Atwood hot water heater

[tkemnitzer]

I have been running my hot water heater on electric at the campground we are at currently. All of a sudden I am just getting warm water. I turned off the electric and used propane. Hot water is now “hot”!
Am I looking at a new heating element?
Thanks!

[bikendan]

Sounds like you turned the electric side of the WH, without making sure it was full of water.
Get a multimeter and test the electric element.

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[tkemnitzer]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Sounds like you turned the electric side of the WH, without making sure it was full of water.
Get a multimeter and test the electric element.

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I wish I could say the water tank was out of water but it’s not as I am in city water at
The campground!
Thanks!

[PhilFromMaine]

Originally Posted by tkemnitzer

I wish I could say the water tank was out of water but it’s not as I am in city water at
The campground!
Thanks!

What year RV? Heating elements do slowly wear out. When was the last time you decalcified it?

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by PhilFromMaine

What year RV? Heating elements do slowly wear out. When was the last time you decalcified it?

I’ve run my water heater on electricity forever. I’ve never decalcified anything.

[PhilFromMaine]

Originally Posted by Mr. Dan

I’ve run my water heater on electricity forever. I’ve never decalcified anything.

Calcification is a product of "hard water" all the manufacturers recommend de-calcification to improve the life of your hot water heater and its efficiency. I suppose if you have "soft water", your need to decalcify would be greatly lessened.

I decalcified last week and when I did my first drain of the tank of the vinegar water the result was a skim milk like white fluid. A calcified tank also provides a good home for bacteria which can give your hot water a foul taste and smell.

[tkemnitzer]

Originally Posted by PhilFromMaine

Calcification is a product of "hard water" all the manufacturers recommend de-calcification to improve the life of your hot water heater and its efficiency. I suppose if you have "soft water", your need to decalcify would be greatly lessened.



I decalcified last week and when I did my first drain of the tank of the vinegar water the result was a skim milk like white fluid. A calcified tank also provides a good home for bacteria which can give your hot water a foul taste and smell.

Ok, good to know. I’ve rinsed out with
Bleach to remove odor. It is an Atwood aluminum tank so not sure how the decalcification would work. They recommend no anode.
Thanks!

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by tkemnitzer

Ok, good to know. I’ve rinsed out with
Bleach to remove odor. It is an Atwood aluminum tank so not sure how the decalcification would work. They recommend no anode.
Thanks!

Atwoods don't have anode rods.

[PhilFromMaine]

Originally Posted by tkemnitzer

Ok, good to know. I’ve rinsed out with
Bleach to remove odor. It is an Atwood aluminum tank so not sure how the decalcification would work. They recommend no anode.
Thanks!

There is no anode rod, but there is a drain plug near where there would be an anode rod on say a Suburban. Look for a white plug on the lower left of the outside of the heater. There are numerous ways to get the vinegar into the tank. Here is one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKg0R9oiMP0

[tkemnitzer]

Originally Posted by PhilFromMaine

There is no anode rod, but there is a drain plug near where there would be an anode rod on say a Suburban. Look for a white plug on the lower left of the outside of the heater. There are numerous ways to get the vinegar into the tank. Here is one:

Great! Thank you!