Suburban SW6D gas water heater *help!*

[Saraswati]

Hi all - I have a (probably DUH!!) question about our water heater.

My camper is a 2013 2516g -

We just arrived at our campsite and I could hear it humming when we were pulling the beds out. There was no water in the line and no faucets turned on. It's making a humming noise, and hot - we can't find any way to shut it off.

Can anyone tell me why it's running/humming - (what may have triggered it to turn on while we were traveling), and how can we turn it off? We haven't run water or gas through the lines yet - so the pilot isn't lit. Or is there possibly something else (that I'm unaware of) under the couch with the water heater and filter that may be humming,

The photo in the manual shows a switch that is not present on the actual unit... ???

Thanks in advance for any advice - I feel silly, as though it must be a completely simple fix!

Cheers,
Autumn

[gerrym51]

Originally Posted by Saraswati

Hi all - I have a (probably DUH!!) question about our water heater.

My camper is a 2013 2516g -

We just arrived at our campsite and I could hear it humming when we were pulling the beds out. There was no water in the line and no faucets turned on. It's making a humming noise, and hot - we can't find any way to shut it off.

Can anyone tell me why it's running/humming - (what may have triggered it to turn on while we were traveling), and how can we turn it off? We haven't run water or gas through the lines yet - so the pilot isn't lit. Or is there possibly something else (that I'm unaware of) under the couch with the water heater and filter that may be humming,

The photo in the manual shows a switch that is not present on the actual unit... ???

Thanks in advance for any advice - I feel silly, as though it must be a completely simple fix!

Cheers,
Autumn

there are posts on this website with pictures-i'm not sure where. i believe forest river buys it suburban water heaters electric enabled. if you take off the access panel on the outside the lower left has an electric switch. it is probably turned to on. when you plugged in the electric element starteted to heat up

[Broadway Joe]

I would immediately remove power from the TT until you figure it out, you may have already fried your electric element in the water heater.

[Saraswati]

Thanks - Cutting power was my next move. We've had the camper for a couple weeks now - this is our second trip. It's been plugged into the house, or at a campground since we've had it. So, I'm not sure what prompted it to turn on while we were traveling this time.

We've already pulled off the access panel to flip the switch - and it isn't present we're the manual says it should be located - odd!

Cheers,
Autumn

[Herk7769]

You have a pop up and may not have an electric element to your water heater.

[Saraswati]

Thanks, herk7769! I appreciate the help from everyone. If there is no electric element, and we don't have gas hooked up to the camper, how would it start running?

I knew something would happen eventually to puzzle us!

[Herk7769]

If the water heater switch is on and there is no gas or water in the tank; it will still try to light. You may be hearing the solenoid valve humming while being held open with no gas in it.

[Saraswati]

I see. Thanks

[Saraswati]

herk7769, thank you! This makes sense. Since I can't find a darn on/off switch, I'll get the water and gas set up here and see if this thing simmers down.

I really appreciate everyone's comments - these things are all so foreign to me!

Cheers,
Autumn

[gerrym51]

Originally Posted by Saraswati

herk7769, thank you! This makes sense. Since I can't find a darn on/off switch, I'll get the water and gas set up here and see if this thing simmers down.

I really appreciate everyone's comments - these things are all so foreign to me!

Cheers,
Autumn

you must have a circuit breaker. see if you can switch it off

[bakken]

If it is a propane-only heater, one would think there would be a handy on-off switch somewhere around the counter area, near the sink maybe.
All older campers had one, is the factory now saving two bucks by not putting one in?

[VinceU]

Could it be water pump is running? sounds that way if M/T
Maybe you fond by now!

[Saraswati]

bakken,

We contacted the dealer and they told us the same thing - no switch on the back of the sink, though. However, we found a switch a few minute later under the far bunk near the fuse box - sure enough, it worked.

VinceU,

I wondered the same thing also - that it may have been something else besides the water heater. But, as herk7769 pointed out, it was indeed the water heater trying to light the pilot. Gladly, we got it figured out and no damage done - whew! Something in the camper must have slid and bumped the switch while we were traveling.

We appreciate all of the help from everyone here. Glad to have some seasoned campers close at hand!

Cheers,
Autumn