Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-22-2013, 10:12 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 82
Turning up the water heater on my 318bhs

I have an atwood GC6AA-10E. The gas/electric on/off switches are inside.

I have been through the instuctions and cannot figure out how to increase the temp of the HW. Lousy instuctions. Anyone? Please?
Laura is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2013, 10:14 PM   #2
Mod free 5er
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
Quote:
Originally Posted by Laura View Post
I have an atwood GC6AA-10E. The gas/electric on/off switches are inside.

I have been through the instuctions and cannot figure out how to increase the temp of the HW. Lousy instuctions. Anyone? Please?
Don't think you'll find one, I do believe they are non-adjustable. My understanding is they are factory set at around 140°.
__________________
OldCoot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2013, 10:17 PM   #3
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 82
Well, that would explain why I cannot find it. Damn! I was hoping to turn it up a bit so I can have a warmer/longer shower.

Thanks.
Laura is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2013, 10:17 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Ford Idaho's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 9,839
Do you know what the water temp is right now?
__________________
2016 F350 6.7L LB CC Reese 28K 2014 Chaparral Lite 266sab
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." 2014 19 days camping 2015 17 days camping201620 days camping
Ford Idaho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2013, 10:20 PM   #5
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 82
no, but, I need very little cool water to make it feel the right temp. It just seems like I should be able to go a bit longer, even with only 6 gallons, especially at the feeble rate the water is coming out.

I have had a rough day. I want a long hot shower. Maybe I will break down and go to the bathhouse :-)
Laura is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2013, 10:23 PM   #6
Mod free 5er
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
Quote:
Originally Posted by Laura View Post
...I have had a rough day. I want a long hot shower. Maybe I will break down and go to the bathhouse :-)
That would be the simple solution, 6 gal is not very much regardless of the temperature. Even if you mixed it half and half, that's only 12 gallons. Even at 2 gal/min, you only get 6 minutes.
__________________
OldCoot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2013, 10:23 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Collinsville, IL
Posts: 830
Turn on both the electric and gas at the same time. It will recover faster, and make for a longer shower.
__________________
2012 Forest River Sunseeker 2300 Chevy
RvBill3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2013, 10:26 PM   #8
Mod free 5er
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
Quote:
Originally Posted by RvBill3 View Post
Turn on both the electric and gas at the same time. It will recover faster, and make for a longer shower.
Still won't catch up fast enough even at a reduced flow from my experience.
__________________
OldCoot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2013, 10:29 PM   #9
Always Learning
 
ependydad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,890
Quote:
Originally Posted by Laura View Post
no, but, I need very little cool water to make it feel the right temp.
140 degrees is usually quite hot and you need to mix a fair amount of hot and cold together to get it cool enough to shower under. I even like an extra hot shower (for my luscious long flowing mane).

I wonder if your water just isn't hot enough and there's an issue somewhere...

Does the Atwood have a water mixing valve built in that it brings in some cold to the hot to extend it's usage?

Do you possibly have a winterization valve partially open? Or another faucet (like your outside shower) that have the knobs on, but the button pushed to off on the showerhead itself?

Have you thought about changing out the showerhead for higher pressure that uses less water like an Oxygenics showerhead? And, are you practicing the "Navy Shower" concept where you turn off the water between steps?
__________________
Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
ependydad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2013, 10:34 PM   #10
Mod free 5er
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
Per post #5, she wants a long hot shower, so she is definitely not interested in the Navy shower.
__________________
OldCoot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2013, 10:37 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Ford Idaho's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 9,839
What about one of the newer tankless water heaters?

Got to be cheaper than a new trailer.



https://www.google.com/search?newwin...31.9Swkunqp7Y4
__________________
2016 F350 6.7L LB CC Reese 28K 2014 Chaparral Lite 266sab
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." 2014 19 days camping 2015 17 days camping201620 days camping
Ford Idaho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2013, 10:37 PM   #12
Always Learning
 
ependydad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,890
Quote:
Originally Posted by OldCoot View Post
She wants a long hot shower, so she is definitely not interested in the Navy shower.
Agreed! I thought about putting a caveat, but didn't.

