Your RV’s water heater provides sizzling water to sinks and showers inside (and doubtlessly exterior) your RV. If you would like a sizzling bathe after a day of out of doors adventures, you’ll want your water heater to operate effectively and successfully.
This text will assist you to perceive, keep, and troubleshoot RV water heaters.
Sorts of RV Sizzling Water Heaters
Most trendy RVs are both outfitted with a fuel/electrical DSI water heater, a tankless water heater, or a pilot mannequin. Pilot fashions require a standing pilot flame that have to be extinguished earlier than shifting your RV.
DSI water heaters supply a spark igniter that initiates while you activate the management swap for the fuel mode inside your RV. Most DSI electrical and fuel water heaters supply a six or ten-gallon water storage tank capability.
DSI stands for ‘direct spark ignition.’
Suburban and Dometic (previously Atwood) are two of the commonest manufacturers for DSI fuel/electrical RV water heaters. Right here’s an outline of every:
Dometic 6-Gallon Water Heater Overview
Suburban SW6D Water Heater Overview
Tankless water heaters have gotten more and more frequent on new RVs. A few of the main manufacturers embody Girard, RecPro by Fogatti, Camplux, Lippert, Suburban, Truma Aqua-Go, and PrecisionTemp.
Often known as “instantaneous” or “on-demand” water heaters, they warmth water because it passes via a coil with warmth utilized over it. Though usually used, the time period “instantaneous” might be deceptive, as they nonetheless have a 20-30 second delay to get the water heated and thru the pipes to the tap.
Another mannequin is an extended-range water heater or EXT. In these fashions, the temperature management is about at 40℉ greater than in normal fashions. A mixing valve on the again blends chilly water with the superheated water from the tank to ship about 20% extra sizzling water than the tank is rated for.
For instance, an EXT water heater with a 10-gallon tank can present as much as 12 gallons of sizzling water. These fashions function like others however require particular consideration when winterizing your RV.
The place to Discover Your RV Water Heater
The placement of your RV’s water heater is dependent upon the producer. Most place them on the off-camp facet of your RV, reverse the primary entry door. Nevertheless, your water heater’s location might be in direction of the entrance or again of your RV if in case you have a rear kitchen or entrance kitchen floorplan.
Right here’s an instance of what your water heater’s exterior entry panel might appear to be:
And right here’s an instance of a water heater tank and plumbing strains from the within of an RV:
How Do RV Water Heaters Work?
As a result of DSI and tankless fashions at the moment are frequent on many RVs, let’s cowl the essential operations of every:
How Do DSI Water Heaters Work?
While you join your RV to metropolis water or activate the water pump after filling your recent water tank, your water heater’s tank might be stuffed (as long as it’s not bypassed). Guaranteeing the tank is full is step one in working any water heater earlier than turning the water heater on together with your RV’s management panel.
If in case you have a fuel/electrical mannequin, you’ll be able to select to make use of propane or the electrical factor to warmth water within the tank. It’s also possible to make use of each for fast sizzling water restoration. Each modes require 12-volt DC (VDC) energy.
Propane is the first heating supply for DSI fashions. The propane is burned on the finish of the burner tube, and the flame enters the flue tube. Warmth and exhaust gasses are carried via to an exhaust vent on the high of the water heater.
Right here’s the sequence of operation when your water heater makes use of propane:
- The propane management swap is turned on.
- 12 VDC goes via the thermostat – usually a closed swap.
- The thermostat calls for warmth and contacts shut, opening the propane valve.
- The spark ignites the fuel within the burner tube.
- When a set temperature is attained (often 140℉), the thermostat’s electrical contacts open, closing the fuel valve.
Within the electrical mode, adequate 120-volt AC (VAC) energy is required to warmth the electrical factor. This mode will solely be an possibility when plugging into shore energy or utilizing an RV generator.
Technician Tip: The necessities for voltages, amperages, or wattages might be discovered on the info plate or in your proprietor’s guide.
Right here’s the sequence of operation when your water heater makes use of electrical energy:
- The electrical swap is turned on.
- 120 VAC goes via the thermostat – usually a closed swap.
- The thermostat calls for warmth and contacts shut.
