Bonehead Mistake Atwood Water Heater

[RUSSELL5000]

So, did the bonehead mistake of not recognizing that the water heater was bypassed.

Arrived late, did not think, turned power to water heater on following minimal set-up, showered in campground bath house, and went to bed.

No hot water the next morning; instantly realized the water heater was bypassed. #@$%!#@$%!:{:{

Turned water heater off, changed bypass valves, turned water heater back on. Water heater worked fine on gas, but was leaking.

I hope that the nylon drain plug was deformed due to the hot tank when no water; that is where water was leaking from.

I have the six gallon Atwood gas electric dsi model number GC6AA-10E.

Did I hopelessly ruin this water heater or is there a chance it will be ok?

Thanks!

 

[RustyJC]

Normally you'd just have to replace the heating element. I doubt the drain port was deformed - probably just need a healthy dose of Teflon tape around the nylon plug or a new one. The threads on that drain port in the tank can get pretty grungy. As far as the water heater is concerned, you may have wounded it, but I doubt it's dead.

You mention the water heater is working on propane. Have you tried it on electric this morning? You may be surprised - the thing might just work!

Rusty

 

[Killgore]

Russell, I suspect that you just fried the electric heating element and you will still be temporarily okay running on propane. You will probably have to get another nylon plug.

- Ed

 

[RUSSELL5000]

I had to rush out that morning and get on the road back to work, so I did not do much other than note that the gas lit off and the water heater leaked.

I am back at work and the family is using the shower in the bath house at the campground and a trip to the bath house for a jug of hot water to wash dishes. An inconvenience, but not substantial.

I have assembled my tools and parts and will be at the trailer this weekend. I have new drain plugs and the parts needed to install a replacement gas only water heater if it the existing water heater is ruined.

You have given me hope that I'll be doing a repair on the existing heater rather than replacing.

We'll see what happens.


Thanks!


Interesting thing: I have made laminated sheet checklists for winterizing, de-winterizing, hitching, unhitching, setting up camp, breaking down camp. I did not use the checklist that night because it was late and I was in a hurry. As I am pushing 60 years old I would think that I would have learned by now: haste does indeed make waste.

 

[RustyJC]

Personally, unless you boondock, I really wouldn't go with a gas-only water heater. Lugging propane tanks around to be filled isn't my idea of fun....if you have electricity available, use it. At any rate, worst case should just be replacing the electric heating element in the existing Atwood and going on down the road.

Rusty

 

[jeepit]

Did you check your fuse or breakers? Maybe just needs a reset?
I see you said it is leaking now.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Drove down Friday after work. This morning I pulled plug, flushed, installed a new nylon plug with a couple turns of Teflon tape. Filled with water and tried in gas mode. Burner readily ignited, heated, and burner shut off before the TP valve released (making me assume the thermostat is ok).

Used water and cycled through a couple tanks. Working on gas with no leaks. Will continue with gas for the balance of this trip (family and in-laws going another two weeks). Drove back home today.

So, lucky on this one. Will gather replacement heating element, maybe re p lace thermostat just to be safe.

Live and learn.

 

[SnoKing]

Pretty common issue. Ask me how I know?

Any box store will sell you a short 1000 or 1500W element. You need a wrench to remove it and they should have that also.

http://www.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-Water-Heater-Screw-Element/3692734

http://www.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-Water-Heater-Wrench-Element/3692742

You really should have an anode rod, not just a plug.

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/suburban-anode-rod-replacement/42180

Element is behind the black oval cover low on the unit.

SNOKING

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Thanks for the links. I will work through in a couple of weeks.

 

[Kirwin]

On an Atwood there is only one thermostat. It controls both gas and electric. If gas works, its not a thermostat issue.

 

[RustyJC]

You really should have an anode rod, not just a plug.

Atwoods normally don't have anode rods, do they? Just the nylon plug. Suburbans use the anode rod as I recall. The difference is aluminum versus steel tank material.

Rusty

 

[Dieselnerd]

Atwoods normally don't have anode rods, do they? Just the nylon plug. Suburbans use the anode rod as I recall. The difference is aluminum versus steel tank material.

Rusty

True, my Atwood with the aluminum tank has no anode either. When I first got it I was concerned and did some research to confirm that an anode was unnecessary.