Hot water troubles

[Doov]

Hello all
I have a 2011 flagstaff. And I’m stumped, i am getting no hot water so i messed with the hot water heater thinking it was that but the tank is full and its hot. So i got looking at the connections under the sink where my tank is seeing my (I’m assuming) bypass was open (the middle valve) so i closed it and i had absolutely no water hot or cold so i thought maybe my tank has some stuff in the bottom so i drained it. Went to fill it and the only way i could fill it is with the bypass open or the water pump wouldn’t even try to run. If i have all 3 valves open i get hot water for a split second then cold again. Could my lines collapsed or a fitting or valve fail?? Ive never had this issue with any of my campers before this. Refrence the hot water heater is a Suburban SW6 DE
Thank you in advance

[Reverse_snowbird]

Could you possibly attach a picture of your hot water tank and the plumbing?
It sounds like your valves might be in the wrong position.
The handles of the valves should be pointed in the direction of water flow. Usually there is a valve going into the tank and a valve coming out of the tank.

Welcome to the forum!

[5picker]

A 2011 Flagstaff should have water heater bypass valves that resemble this...
As mentioned, can you post a photo of yours?

[Doov]

Here is a picture of my water heater

[Doov]

I’ll only get water when the bypass is open

[Bob K4TAX]

Here is a picture of the correct valve positions for normal operation. Do check the valves on your system.

The red lines are hot water from the water heater. The blue lines are cold water to the water heater. In the center, the valve that connects the red line to the blue line is the BYPASS valve. It should be closed for normal operation.

If you have a shower mizer, be sure it is off.

Bob

[Doov]

I understand that. But with the hot and colr water taps open and the bypass closed i do not get water.

[tomkatb]

Check the outdoor shower if you have one. Valves off, not the handle.

Same for the indoor shower. Dribble option must be off as well as the valves.

[wmtire]

If I am understanding you correctly, and looking at your pic posted which has ALL three valves open (which the crossover valve should be closed normally), this is the only way you get any water from your hot water tap?


If this is so, then it sounds like the Hot water outlet valve at the top red line is stuck and and is not opening. You may try to turn it's handle back and forth a few times. See if you can feel like it's turning the actually valve inside the fitting or if it seems looser than the other two valve sin your system.


Sometime the handle will move but it's not actually turning the valve itself.

[Bob K4TAX]

Originally Posted by Doov

I understand that. But with the hot and colr water taps open and the bypass closed i do not get water.

Is there water in the fresh water tank? And is the pump ON? Or are you connected to city water? Is that source at the campsite turned ON?

If you have both hot and cold water taps open and there is no water, then there is no pressure.

Bob

[Reverse_snowbird]

If you've checked for the above conditions, then you've got a puzzle.

Your water tank is full so water is getting in, but you're not getting hot water out.
With the bypass open, you're getting cold water, so there's something wrong with the hot water outflow. When you turn that bypass valve, you're bypassing the hot water heater completely. The water pump is only going to work if it senses a demand for water which you do when you bypass the hot water heater and open a faucet.

Are you certain that the hot water tank is full? Have you tried the pressure relief valve on the hot water heater to make certain there is actually water in the tank? If the tank is full then it sounds like the pipe coming out of the hot water heater is clogged.

[Doov]

I have checked the outside taps the shower. The tank is full but the only way i get any water what so ever is having the bypass open. So im assuming the feed line from the water tank is clogged because without the bypass open i get no water at all hot or cold. Could it potentially be an air lock?

[Bob K4TAX]

Originally Posted by Doov

I have checked the outside taps the shower. The tank is full but the only way i get any water what so ever is having the bypass open. So im assuming the feed line from the water tank is clogged because without the bypass open i get no water at all hot or cold. Could it potentially be an air lock?

There are or should be 2 other valves besides the BYPASS. One valve is the cold water from the pump into the water heater. The 2nd valve is the hot water outlet to the RV system. Correctly, the BYPASS valve should be closed and the other two valves OPEN.

Now if your system has one of those 3 way valves, make sure it is in the correct position for normal operation.

Bob

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by Doov

I have checked the outside taps the shower. The tank is full but the only way i get any water what so ever is having the bypass open. So im assuming the feed line from the water tank is clogged because without the bypass open i get no water at all hot or cold. Could it potentially be an air lock?

Be sure to understand post #9.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by Doov

I have checked the outside taps the shower. The tank is full but the only way i get any water what so ever is having the bypass open. So im assuming the feed line from the water tank is clogged because without the bypass open i get no water at all hot or cold. Could it potentially be an air lock?

Originally Posted by Doov

So im assuming the feed line from the water tank is clogged because without the bypass open i get no water at all hot or cold. Could it potentially be an air lock?

Doubtful that it's an air lock, but opening the pressure relief valve would relieve that pressure.
More likely it's a clogged valve or line.
It's not the input line because that is filling the hot water heater as it should.

What you are doing by opening the bypass valve is bypassing the water heater.

As suggested, I suspect that valve downstream of the water heater. Either that or the water heater output line. What happens if you turn off the hot water heater, let it cool down, loosen the clamp upstream of the valve and remove the red pipe? If you get water, then it's that valve.

[Oaklevel]

Originally Posted by Doov

Hello all
I have a 2011 flagstaff. And I’m stumped, i am getting no hot water so i messed with the hot water heater thinking it was that but the tank is full and its hot. So i got looking at the connections under the sink where my tank is seeing my (I’m assuming) bypass was open (the middle valve) so i closed it and i had absolutely no water hot or cold so i thought maybe my tank has some stuff in the bottom so i drained it. Went to fill it and the only way i could fill it is with the bypass open or the water pump wouldn’t even try to run. If i have all 3 valves open i get hot water for a split second then cold again. Could my lines collapsed or a fitting or valve fail?? Ive never had this issue with any of my campers before this. Refrence the hot water heater is a Suburban SW6 DE
Thank you in advance

My guess: Since this is a 2011

I think the bottom of the tank is full of crud or the cold fill line/ valve to the water heater is bad. The tank is filling by the hot water line...... when the bypass is on.

Turn the water heater off let it cool. Relieve any pressure..... Pull the anode rod out. Drain tank. Turn the bypass and the hot water valve off and then the cold water fill on. Run water...What comes out the anode rod hole...... Cold water, nothing, sludge etc??? If you can flush the tank.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by Doov

I understand that. But with the hot and cold water taps open and the bypass closed i do not get water.

This problem invaded my dreams last night and I think something else is going on. What I have no idea....

Even if there is something going on with your water heater, not all the water should be going through the water heater.

Do you have access to a city water connection? That would tell you if it's a problem in all the plumbing or if it's a problem with the line specific to the water pump.