- 120 VAC goes via the ECO (power cut-off) swap, usually closed.
- 120 VAC goes to the heating factor and heats water within the tank.
- When the set temperature is attained, the thermostat’s electrical contacts open, eradicating energy from the electrical heating factor.
Technician Tip: Steps 2 and 4 could also be reversed on sure fashions.
How Do Tankless Water Heaters Work?
Often known as on-demand, tankless RV water heaters present instantaneous sizzling water. While you open a sizzling water fixture, chilly water runs via a warmth exchanger that’s heated by LP fuel.
The burners are solely lit when a sizzling water faucet is opened. When this occurs, a valve is activated by the water circulation, closing a circuit that opens the propane valve. The burners ignite and warmth the water whereas it’s flowing. When the tap is turned off, the swap closed by the opening of the valve will open, shutting off energy to the water heater burner.
Most tankless water heaters use a copper coil as a result of it offers the utmost warmth switch properties for effectivity. A number of burners* apply warmth alongside the coil to scale back restoration time to just about zero, as there’s no water storage tank to be heated.
*Some tankless fashions boast a single, giant burner with a powered combustion air blower.
On-demand water heaters would not have a thermostat as a result of there’s no water storage tank. They’re designed with redundant ECO switches that monitor the warmth as water strikes via the warmth exchanger. These ECO switches shut off the burner if the water temperature will get too excessive and again on when the temperature drops again into the set vary.
Study extra about what to search for in a tankless water heater.
Easy methods to Function an RV Water Heater
As with all RV home equipment, your proprietor’s guide is the very best place to begin when in search of working directions. It’s because producers differ primarily based on the design of their water heater fashions.
That stated, most fuel/electrical DSI water heaters have related working procedures. You’ll have the choice to warmth the tank utilizing LP fuel, 120-volt AC, or each in some circumstances. Utilizing each permits for fast restoration.
Fast restoration = sooner heating of water within the tank.
To make use of a DSI water heater, go to your RV’s management panel and activate the swap to the fuel or electrical mode – or each. For fuel mode, you need to hear the pilot ignite inside 6-8 seconds.
To make use of a tankless water heater, open a sizzling faucet and anticipate the water to run sizzling. The draw back of some on-demand fashions is that you simply’ll waste extra water as you anticipate it to warmth up, however newer fashions warmth extra effectively and cut back water consumption.
Many RV fixtures are low circulation to preserve water. Sometimes, a circulation price of 0.8 gallons per minute (GPM) is required to shut the swap that activates the tankless water heater’s burner.
Technician Tip: If a unit has bother activating the water heater from a number of taps, the circulation restriction disc within the aerator might have to be eliminated. It will improve the circulation, thereby enhancing sizzling water reliability. If the system has at all times carried out effectively and a number of taps abruptly not activate the water heater, the aerator might have to be disassembled and cleaned.
Easy methods to Drain an RV Water Heater
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Your RV’s water heater needs to be drained and serviced each six months to forestall clogging your plumbing strains, taps, and showerheads. It’s the right time to examine and change your anode rod, if obligatory, whilst you’re at it.
It’s additionally essential to empty aluminum water heaters in the event that they aren’t used for a interval of two weeks or longer. This prevents electrolysis and the build-up of micro organism and doubtlessly dangerous gasses throughout the water heater.
As a result of there’s a lot selection in water heater fashions put in in RVs, your proprietor’s guide is your greatest useful resource for particular service and upkeep procedures. This course of covers normal DSI water heaters, not tankless water heaters.
Be conscious of the place you’re draining water. Most water heaters maintain six or 10 gallons of water, so gathering water in two 5-gallon buckets will can help you transport and empty into an RV dump station in case you can’t drain water instantly onto the bottom the place your RV is parked.
It is a matter of courtesy and respect for the positioning. Water from the water heater is potable and innocent, however you might go away appreciable mineral sand behind when flushing sediments out of your tank. That sand can also be innocent however creates a multitude that’s troublesome to scrub.
