|
04-01-2020, 10:11 AM
|
#1
|
2 Rivet Member
1994 34' Limited
Raleigh
, North Carolina
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 27
|
Hot water heater just gets water to luke warm
Hi - we have a 1994 Excella 1000, 34 footer. It is "permanently" set up on land in the western NC mountains. Spent a few days there earlier in March, before all of the shelter in place decrees sent us running home. While there, everything worked beautifully, except the hot water heater. The unit fires up (gas) and works as it supposed to, but just doesn't get the water to a very hot temp. Warm at best.
I called Dometic (the heater is an Atwood, which I believe to be original to the AS), and they informed me there is no thermostat adjustment on the unit. So, in their opinion, it is either:
1) Failing thermostat
2) Failing element
3) Bad / failing E.C.O.
Anyone have a similar experience and was able to resolve?
Stay safe and well.
Thanks
|
|
|
04-01-2020, 10:56 AM
|
#2
|
Site Team
2007 30' Classic S/O
Somewhere
, South Carolina
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,436
|
Any chance the tank is setup for winterizing?
Highlands, folks that a pretty nice area.
__________________
S/OS #001 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9L 6 Speed
16" Michelins, Hi Spec Wheels, Max Brake, Dexter 4 Piston Disc Brakes, Carslile Actuator, Equal-I-Zer, Dill TPMS. Campfire cook. BMV-712. DEMCO 21K Lb Cast Iron coupler
|
|
|
04-01-2020, 10:56 AM
|
#3
|
Rivet Master
1986 31' Sovereign
Miami
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,137
|
The thermostat and ECO (emergency cut-off) are simple thermal switches run in series. The thermostat should open at ~130f or so and the ECO at ~160f. One of them is opening early (probably),
Pretty cheap and easy to replace.
While I am totally NOT recommending this — you could, while watching it carefully, bypass them, one at a time, with a simple jumper wire. See if it gets closer to what it should be...
__________________
Sorta new (usually dirty) Nissan Titan XD (hardly paid for)
Middle-aged Safari SE
Young, lovely bride
Dismissive cat
|
|
|
04-01-2020, 11:32 AM
|
#4
|
2 Rivet Member
2004 28' Classic
Biglerville
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 21
|
Water heater just gets water to luke warm
On our '05 Classic the water heater has inlet and outlet valves PLUS a bypass valve.
Is it possible that yours is the same config and that the bypass is either open or leaking by
In either case the result would be some blending of heated water with cooler fresh water tank or shore water at your point of use.
I'd check that before the other items that Dometic suggested.
Long shot thought - could it be full of sediment and thereby reducing heat exchange ?
Keep us posted and best of luck !
|
|
|
04-01-2020, 04:53 PM
|
#5
|
"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by highlandsnc
Hi - we have a 1994 Excella 1000, 34 footer. It is "permanently" set up on land in the western NC mountains. Spent a few days there earlier in March, before all of the shelter in place decrees sent us running home. While there, everything worked beautifully, except the hot water heater. The unit fires up (gas) and works as it supposed to, but just doesn't get the water to a very hot temp. Warm at best.
I called Dometic (the heater is an Atwood, which I believe to be original to the AS), and they informed me there is no thermostat adjustment on the unit. So, in their opinion, it is either:
1) Failing thermostat
2) Failing element
3) Bad / failing E.C.O.
Anyone have a similar experience and was able to resolve?
Stay safe and well.
Thanks
|
What worked on our '03 Classic...take the thermostat off and clean the contact area of the stat and tank with a green Scothpad.
Bob
🇺🇸
--------
Behind the foam pad.
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
|
|
|
04-01-2020, 05:45 PM
|
#6
|
Site Team
2007 30' Classic S/O
Somewhere
, South Carolina
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,436
|
One other diagnostic try it on shore power.
__________________
S/OS #001 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9L 6 Speed
16" Michelins, Hi Spec Wheels, Max Brake, Dexter 4 Piston Disc Brakes, Carslile Actuator, Equal-I-Zer, Dill TPMS. Campfire cook. BMV-712. DEMCO 21K Lb Cast Iron coupler
|
|
|
04-01-2020, 06:31 PM
|
#7
|
4 Rivet Member
1968 26' Overlander
CORDOVA
, TN
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 414
|
If its original, just replace it and be done with it.....its old.....
