New to the Berkshire Family

[ernest917]

Sounds like another one of those hot-water-on-demand hot water heater issues that are all over this forum....

They might be great but I personally don't want issues with hot water when I'm trying to take a shower... I'll take the old-fashioned 10 gal Suburban heater any day....


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[Oscarvan]

Welcome..... take the hot water heater cover off. If you're looking at a copper contraption that could be misconstrued as a still you have an on demand hot water heater, most likely of the Atwood 50,000 BTU variety.

It's a piece of doo doo.

Start nagging FR to replace it with a Truma.....(they work).

Not sure about others, but in my unit there would be enough space to replace it with a 6G tank unit.... not enough. A 10G would run into the engine box.

[joet19711]

Originally Posted by Oscarvan

Welcome..... take the hot water heater cover off. If you're looking at a copper contraption that could be misconstrued as a still you have an on demand hot water heater, most likely of the Atwood 50,000 BTU variety.

It's a piece of doo doo.

Start nagging FR to replace it with a Truma.....(they work).

Not sure about others, but in my unit there would be enough space to replace it with a 6G tank unit.... not enough. A 10G would run into the engine box.

Oscarvan

I have already spoken with my dealer about the Truma replacement and he tells me it can be done.

Here are some helpful tips:
Remove the water restrictors in all the faucets and replace your shower head with this:
Jetstorm Handheld

It will make a 100% difference..

[Phil57]

You know all this talk about water heaters just puzzle me. Number one the Atwood is not a piece of dodo. I have one and it works. I'm much happier than having a tank type. I can run hot water for hours with no problem of running out. The issue I see with the Atwood is it can be a bit temperamental. Most of the issues are a poor design in the vent tube. That's an easy fix. Next is understanding how they work. The water is to hot so when adding cold the water gets hotter. Once you understand how they work it's fairly simple to operate. Heck my granddaughter uses it with little trouble. I'm not saying that a Gen 3 or a Turma isn't better it is. I have had a Gen 1&2 and now the Atwood. They work.

[Oscarvan]

Originally Posted by Phil57

<<The issue I see with the Atwood is it can be a bit temperamental

A water heater is not a lunar landing.

Turn on....hot water..... Period end of story.

"temperamental" is unsat.

On an RV in this price category it is more than unsat.

[Phil57]

It's a bit of a trade off for unlimited hot water. In this price point you will not find a Aqua Hot system. So your choice is a tank WH and running out of water or a tankless WH. I'm happy I have the tankless.
Take some time to figure it out. As you said it's just a water heater.

[Oscarvan]

This is our fifth RV in the last 12 years. All them so far have had tanks. 6 gallons is not enough, but 10 gallons has never given us the feeling that we didn't have enough.

While I understand the advantages of a tankless, space and weight savings, and MAYBE some propane savings, I do not feel they are worth the loss of consistent temperature hot water.

But, to each his/her own.

[ccupton]

We have owned our 38a for over a year now with the Atwood and have never had an issue. The only thing we find to be a problem is when we are dry camping. It uses a lot of water before it gets hot at the shower head. So first few minutes of navy shower you get wet with cold water. When you turn water on to rinse you get the hot water. Small price to pay for long hot showers with hookups. We love our Atwood.


Chris & Carol
2016 Berkshire 38A
2014 Honda CRV

[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by Oscarvan

A water heater is not a lunar landing.

Turn on....hot water..... Period end of story.

"temperamental" is unsat.

On an RV in this price category it is more than unsat.

Problem is solved for "future" Berk Owners - Truma AquaGo is now standard across the Berkshire line.

The trick now is getting the factory to retrofit a Truma for you (with the BIG issue being that the area around the HWH need to be painted to match the coach).

[mikeborny]

I also would never go back to a tankless! I can't have 5 of us shower in the morning at my house, but have no issues in the RV. It does take some adjusting to get it right, but once it's set properly it's great.


Mike & Amy + 3 and the dogs!
2014 berkshire 390bh-40

[dan-nickie]

Originally Posted by mikeborny

I also would never go back to a tankless! I can't have 5 of us shower in the morning at my house, but have no issues in the RV. It does take some adjusting to get it right, but once it's set properly it's great.


Mike & Amy + 3 and the dogs!
2014 berkshire 390bh-40

Is that what you meant to say?

[mikeborny]

It's late, i meant to say never go back to a tank heater!!
Thanks for catching that!!


Mike & Amy + 3 and the dogs!
2014 berkshire 390bh-40