Right here’s the step-by-step course of for draining your RV’s water heater:
- Flip off the ability to the water heater and open the recent water taps inside your RV to allow them to run till the water turns chilly, permitting 2-3 minutes for the tank to chill if it has just lately been heated. The water in your tank is heated to 140℉, which may trigger burns if poured instantly from the drain. Operating water within the sink till it’s cool to the contact is the most secure technique earlier than continuing.
- Flip off the ability to the water pump and disconnect it from metropolis water.
- Open the stress aid valve till the water is not draining.
- Take away the anode rod or drain plug and let the water drain till none stays within the water heater tank.
- Shut the stress aid valve and change your anode rod or plug as soon as drained. Use Teflon tape to wrap the threads earlier than changing your drain plug or anode rod.
In case you’re seeing loads of calcium buildup out of your water heater, it might be a good suggestion to fill and drain it a second time.
Technician Tip: Tenting World additionally sells a water heater tank rinser with a valve that attaches to a backyard hose. That tube inserts into the drain bung and lets you precisely direct the steam of water across the inside your water heater tank to dislodge sediment and flush it out the drain.
Easy methods to Change your Anode Rod
Smelly and discolored sizzling water is a tell-tale signal of a nasty anode rod. Most water heater anode rods last as long as 5 years. When corroded, your anode rod not protects the liner of your sizzling water heater tank.
An anode rod is a metallic rod that extends into your tank’s inside to forestall corrosion of the tank.
Often manufactured from magnesium or aluminum, an anode rod attracts iron, limestone, and different minerals to forestall them from corroding the within of the tank.
Most producers advocate inspecting your anode rod yearly and changing it when it’s lower than 75% of its authentic measurement.
Technician Tip: Water heaters with a metal tank require an anode rod that basically sacrifices itself by attracting corrosive particles and holding them from corroding the tank’s lining. Aluminum water heater tanks don’t require an anode rod. As a substitute, they’ve an anodic coating utilized to the within of the tank when manufactured.
Right here’s find out how to change your anode rod:
- Get hold of the right OEM (authentic gear producer) substitute as your water heater’s guide recommends.
- Comply with steps 1-5 above.
- Examine your present anode rod.
- If corroded, set up a brand new anode rod and get rid of the previous one. Use just a few wraps of Teflon tape on the threads of the anode rod to forestall leaks. The tape ought to say “for potable water” on the packaging.
- If not corroded, add Teflon tape, reinstall, and examine it once more the subsequent time you drain your water heater.
- Guarantee your stress aid valve is closed earlier than powering up your water heater once more.
Technician Tip: All the time use OEM substitute components as specified by the producer.
Why is My Sizzling Water Heater Not Working?
Listed here are among the commonest issues you’ll expertise together with your RV’s water heater:
- Inadequate energy. Did you flip your water heater on? Have you ever checked your battery’s voltage? Have you ever checked your circuit breaker?
- Inadequate propane. Are your propane containers empty? Are the valves on high open to produce propane to your home equipment?
- Time delay. Have you ever purged chilly water from the strains? Did you wait lengthy sufficient for the water within the tank to be heated?
- Overuse. Did you employ up all the recent water in your tank? Do it’s essential to anticipate it to refill and reheat?
- No flame. Did you hear the spark ignite? Are you able to see a flame within the burner tube while you open the outside entry panel?
- No water within the tank. Is your T&P valve sizzling? Have you ever bypassed your tank and forgotten to modify that valve again for regular operation?
- Sizzling from chilly. Are your cold and hot water strains reversed? Do you get sizzling water while you open what needs to be the deal with for the chilly water provide in your fixture?
- Dangerous mixing valve. Is the issue distinctive to 1 sink or fixture? Do you get sizzling water from one other fixture, resembling within the toilet or bathe?
In case you’re caught together with your water heater restore wants or uncomfortable troubleshooting, schedule a service appointment to have it inspected by an authorized RV technician.
What questions do you’ve got about utilizing and sustaining your RV water heater? Tell us within the feedback beneath.
Tucker Ballister is our Technical Content material Author. He’s a lover of the open street and the proud proprietor of a 2021 Sunlite Basic journey trailer (his third RV so far). Try extra of his RV adventures, gear evaluations, and outside recommendation at thebackpackguide.com.