__________________
1968 Overlander Land Yacht International
Ford E-350 W V-10 booom!
2018 Chevy Tahoe smooooooth
Find a way to enjoy life and have fun, every day !
|
|
|
04-02-2020, 09:59 AM
|
#8
|
1 Rivet Member
2020 22' Bambi
Bath
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 15
|
Bypass valve
We had a similar issue on our Bambi. Warm water only from water heater. Key point here was it occurred right after we had winterized it for the first time. We had opened the bypass valve to blow out all the lines then never closed it after de-winterization. Simple fix to close it and the water was heated again.
Hope this helps.
__________________
Lisa and Greyton
|
|
|
04-02-2020, 12:46 PM
|
#9
|
Rivet Master
1986 25' Sovereign
2008 F350, 6.4L diesel
, Oak Harbor, WA
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 605
|
I vote for one of the winter valve in the wrong position. I have a check valve in my system, if you have one too you may have a defective check valve (not likely).
|
|
|
04-02-2020, 02:35 PM
|
#10
|
1 Rivet Member
2018 23' International
scappoose
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 7
|
Shore
Had the same problem on our 2018 AS Intl. with an Atwood heater. Upon buying this nearly new used trailer I took little for granted so I evacuated the heater and replaced the plug with a magnesium anode rod. In addition, went to shore power only and presto, we have hot water, not lukewarm!
|
|
|
05-04-2020, 07:33 AM
|
#11
|
2 Rivet Member
1994 34' Limited
Raleigh
, North Carolina
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 27
|
Update - water heater / 1994 Excella
Thanks to all the responses, lots of great ideas. Upon further investigation, we are taking the advice of mkcurtiss - If its original, just replace it and be done with it.....its old.....
New tank less unit going in soon.
|
|
|
05-05-2020, 06:08 PM
|
#12
|
1 Rivet Member
2018 23' International
scappoose
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 7
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by GCinSC2
One other diagnostic try it on shore power.
|
I think this suggestion is also worthy of future consideration as we have a newer AS Intl (2018) and found this to be true that if you can go 100% shore power, do it. When I'd run both the LP and shore or go strictly with LP, our water would only get to lukewarm. Going to all shore made a huge difference.
|
|
|
05-05-2020, 06:14 PM
|
#13
|
4 Rivet Member
1968 26' Overlander
CORDOVA
, TN
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 414
|
You will enjoy a new water heater! I have no experience with the tankless, but it is said they work pretty good with certain limitations....I installed a new 6 gal gas in place of my 10 gal gas and it works very well.....
__________________
1968 Overlander Land Yacht International
Ford E-350 W V-10 booom!
2018 Chevy Tahoe smooooooth
Find a way to enjoy life and have fun, every day !
|
|
|
05-13-2020, 10:38 AM
|
#14
|
2 Rivet Member
1994 34' Limited
Raleigh
, North Carolina
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 27
|
Water heater
Thanks again for all the great advise. Water heater is fixed.
Two things:
1) We bought an Excel on-demand tank less propane heater, which is being installed today;
2) But.............. we also figured out the original problem. In digging into the existing tank to tie in the new lines, we discovered a "mixing" valve that was driving more cold water through the system than hot. Adjusting that fixed the problem.
Having said that, we're going ahead with adding the tank less unit. The AS is permanently set up, so figured we'd take care of any future hot water issues once and for all. Using both heaters will ensure long, hot showers for years to come.
|
|
|
04-29-2021, 08:58 PM
|
#15
|
1 Rivet Member
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Maple Ridge
, British Columbia
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 18
|
same issue 2019 RB FC
Mine just started doing this.
the pressure from the hose to the trailer is strong.
inside, there is barely any pressure and my water only gets luke warm. this trailer is 9 months old and its been in use about 4.5 out of that.
any advice? what is the mixing valve??
is it the yellow one i see?
right now it is " in line" with the pipe.the screen on the inlet outside looks clean
however, the other day i turned the valve of from the spout, and started disconnecting the hose and it sprayed back like crazy. could something be blocked?
thanks everyone
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|