. The tricky part is if you have a one, two, or three-valve system.

You should hear the igniter clicking. That may be cheaper to buy and easier to install, but it is also a very weak way to bypass your water pump. Just Google the make & model like this: Suburban SW12DE owners manual. RV Water Heater Element Wrench 6"Hex Socket Wrench Removal Tool Tube Spanner 1-1/16" x 1-1/2" x 6" Length, Suburban 520900 Replacement Electric Water Heater Element Kit, Atwood 92249 Electric Water Heater Replacement Parts - 110 VAC Element/Gasket Kit, ECO Thermostat Assembly Replace for Atwood 91447 Replacement Part for Water Heater Repair Parts Fit For RV, Motor Home Emergency Cutoff Service Kit, How to Protect Your RVs Decals & Keep Them From Fading. Learn how your comment data is processed. The danger of using these kits is that many of them come with plastic valves. Very informative. Doing so will immediately burn out the electric heater element. Keep up the awesome work. Double-check your list to make sure everything has been done to have a little peace of mind during those long cold months you are not using your RV.

We noticed that when the propane heating was turned on the ignition light didnt illuminate. If you have a propane stove, you can simply light one of the burners to check for a constant, full flame. Usually, it is used when you are winterizing your RV or storing it away. Resetting the inside switch will not clear the fault. Glad your solution was the same easy one as ours! (Hey we were newbies once, too!). That is where they hide the key components, and you have to spend hours looking for them. If youd prefer to use another method to check on the propane level in your tank without a gauge, check out this post where we lead you step-by-step through this very simple method using nothing but some hot tap water. You must have at least 12VDC to the control board for the w/H to work. In one model, those valves may be located at the rear of the water heater. If you lost your manual or need to contact the manufacturer, here are links to some common RV water heater manufacturers found in campers like Forrest River, Keystone, Jayco, and other major brands: If your RV electric water heater is not working properly after you switch it to the on position, start by checking the following: If you are still having issues, contact a certified RV technician. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. In this quick guide, youll learn how to turn on an electric water heater in an RV step-by-step. Often your owners manual will have a list of troubleshooting steps that are particular to your brand and model, so this is always a great place to start. Dont forget to mark which line is cold and which one is hot. That means you have to get on your hands and knees, remove screws, then the panel. If you find them, then you are in luck. It has to be turned in such a way to allow water to pass through without entering the water heater. I believe that a faucet with higher flow capacity is required to correct this issue. There are many different Forest River RV models and floor plans. You can see how to check for a faulty thermostat using a multimeter in this video, and if you find you need to replace your thermostat, its one of the easiest DIY projects you can do, especially if youwatch our step-by-step tutorial video, below. But even if you dont have a gauge, checking the level of propane in your tank is easy. Sealing RV Pipes: How Do You Fix a Leaking RV Plumbing? This is an independent, unofficial site. Even our new-to-us 2019 Momentum still has the manual switch out in water heater enclosure. Check to see if your hi-limit/emergency cut-off switch (which is the fail-safe to shut the water heater off if the thermostat fails to keep the temperature below a set high limit point) needs to be reset. This is what the hi-limit/E.C.O. Great article by the way. I'm beyond frustrated. (Guide), Cheap Monthly Parks: RV Parks Under $500 a Month in Florida, What Is a Rebuilt RV Title? It is a suburban water heater so its a suburban problem. With upgrades to RV manufacturing, the newer versions may have new locations. So common sense told me that wasnt it. If you have low pressure or no pressure flowing from your hot water faucets, thats a fair indication that you may have a problem with the check valve. If your RV does not have a bypass system for your water heater, you should install one.

With the outside showers hot and cold faucets properly shut off, the temperature of our water was about 124 degrees. If you have an electric water heater, check the electric heating element. Having the two switches for electric operation has been how Rockwood has done it since about forever. If you have difficulty registering an account, logging in or need other account-related assistance, send us a message and well get back to you shortly. You put out some great stuff. Some Forest River and other manufacturers RVs do not have a bypass valve. Typically, its located on the bottom left-hand side (see image above). In our scenario, we found that the propane ignition light didnt illuminate when we turned on the propane heat. Tips for New RV Owners: How to Avoid the Worst Mistakes! You would have to get on your hands and knees. The first step would be to close the bypass valve and stop the water from running around the water heater. First, check the main power switch on the water heater to make sure its on! For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Went without hot water several days on recent trip-- thought it was the mixing valve but it ended up just being the open valves on the outside shower -- never thought to look there. Keep it up. Locate your hot water heater access panel, typically on the outside of your RV, and remove it. Watch This Video First! Particularly when youre new to RVing (as we were nearly two decades ago), you can accidentally do something that you dont realize can cause what appears to be a system failure, when really youve just made a newbie mistake that caused the issue youre now troubleshooting.

