Hot water tank will not stay on...

[Little John]

Morning All!
Any suggestions why our water heater will not stay on?
It seems to run for about 5 minutes and then shuts its self down before we can get the water hot...
It also seems to take awhile before I can get it to reset...
Any thoughts?
LJ


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[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Little John

Morning All!
Any suggestions why our water heater will not stay on?
It seems to run for about 5 minutes and then shuts its self down before we can get the water hot...
It also seems to take awhile before I can get it to reset...
Any thoughts?
LJ


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Is this the first time of the season you have you used it. The reason I ask is that many times, the bypass valves are still in the winterization mode.

This means the water heater is bypassed, and the cold water line is merged into the hot water line. Just turning on the hot water taps inside the RV, will get cold water out of it, because the line is merged.....but you are not actually getting water from the heater itself.

The resets underneath the black rubber cover, won't allow a reset till the tank temp goes below 100 degrees, If the Emergency Cut Off (ECO)/hi-limit resets are tripping, then you probably don't have water in the heater which is causing an overheat condition........ thus the bypass valves being set for winter still.

[wmtire]

These posts may help:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...tml#post921486

This link below will show you how to verify there is actual water in the heater tank. I would not attempt to turn on your water heater again until you verify there is water in it (and not by just turning the tap on):

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ore-36197.html

[Little John]

Have turned the heater off on the panel inside the trailer gone out to turn the electric switch on to see if that will work...
Have checked the release valve and Kind of warm water come out, but it should be hot...
Going to keep everything off for an hour and see what happens...
Thankfully it in the 30's where we are "glamping" so a cold shower now and again feels pretty good!
But I know the "boss" would like hot water to clean up soon!
Thanks for all the replies so far!
LJ


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[rugersdad]

Can you hear it light up when using the propane? Mine wouldn't work on 110 volt and it turned out the switch outside on the heater was bad. But the propane side still worked.


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[Little John]

Well everyone looks like in our case "wmtire" was right!
By mistake I turned the valve so the hot was mixing with the cold...( I'm hoping...)
I turned everything


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[Little John]

Oops! Fat fingers!
As I was saying, turn everything off...drain the water tank...refilled it and the heater is back on!
We also have piping hot water coming out of the hot tap!
Will leave everything alone and see how it goes!
So...so much to remember!
Thanks again everyone!
LJ


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[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Little John

So...so much to remember!
Thanks again everyone!
LJ

The hot water bypass valves are one of the more common problems, and probably lead to the #1 question on these forums each year from new trailer owners and seasoned veterans alike of "Why don't I have hot water"?

Seeing you were from a cold winter place, is the reason I suggested what I did initially.

Don't feel alone, as it happens a lot. It's just one of those things, and glad the forums were able to provide an answer.

Down here in the deep south, where we might run an air conditioner at Christmas, we don't always have to winterize our trailers. LOL

EDIT: But I would trade you sometimes. Look at our current weather and thr real feel index right now:

[aceinspp]

Now we all happy campers Later RJD