No hot water

[Billyjeter]

We picked our 2018 25ft international up from the shop last week and are on the road now. The Airstream stayed at the dealer all winter getting a few minor repairs, (yeah this dealership is absolutely terrible). Since it was there from fall to spring they winterized and dewinterized it. I turned on the propane switch for hot water and get a clicking at the hot water heater, nothing else. I don't smell or hear gas. Any ideas?
Billy

[Dennis C]

The hot water issue after dewinterizing seems to be fairly common. From what I’ve read here and personally experienced, there are a few potential issues. The first thing to check is your winterizing valves, and in particular the water heater bypass valve. The second possible issue is air in your water lines. The third is sediment in the filter of your mixing valve, blocking the flow of hot water. I experienced this issue a few weeks ago on our first trip after dewinterizing our 2020 International. I had to remove the valve, clean out the screen, and reinstall it.

Do you have water pressure on the hot side, but no heat? Is the water heater burner actually lighting? If not, are you sure you have propane in your tanks and the propane valve is open?

[Billyjeter]

We have water pressure. I'm not sure it is actually lighting and we have a full bottle of propane. Thanks Dennis

[CBWELL]

First, check to see if you have propane!! I usually light the stove for a few minutes to get things flowing. They might have turned the tanks off, or your regulator might have to switched to the other tank, if one is empty. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get propane back to the water heater. Also check to make sure that something has not built a winter nest in your burner assembly.

[Billyjeter]

we have propane. I just filled it up before the trip.

[azflycaster]

Did you verify gas is getting to the stove. Sometimes the propane bottle safety feature shuts the flow if the valve opens too quickly.

[Fungus]

A few questions:

1. Do you have water pressure at a hot water faucet?
2. Have you eliminated all the air from the hot water tank?
3. Is the water heater bypass valve open?
4. Are the propane valves open?
5. Is your water source city water or the fresh water tank?

Other questions may follow.

[Billyjeter]

We have hot water pressure and hot water last about two minutes with the electric on. It never gets hot then goes away. Propane doesn't work on the heater at all. But it does for the stove. Also the the refrigerator now has quit to add injury to the insult.

[CBWELL]

Try closing and opening SLOWLY your propane tank valves. They have an excess flow protection and sometimes when you open them too fast the flow is cut back to almost nothing. Make sure that you have all appliances turned off when you do this.

[Spartanguy]

Originally Posted by Billyjeter

We picked our 2018 25ft international up from the shop last week and are on the road now. The Airstream stayed at the dealer all winter getting a few minor repairs, (yeah this dealership is absolutely terrible). Since it was there from fall to spring they winterized and dewinterized it. I turned on the propane switch for hot water and get a clicking at the hot water heater, nothing else. I don't smell or hear gas. Any ideas?

Billy

Will be following this thread. Basically having the same problems right now post winterizing. And yes, I have propane turned on and my stove worked wonderfully all weekend [emoji23]

[mefly2]

Propane is not getting to the water heater ... clicking is it trying to light. Have you turned on the furnace as well as the stove to purge air out of the propane supply lines?

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Billyjeter

We have hot water pressure and hot water last about two minutes with the electric on. It never gets hot then goes away. Propane doesn't work on the heater at all. But it does for the stove. Also the the refrigerator now has quit to add injury to the insult.

Have you solved all the problems? If so please detail the solution.

Thanks,

Peter

[Billyjeter]

Actually yes and no. We were able to get hot water from electricity but not from gas. The electric option only began to work after we pecked (beat) on the value that decides when hot water flows and doesn't. We never got the gas to work or the refrigerator working. Against my better judgement the airstream is back at the suspect dealer we are stuck with.

[Jim J]

If you have propane and the valve is opening at the water heater or fridge but they are not lighting:

1.Purge the Air from the line
2. Check the burner section for Spider webs, mudbugs debris, etc
3. Remove the burner oriface and clean it in denatured alcohol, or replace it.

Repeat above for refrigerator

I have had problems in the past with spider webs in the fridge burner and mudbugs in the water heater burner and I always have to purge the air from the propane lines after a lengthy shutdown or a bottle refill.

Finally, sometimes regulators fail and need to be replaced. You can make a simple manometer to check regulated propane pressure in inches of water column using a scrap piece of wood, a yardstick and some vinyl tubing. The fridge is sensitive to propane pressure.