1974 Sovereign Water Heater replacement

[ericc]

Replacing the original 10 gal. Bowen gas water heater (leaky) with an Atwood gas/elec. purchased from an RV salvage house. Had a friend pick it up for me (4 hours from home) and when I got it, it didn't look like I expected (like my old one). See picture new one on the left, old one on the right.

Is this an OK replacement? Is there anything I need to do to make it fit better / insulate?

[BradB]

What's the box on the back for - is this an electric model? I replaced mine last year without a huge ordeal and reused the original door. It should work okay, the new ones have two piece styrofoam insulation that is exposed.

[ericc]

The new one is gas/electric. I'm less worried about the door than I am the fact that it is a completely different shape. It came with no insulation. Can I fashion some out of styrofoam sheet?

[Kevin245]

Originally Posted by ericc

The new one is gas/electric. I'm less worried about the door than I am the fact that it is a completely different shape. It came with no insulation. Can I fashion some out of styrofoam sheet?

Yes you can insulate the tank. The new WH we purchased last year had a formed EPS foam shell around the tank, but there's no reason you cant just use a fiberglass based WH insulation wrap like the kind sold at Home Depot, or Lowe's.

[ericc]

Also, do I need to build some sort of (wood) support for the tank so its not just hanging from the sheet steel box that faces the exterior. 10 gallons of water is going to add significant weight and stress.

[BradB]

I think the new ones rest only on the insulation so I imagine you could use even a block of wood until you get the insulation on it.