Water heater size

[SlfMdeFam]

I️ have a Rockwood 2780WS. I’ve looked high and low to find the water heater size and can’t find it. Anyone know the size? We took our trailer out this weekend for the first trip and with the electric and gas switches on for the water heater each one of us ran out of hot water. I️ have always turned the shower head off while soaping up and I️ even ran out.

[bikendan]

It's either 6 or 10 gallon

[SlfMdeFam]

Originally Posted by bikendan

It's either 6 or 10 gallon

Chances are i have a 6 and even that sucked.

[FrankG]

There was a thread about the water heater issue about a month ago. I think it turned out to be a bad valve allowing cold water to infiltrate the system before the hot water. You should be able to get a shower out of 6 gallons, we did.

[JayArras]

Originally Posted by Chris Allen

...and with the electric and gas switches on for the water heater each one of us ran out of hot water. I️ have always turned the shower head off while soaping up and I️ even ran out.

Make sure the middle bypass valve is closed. I had a similar problem. See this thread.

[SlfMdeFam]

Originally Posted by JayArras

Make sure the middle bypass valve is closed. I had a similar problem. See this thread.

Thank you. I checked that thread from your recommendation so I’ll definitely check it on my trailer in a couple weeks before our next outing.

[SlfMdeFam]

Originally Posted by FrankG

There was a thread about the water heater issue about a month ago. I think it turned out to be a bad valve allowing cold water to infiltrate the system before the hot water. You should be able to get a shower out of 6 gallons, we did.

Thanks. I’ll be checking that.

[rockfordroo]

You need to learn to take Navy showers. Get wet, turn it off, soap up, rinse down. Can't take a 5 min shower like at home.

[SlfMdeFam]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

You need to learn to take Navy showers. Get wet, turn it off, soap up, rinse down. Can't take a 5 min shower like at home.

All due respect sir this is my 7th rv in 15 years and my 3rd FR And never once have i ever ran out of hot water. There’s obviously something wrong in this unit. Furthermore i do turn off the head while soaping up like i said in my OP. Thanks for the feedback.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Chris Allen

All due respect sir this is my 7th rv in 15 years and my 3rd FR And never once have i ever ran out of hot water. There’s obviously something wrong in this unit. Furthermore i do turn off the head while soaping up like i said in my OP. Thanks for the feedback.

Sorry. You sounded like a newbie, as you didn't mention prior experience.

If you have a Suburban, the size is part of the model number: SW6DE, SW10DE, SW12DE, SW16DE. The number is the gallons. If you have an L at the end, then it has a switch inside the TT to turn it on with 110VAC, in addition to the normal outside switch.

Atwood appears to be similar, e.g., G6A-7 and GC6AA-8 are 6 gal, G10-2 and GC10-A2 are 10 gal.

[KyDan]

Further testing is in order.
Could be your electric side is not working?
One fairly simple test is your ears.
Turn on the electric water heater and if you stand close and listen
you can hear the element heating. It often sounds similar to a pan of water
that's been placed on a hot burner. Sort of a singing sizzling sound.

We assume you can hear the gas burner fire so it's apparently working as well?

IF both heating methods are working you definitely have a problem with the
bypass somehow. Broken bypass valve is not switching or something like that.
We recently cold camped 3 days. Night temps got down to 31. I have under belly covering but did not run the furnace so it was pretty cold under there and the fresh water tank was COLD.
We both took navy showers and had plenty of hot. We have 6 gal WH.

I hope you figure out what's going on with yours!
The first thing I'd do is remove the bypass valve and visually inspect it to
see for sure that the handle actually turns the valve inside!
Good luck!

[youroo]

I hope I don't get "Chewed Out" but the OP Didn't supply the Year of his RV,so we all would have to do a WAG on how many switches need to be turned on before the Elect portion of the WH will work! Some units have 3 that need to be ON! Propane assist is easy to tell if it is ON,Elec.Not so much! If this New unit is Plumbed Correct is also a WAG situation! The Members here at FRF are just trying to HELP,if you have issues that need addressed your Dealer might be the Go To Guy! Youroo!!

[xgarys]

I wonder if your thermostat is set a little low causing you to use more hot and less cold for a comfortable temperature. At least I presume the unit has an adjustable thermostat.

[SlfMdeFam]

Thank you for all the feedback. The unit is brand new. We bought it three weeks ago and went out this past weekend for our first time. I will take all of the advice that has been given to me and see what I come up with. Thanks again to everyone.

[HangDiver]

Originally Posted by Chris Allen

Thank you for all the feedback. The unit is brand new. We bought it three weeks ago and went out this past weekend for our first time.

Given that the unit is brand new, I've got $5 that says the HW heater bypass valve is open.

[SlfMdeFam]

Originally Posted by HangDiver

Given that the unit is brand new, I've got $5 that says the HW heater bypass valve is open.

I’m going with that too.

[KyDan]

X3

[JayArras]

Originally Posted by JayArras

Make sure the middle bypass valve is closed. I had a similar problem. See this thread.

You're welcome!

[Flybob]

Also check the outside shower if you have one. If both valves are on ( with shower head off) you will get mixing.

[SlfMdeFam]

Originally Posted by Flybob

Also check the outside shower if you have one. If both valves are on ( with shower head off) you will get mixing.

Awesome thanks. I’ll check that too.