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Old 10-26-2020, 02:31 AM   #1
Audrey H
 
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Red face Atwood water heater cycling

My water heater on my 2016 Forest River Sunseeker has an Atwood electric/gas water heater. I was never able to get the electric working. The propane works great, fires right up, but cycles all the time (igniting often) I just heat the water and shut it off to avoid problems.
What could cause the cycling? I have ordered an electric element,(was told it was bad when I bought it) hoping to drain and flush it, clean it up good and install the element. Any thing else I can do?
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Old 10-26-2020, 04:01 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Audrey H View Post
My water heater on my 2016 Forest River Sunseeker has an Atwood electric/gas water heater. I was never able to get the electric working. The propane works great, fires right up, but cycles all the time (igniting often) I just heat the water and shut it off to avoid problems.
What could cause the cycling? I have ordered an electric element,(was told it was bad when I bought it) hoping to drain and flush it, clean it up good and install the element. Any thing else I can do?
Why don't you pull the electric element first and see if it's bad or test it?
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Old 10-26-2020, 07:21 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Audrey H View Post
My water heater on my 2016 Forest River Sunseeker has an Atwood electric/gas water heater. I was never able to get the electric working. The propane works great, fires right up, but cycles all the time (igniting often) I just heat the water and shut it off to avoid problems.
What could cause the cycling? I have ordered an electric element,(was told it was bad when I bought it) hoping to drain and flush it, clean it up good and install the element. Any thing else I can do?
When you say the LP side cycles often, can you tell us how often? Every few minutes, a couple times an hour, etc.?

Have you checked to see if the hi temp cutout for the electric side is tripped. It's one of the buttons under the rubber cover on the front of the heater.
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Old 10-26-2020, 04:12 PM   #4
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Thank you I’ll try that
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Old 10-26-2020, 04:13 PM   #5
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Yes it turns on and off several times per hour
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Old 10-26-2020, 06:19 PM   #6
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The thermostat may not be fully seated against the tank, may be going bad, bypass valves not fully open, or bad ground. Try removing the thermostat and cleaning the surface it rests against as well as it's own surface.

Attached below is copies of the Atwood Water Heater Troubleshooting guide and Atwood WH Service Manual.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf Atwood Water Heater Troubleshooting.pdf (6.76 MB, 159 views)
File Type: pdf Atwood WH Service Manual.pdf (5.39 MB, 72 views)
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Old 10-27-2020, 06:00 PM   #7
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I had the short cycling problem with my Atwood water heater in a previous trailer. I replaced the thermostat and ECO and never had the problem again. They come together in a kit, at least they did back then.


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