Water Heater Replacement

[ElCamino Man]

Hey guys! I got all the plumbing in my AS done (including water heater) to find out my water heater is gas... No problem, except my gas isnt hooked up. I was going to tear out all the gas lines and go to full electric before I found this out. My first thought was to replace the heater with an electric one. Do they make a camper specific one?

Option 2: Rip out all my gas lines EXCEPT the one going to the water heater and keep a gas water heater. Simple enough! Except Id have to keep tabs on my propane JUST for hot water.

Which is the better solution?

[Aviator]

Go with a unit which works on both electric and gas. When I replaced mine, that is what I used. When camping with full hookups, I use the electric. If I am dry camping, I use the gas. It works like a champ. Also, if all four of us want to shower in the morning, I use both for quick hot water recovery.

[cameront120]

Put in an Atwood 10 gallon that runs on both gas and 110. It'll be an easy swap with the old one.

[ElCamino Man]

Gotcha! Thanks for the input guys!

[AL’ UM- MONEY]

I am currently camping and the water heater has gone out several times. The pilot light is very low and easy blown out. I put a new pilot assembly and didn't improve. I can spend over a hundred dollar on a new valve or put that money on a new unit with electronic ignition. On my 1976 will the old one pull out the hole from the outside and will the new one fit the hole with out major modifications. Any ideas? Thanks

[overlander64]

Greetings Gene!

Originally Posted by GAT

I am currently camping and the water heater has gone out several times. The pilot light is very low and easy blown out. I put a new pilot assembly and didn't improve. I can spend over a hundred dollar on a new valve or put that money on a new unit with electronic ignition. On my 1976 will the old one pull out the hole from the outside and will the new one fit the hole with out major modifications. Any ideas? Thanks

I suspect that you coach likely cam equipped from the factory with a 10-gallon water heater. A typical six-gallon RV water heater will require modification to the opening. Ten-gallon modern RV water heaters "may" be a very close replacement for an OEM 10-gallon unit, and this can be verified by comparing the opening measurements for the new unit against the opening in your coach.

My '78 Minuet had an OEM six-gallon water heater, and a new Atwood six-gallon water heater fit in the opening without modification.

Good luck with your investigation!

Kevin

[Splitrock]

Hi Gene,

I replaced my water heater with an Atwood 6 gallon gas/120 volt electric. I had to raise it up a little. It was an easy install because I had the toilet and the bathroom walls removed at the time. I added a water heater install section to my blog. That shows what I did.

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[Aage]

Originally Posted by GAT

Any ideas? Thanks

Before you spend the big bucks, change the thermocouple. It's the tube that the pilot bathes in flame, and if it isn't in good shape, the furnace won't work properly.

It's a disposable,like the pilot assembly: not expensive.

[87MH]

Originally Posted by ElCamino Man

Hey guys! I got all the plumbing in my AS done (including water heater) to find out my water heater is gas... No problem... I was going to tear out all the gas lines and go to full electric before I found this out. My first thought was to replace the heater with an electric one.

Do you plan to install a 50 amp service???

I ask this because I am certain that most Electric Water Heaters will draw around 15 amps. The draw of an Air Conditioner at startup could easily approach 20 amps - you would have to do some powerful amperage control if you intend to use a cooking element or microwave in addition to the usual light and entertainment draws.