Atwood W/H

[Mike Leary]

The pressure-relief valve on ours is deciding to open up after 15 minutes. Draining and "snapping" the valve shut works for a few days, but if we space the 15 minutes, it will spew again. New PRV, or do I have other issues?

[Ganglin]

Is it spewing water or just weeping? Have you followed this procedure:

PRESSURE-TEMPERATURE RELIEF VALVE

Weeping or dripping of a pressure-temperature relief valve while the water heater is running DOES NOT mean it is
defective. This is normal expansion of water as it is heated in the closed water system of a recreation vehicle. The
Atwood water heater tank is designed with an internal air gap at the top of the tank to reduce the possibility of weeping
and dripping. In time, the expanding water will absorb this air. To replace the air follow these steps:

Step 1:

Turn off water heater

Step 2:

Turn off incoming water supply

Step 3:

Open the closest hot water faucet in the coach

Step 4

: Pull handle of pressure-temperature relief valve straight out and allow water to flow until it stops.

Step 5: Allow pressure-temperature relief valve to snap shut, turn on water supply and close faucet

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by Ganglin

Is it spewing water or just weeping? Have you followed this procedure:

PRESSURE-TEMPERATURE RELIEF VALVE

Weeping or dripping of a pressure-temperature relief valve while the water heater is running DOES NOT mean it is
defective. This is normal expansion of water as it is heated in the closed water system of a recreation vehicle. The
Atwood water heater tank is designed with an internal air gap at the top of the tank to reduce the possibility of weeping
and dripping. In time, the expanding water will absorb this air. To replace the air follow these steps:

Step 1:

Turn off water heater

Step 2:

Turn off incoming water supply

Step 3:

Open the closest hot water faucet in the coach

Step 4

: Pull handle of pressure-temperature relief valve straight out and allow water to flow until it stops.

Step 5: Allow pressure-temperature relief valve to snap shut, turn on water supply and close faucet

Good info, I thought I'd tried that, but will try the method again tomorrow if I can get a hose hooked up to the PRV to drain it, which has been a beer can until now.

[Mike Leary]

I'm going to take a chance and order a fresh PTRV from Watts, it still opens up after 30 minutes, after following the Atwood instructions. Beats driving all the way to Oasis in Tucson from Ajo.

[Silver Otter]

Mike,
We had exactly the same problem this Spring. Replaced the valve and all is well.

[Silver Goose]

I think the spring in that valve weakens over the years with the hot cold cycles of the water heater. They typically start to weep and they progressive get worse. Replacing it should give you some more years out of the water heater.

[Mike Leary]

Found one on-line, will let you all know. Thanks for the help. m

[crazeevw]

Does anyone have the auto-light feature on their hot water heater? Ran mine for the first time a few weeks ago, and it seemed that the water never really got that hot, tepid at best. Thinking I'm pulling drain plug and give the system a good flushing out.

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by crazeevw

Does anyone have the auto-light feature on their hot water heater? Ran mine for the first time a few weeks ago, and it seemed that the water never really got that hot, tepid at best. Thinking I'm pulling drain plug and give the system a good flushing out.

Do it, mine was pretty grunged up, even though we are carefull where we take on potable. Hope yours is easier to drain than mine.

[crazeevw]

Looked at drain plug on mine, it's behind all sorts of fun stuff. Gotta get it cleaned out, so I guess I figure out how to get it removed. Buddy of mine had some sort of attachment to a water hose to push inside of water heater. Guess another item to purchase for the Airstream.
Thanks, Derek

[Mike Leary]

My neighbor has the same attachment on his coach that hooks to a hose, it's brass with a little tiny ball valve. He got it at Wallmart. I've got a gas line blocking the drain, so I'm going to have figure out some sort of an offset to get it in, because the pvc plug is one huge pain.

[crazeevw]

I just ordered a plastic flush tube on Ebay. Your drain plug set-up sounds just like mine. Guess an offset wrench is in order.
Thanks, Derek

[Mike Leary]

Good news: the Watts pressure relief valve arrived and my spew problem is over. Bad news: the PRV I removed (installed in 03) was trashed with skunge; my fault for not paying attention to draining the system and excersising the PRV more often. Here's my neighbor's set-up, I'll have to find an offset to clear the gas line in ours. I'm thinking about doing the PRV with the same kind of hose attachment, as the PRV has internal 1/2" threads.

[Silver Goose]

Originally Posted by crazeevw

Looked at drain plug on mine, it's behind all sorts of fun stuff. Gotta get it cleaned out, so I guess I figure out how to get it removed. Buddy of mine had some sort of attachment to a water hose to push inside of water heater. Guess another item to purchase for the Airstream.
Thanks, Derek

I hear some saying they use a socket to remove the drain plug. Mine may be similar to yours. It is directly behind the copper gas line. I can loosen it from above with an open end wrench, then with thumb over the gas line and forefinger below I can finish unscrewing it. Have to remember to turn the WH off a day before!

I have one of these wands and it manages to get past the copper line and into the tank. Most RV supply stores have them and they are available online. Always amazed how much sediment comes out every year when I drain and flush it with this. The stream is pretty strong and by angling it down and around is stirs up the stuff off the bottom and most finds it way out.

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by Silver Goose

I have one of these wands and it manages to get past the copper line and into the tank. Most RV supply stores have them and they are available online. Always amazed how much sediment comes out every year when I drain and flush it with this. The stream is pretty strong and by angling it down and around is stirs up the stuff off the bottom and most finds it way out.

So, a male x male threaded bush is all you need? Is that pipe thread x hose thread? Does the drain spigot bend out of the way or does it have to be installed every time you drain?

[Silver Goose]

Originally Posted by Mike Leary

So, a male x male threaded bush is all you need? Is that pipe thread x hose thread? Does the drain spigot bend out of the way or does it have to be installed every time you drain?

This one attaches to the end of a garden hose, the plastic wand section is inserted into the open WH drain. The tip of the wand makes nearly a 90 bend allowing you to detect the stream down and around in the tank. The water carrying the sediment flows out the open drain while you work the wand around. The wand has some flex so it can be inserted past the gas line into the drain.