2004 19' Bambi Safari Water Heater Issue

[TGadaire]

Hi there....relatively new owner to a GREAT 2004 Bambi Safari....need some help and this may be a no brainer but need to be sure.

PROBLEM: Water heater fires up, lasts about 30-45 seconds.....shuts off.....light at water heater switch operates normally....but, we get no hot water from the fresh water tank. I dont believe it is a lighting or thermostat problem.

When we were at home connected to city water, we did get water from the bath and kitchen sinks. We purchased this from a couple who had winterized it.

I suspect it is because the Hot Water Heater BY-PASS valve is on so no water is getting to the Hot Water Heater.

QUESTION:
Where is the By-Pass valve? If it is under the bed, I see a WHITE and RED line with valves and they are BOTH in the CLOSED position. (running at 90 degrees like a plus...not in line with the pipe).

Should I open BOTH of these valves to allow flow?

I am perplexed because when I opened them, some water did come out from under the water heater carriage but not alot so I thought they should be closed but now I am not sure how they should be in order for HOT WATER to flow from the tank?

HELP??!?! A cold shower was NOT fun.....

THANKS for your insight.
Terry

[TBRich]

I just lifted the mattress in our 19' Bambi (06) to check the positions of the valves...

There are two holes in the bed floor panel... the rear hole is to access the low point water system drains...those should both be closed position, 90 degrees to the line (in the X position)...open those and you drain all the water in the system through the floor onto the ground just behind the water heater. (You can see where those lines come through the floor if you look under the trailer.)

There are three valves you can access through the forward hole...the valve in the white line and the valve in the red line should both be open (parallel to the line). The valve that connects the two lines (red line on one side of the valve and white line on the other side of the valve should be closed in the 90 degree position (in the X position).

My guess is that you are correct...your water heater was not getting any water supply. Be sure water heater has water in it before you light it. You can test to see if you have water in it by turning on the hot water using the pump or city water connection. If water comes out, then the water heater is in line with the system.

I don't envy you having to take a cold shower. Boo!

[RangerJay]

I hope this does turn out to be as simple as the positioning of the bypass valves.

In the event it is not - we had similar symptoms - heater firing up then shutting off - turned out to be the mother board of the unit - which was a fairly pricey replacement.


Jay