2008 Cardianel 36LE water heater question

[Taggetter]

Hello
We just got this trailer Friday and attempted to start the water heater and have warm water. We turn on the switch inside and the switch inside the compartment for the water heater. So far we have no hot water (almost 24hrs since we did this) the heater starts up etc.
What are we missing here? We have never own a FR, and it came with no owner book. Can any one help?
Thank you for your time!

[mtnguy]

Make sure that you have the bypass valves in the proper position. There are numerous threads on this forum concerning that.

The bypass valves will be found on the inside of your camper near the water heater....you may have to pull a cabinet panel or something depending on where your water heater is located.

For proper valve position, check out post #2 here: Winterization Confusion

The switch on the inside of the camper controls the gas side of the water heater, and the switch on the outside part of water heater controls the electric side of the water heater.....along with the appropriate breaker in your power center. Both do not need to be on at the same time, as they are entirely 2 different systems.....but they can both be on at the same time if you want slightly faster water recovery.

[Taggetter]

Ok, my water heater is under the kitchen counter. I will attempt to locate that, thank you!

[mtnguy]

Make sure you have water in the heater. If the bypass valves in the winterization positions, the water heater may not have water in it. In that case, the electric element is probably burned out.

[Taggetter]

Ok. For the life of me I cannot find the values. I open the doors to where it at, wedge my head in and seriously going crazy. I am in a fifth wheel and any chance in a compartment outside??

[Taggetter]

There is a plastic switch on the plastic lines on the cold water line that is facing up, it also attach to hot water line. Can that be it?

[Taggetter]

image-2413098586.jpg

What I just posted about.

[Taggetter]

Yup that is the switch for hot water heater. Thank you for your help!

[mtnguy]

That single valve is a 3 way valve, and is your bypass valve. The system I linked to earlier is a 3 valve system....sorry about that. Most campers seem to have 3 valves....and there are 2 valve systems installed in some campers, also.

In the pictured position, your hot water heater is bypassed.....the valve is inline with the bypass line. There is a check valve on the upper line so that water cannot flow back into your water heater....only out.

Turn the valve so it is inline with the bottom line going into the tank, and that will allow water to flow into the tank and out of the top line to your faucets.

[Taggetter]

I moved the switch towards the wall and it filled tank plus the valve was slightly open at panel (just love when someone says it all ready to go, just hit switchs etc) so I closed up all things and repeated and now it filled.
Thank you very much for your help, since I am a newbie to this.