I have to say- I didn't realize how much of a difference an extra 4 gallons make. I'm able to shower myself w/o turning off the water and I am a S-L-O-W shower-er (like 15-20 minutes minimum) and as I said before, I like it hot.
__________________
Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
ependydad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2013, 10:46 PM   #13
Mod free 5er
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
Quote:
Originally Posted by ependydad View Post
...as I said before, I like it hot.
Was it not you that was complaining about the water being TOO hot just awhile back?
__________________
OldCoot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2013, 10:49 PM   #14
Always Learning
 
ependydad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,890
Quote:
Originally Posted by OldCoot View Post
Was it not you that was complaining about the water being TOO hot just awhile back?
Yup. IMO, with little hands 140-degrees is too hot. I'd gladly dial my water heater back to 125-130 if I were given the choice. Still gives a nice hot shower and still protects the little hands. But let's not open that can o worms.
__________________
Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
ependydad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2013, 11:11 PM   #15
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 82
Wow, Ependydad, I think the only question I can answer is "no, I am not practicing navy showers. " No point in practicing something I have no desire to be good at. :-) But, I will look into the other ideas and see if any make sense.

I like the idea of a tankless WH. We just installed two at home. Has anyone added them to their trailer? liked it?

Thanks for all the suggestions.
Laura is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2013, 11:20 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: X
Posts: 2,781
Now back to trying to help Laura.

Here's what I believe is the manual for your water heater: http://manuals.adventurerv.net/Atwoo...er-Service.pdf

From my quick scan, it appears that it either has a temperature adjustment or is set at 140 but that can be replaced with an adjustable thermostat.

140 is quite hot however. I think you need to measure the temp of the water to seen if it's that hot. (Do that at the high-pressure relief valve so you know it's really the water temperature and not diluted by mixing.)

If it's 140 there, you might have a bypass valve set incorrectly, or you might have an open shower valve which is mixing the hot and cold
water.

I think we need some measurements before we can proceed any further.
BarryD0706 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-24-2013, 08:30 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
rracer5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Part Timing It Now
Posts: 3,452
Sounds like a bypass valve may still be partially open. And I've been told that the hot water heaters get to 180 degrees. So, be really carefull looking for the problem.
__________________
"PT Crew Members Since 9/2010"
2011 RAM 2500 HD 6.7L CTD Crew
2014 Prime Time Sanibel 3250
rracer5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-25-2013, 08:57 AM   #18
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 82
OK, definitely not the outdoor shower being on. Now I need to figure out what/where these bypass valves are. Before you wonder at my stupidity, this trailer lives in a temperate climate by the beach on the central california coast. I have never had to winterize a trailer. Bummer, huh? :-)
Laura is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-25-2013, 09:14 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: X
Posts: 2,781
Poor Laura. You miss out on all the fun. ;-)

The bypass valves are going to be at the back of the water heater. You can see where it is outside, so you just need to figure out where that is inside, or perhaps accessible from some storage compartment.

Hey LaCrosse owners! Where are your valves?
BarryD0706 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-25-2013, 09:15 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
VinceU's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,570
Quote:
Originally Posted by Laura View Post
OK, definitely not the outdoor shower being on. Now I need to figure out what/where these bypass valves are. Before you wonder at my stupidity, this trailer lives in a temperate climate by the beach on the central california coast. I have never had to winterize a trailer. Bummer, huh? :-)
Hello, bypass(1) located behind the water heater and connects H-C. Normally closed in service yours, sounds cracked open. Heater is located in a cabinet inside directly inboard of the hinged grill outside at floor level. May need to remove a door with one or two fasteners to get access. Just for info normally just a little hot is needed with lots of cold for warm water. You had just the opposite. You'll get it.
VinceU is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
318bhs, heater, water, water heater

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:44 AM.