Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 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
highlandsnc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2020, 10:56 AM   #2
Site Team
 
GCinSC2's Avatar

 
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
GCinSC2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2020, 10:56 AM   #3
Rivet Master
 
1986 31' Sovereign
Miami , Florida
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,137
Blog Entries: 13
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
n2916s is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 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 !
Dad250 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2020, 04:53 PM   #5
"Cloudsplitter"

 
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas , Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
Images: 1
Quote:
Originally Posted by highlandsnc View Post
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.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	fullsizeoutput_2d51.jpg
Views:	116
Size:	376.3 KB
ID:	364595  
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
ROBERT CROSS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2020, 05:45 PM   #6
Site Team
 
GCinSC2's Avatar

 
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
GCinSC2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2020, 06:31 PM   #7
4 Rivet Member
 
mkcurtiss's Avatar
 
1968 26' Overlander
CORDOVA , TN
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 414
Images: 4
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 !
mkcurtiss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2020, 09:59 AM   #8
1 Rivet Member
 
Shangrila's Avatar
 
2020 22' Bambi
Bath , North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 15
Blog Entries: 1
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
Shangrila is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2020, 12:46 PM   #9
Rivet Master
 
sgschwend's Avatar
 
1986 25' Sovereign
2008 F350, 6.4L diesel , Oak Harbor, WA
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 605
Images: 13
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).
sgschwend is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 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!
charging7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 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.
highlandsnc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 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 View Post
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.
charging7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2020, 06:14 PM   #13
4 Rivet Member
 
mkcurtiss's Avatar
 
1968 26' Overlander
CORDOVA , TN
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 414
Images: 4
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 !
mkcurtiss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 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.
highlandsnc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 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
MrScratch is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Luke from Ontario jlugray Member Introductions 4 08-01-2018 08:09 PM
luke warm water jdshepard Water Heaters, Filters & Pumps 2 12-27-2016 09:47 PM
Hot Water Heater Works But No Hot Water Althea Water Heaters, Filters & Pumps 6 04-16-2016 09:45 AM
Water warm, not hot. curnes Water Heaters, Filters & Pumps 8 10-24-2014 08:17 AM
AC just quit working and it's Hot Hot Hot!!! SaabLover Furnaces, Heaters, Fireplaces & Air Conditioning 9 07-27-2010 09:03 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:17 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.