The next key question in this topic is how do you access them. Sorry we don't have a more concrete solution for you! Hopefully, after following these troubleshooting tips, you discovered that the issue causing you to have no hot water in your RV was solved as simply as ours was, and youve been able to enjoy a nice hot shower. Regardless of what we recommend, consult a professional if you're unsure about working on your RV.

That is why some RVs have a bypass valve; yet are not mentioned in the owners manual pages. (What Kind of Grease), 2 AC Units On 30 Amp: Can You Run RV AC On 30 Amp?

Install the new fittings where the old ones were. The heater could run on propane or a combination of propane and electricity like ours, it can be a tankless hot water heater, or you could have a hydronic system that is diesel or propane-fueled and provides both heat and hot water. But the following RV water heater troubleshooting tips offer some great steps to follow when youre investigating the issue of no hot water in an RV. Press the rubber, circular button to reset your thermostats hi-limit/emergency cut-off switch. LOL! Perpendicular means it is closed, while parallel to the line means it is open. As donn says, it must be getting 12v somewhere, so it apparently is direct wired to battery and/or converter/charger somewhere. If the panel does not have screws, you need to remove the two drawers next to the stove and see if that provides access. For some models, the water heater bypass valve is located under your stove. Don't know why it's lighting with the switch off. How to Turn On an Electric RV Water Heater, RV Electric Water Heater Troubleshooting Guide. This is like any other valve that handles water or other liquids. The gas side worked fine up until last October when I winterized. 2019 Forest River Cherokee Grey Wolf 26dbh, 6 gallon Suburban gas/electric water heater. Those frustrations can come when looking for key components when you want to store or use your RV. The only time you need to remove it is when you want to use the filter. That is all there is to it. FYI, the thermostats themselves look like this, and that little gray cylindrical piece you see at the top of this thermostat is the actuator for resetting the hi-limit/E.C.O. Be sure to check these valves to make sure theyre in the correct position(s) to give you hot water! 5 Best Apps to Find Cheap Gas for Your RV & Car, How to Refill Your Motorhome Propane Tank. Every manufacturer has its special place to put these valves, and they are not universal. Check around for the best price. The bypass valve stops water from entering the heater allowing you to drain it and protect the component from that possible damage. And THATS what had made us think the water heater wasnt working properly.

To replace the check valve, youll need to drain your hot water tank, unscrew and pull off the old check valve (which youll do from behind the water heater where all the water connections are located depending on your RVs construction, you may have access to this from inside your RV), and replace it with a new one. You get to go places you always dreamed of going and save money by not paying hotel bills. How to Drain an RV Water Heater (Quick Step-by-Step Guide). And as always, never walk away from a stove thats lit! You may also have forgotten to re-open them! Does your health insurance travel with you? Sometimes, the bypass valve is located on the cold water line where it meets the bypass hose. We're happy with the techniques and products we use, but be sure to confirm that all methods and materials you use are compatible with your equipment and abilities. When winterizing time comes, just shut the valves off and open the bypass valve, and you save. We will always respect your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time.

But lets take a look at what happened to us back when we were newbies, in hopes of sparing you a similar fate! There should be instructions on the kit package so read those carefully to make sure you know exactly where to place the old fittings. 2. However, I have no idea how they would have gotten bent and why the boot got melted. I've seen the same on an older TT when ladybugs hibernated in the flue over winter. Suburban has/does have a problem with their module boards going bad. Once that is done, you are ready to go.

Next, we checked to see if the water heater circuit breaker was tripped. We checked to make sure the propane was turned on and there was plenty of propane in the tank. The companies have little space left to work with. It is hard to beat simplicity when that style works well and gives you the right options.

If you find that your water is running lukewarm, check to make sure you havent made our newbie mistake. We didn't know about the outside switch on the water heater so hopefully that's all it is! 7 Best RV Vacuum Cleaners: Get One That Really Sucks! The thermostat(s) and their hi-limit/emergency cut-off switches sit under a cover that looks like this one, located behind the outside cover to the water heater itself. There are three types of RV water heaters: electric, propane, and electric/gas combo heaters. When you turn it on do you hear the igniter clicking? (Well touch on this one later.). I unbent them, reassembled it, and reset the heater and everything is working perfectly. Remove the existing water lines and fittings from the water heater. All electronic stuff everywhere, but some still manual also. Perfect.

Upgrade Your Motorhome With RV Step Covers, https://www.forestriverforums.com/fodo=file&id=210, https://www.forestriverforums.com/foml#post2173570, https://www.forestriverforums.com/foml#post1827312, Removed stovetop for new counter stove works find no propane going to water heater or.

Ensure the circuit breaker is not tripped in the motorhome. Owning and traveling in an RV is a lot of fun.

You can spend hours looking for something that is not there. The first, of course, is to simply read your tanks gauge. When something isnt working properly, for example when theres no hot water in your RV, the troubleshooting process begins.

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