Need help with hot water heater

[LJS1211]

We are a family of 4 and normally we take military showers so we all get hot water and we've never had an issue. I recently had my trailer in the shop for some repairs and one thing the dealership did was flush my hot water heater. This is our first trip since then and we can barely make it through one shower before running out if hot water. I even turned on the propane water heater button which we've never had to do and no luck.

Any thoughts on what might be wrong? I'm thinking it could be the element bit not sure since we get a little hot water at first. Would that even be possible if the element needed to be replaced? I don't know enough about this stuff so hopefully you all will have some good advice like always.

[onetonford]

check the bypass valves. also I have seen where the outside shower valves were left on and the head was off letting the cold water bypass making the hot water warm.

[KeithInUpstateNY]

Did you previously have to mix cold with the hot to get a comfortable temperature and now use straight hot water? If so, my first guess would be that the thermostat was adjusted down. Knowing what model your water heater is would help.

[babock]

Originally Posted by onetonford

check the bypass valves. also I have seen where the outside shower valves were left on and the head was off letting the cold water bypass making the hot water warm.

This ^^^^^

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by KeithInUpstateNY

Did you previously have to mix cold with the hot to get a comfortable temperature and now use straight hot water? If so, my first guess would be that the thermostat was adjusted down. Knowing what model your water heater is would help.

Only the pilot type water heaters have an adjustable temperature setting. The DSI water heaters have a permanently set thermostat. You need to change the thermostat for either higher or lower temperatures.

[KeithInUpstateNY]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

Only the pilot type water heaters have an adjustable temperature setting. The DSI water heaters have a permanently set thermostat. You need to change the thermostat for either higher or lower temperatures.

I knew the water heater in my new camper doesn't have an adjustable thermostat, but I didn't know that was true of all DSI water heaters. Thanks Scrapper.

[LJS1211]

Yes we normally have to mix the hot and cold water. Ours is a Suburban SW6 DE.

[Iwritecode]

Originally Posted by LJS1211

Yes we normally have to mix the hot and cold water. Ours is a Suburban SW6 DE.

The hot and cold water is getting mixed coming out of your water heater.

Its a common problem. Check your bypass valves. This thread should help.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...st-103381.html

[SunseekerFunseekers]

LJS1211 - When we have friends w/us (more than just the two of us needing showers), we turn on BOTH the propane & the electric switches for the hot water heater; seems to heat faster + we can take longer showers.

ALSO - I got this really cool "Oxygenics" shower head & WOW, what a difference in water pressure; I highly recommend. Avail on Amazon for less than $34; worth every penny.

amazon.com/ETL-26781-White-Oxygenics-Shower/dp/B00F5MUB66/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1YS7GJ88ZYGUG&keywords=oxygenics+s hower+head+rv&qid=1552414917&s=gateway&sprefix=Oxy genics%2Caps%2C241&sr=8-3

[KD5OUG]

Google: suburban swd6 backflow preventer

I had a similar problem and found that the plastic inside of the preventer on the hot water output side of the was broken. Lots of time trouble shooting but cheap and simple to replace.

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by LJS1211

Yes we normally have to mix the hot and cold water. Ours is a Suburban SW6 DE.

You may be interested in this Suburban service manual. It covers 27 different models including the SW6DE.