So I'm new to the TT lifestyle and recently bought a 2007 Brookside fifth wheel. It has a gas/electric water heater and I'm attempting to replace the heating element on the opposite end of the tank from the access panel, but I seem to have run into a wall-literally. :-\ The water heater is mounted under the frame of the upper section of the trailer with a handy cabinet built around it. However, the tank has been framed around to make a shelf and there seems to be no access to the rear of the tank. There also isn't access under the trailer. Any ideas as to how I should go about replacing the element??? I'm at a loss so any help is greatly appreciated.
Electric water heating element
- Thread starter AKWest89
- Start date
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Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
That's a fairly common dilemma. You may have to pull the water heater out to do it. It should be removable from the outside OK, but you may still have difficulty detaching the wires and plumbing from the backside.
Are you sure you need a heater element? They don't often fail unless it was turned on with no water in the tank.
Are you sure you need a heater element? They don't often fail unless it was turned on with no water in the tank.
Rene T
Site Team
Gary RV Roamer said:
Gary,
Do you know if the element will burn out instantly or will it take a few minutes if the tank is empty?
Thanks for the reply, Gary. I was afraid that was the answer I'd get and thought wiring may be a problem if I had to pull it completely out. I'm not 100% sure if it actually is the heating element, but I was told if it isn't heating on the electric side chances are that it's the element. I'm the third owner so there's no real way for me to know what happened with previous use, but it wasn't working when I bought it. I wondered about a short, but that would still require pulling the tank to test, wouldn't it?
poncho62
Well-known member
What type of water heater is it?...My Suburban WH, the element comes out the outside of the trailer
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
As donn said, it goes pretty quickly - a very few minutes at best.
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
Since the electrode is on the back, I'm guessing its a common Atwood model heater, and being a 2007 its probably a DSI model. All the newer Atwoods use a common thermostat and ECO for electric and LP management, so the thermostat is ok if the lp gas mode works. Could be the controller circuit board, though. It has logic and a relay that opens/closes to provide heat in response to the thermostat.
You should be able to get access to the 120v power wire near the back of the heater to check for voltage there.
Download an Atwood Service Manual HERE before assuming the element is bad.
You should be able to get access to the 120v power wire near the back of the heater to check for voltage there.
Download an Atwood Service Manual HERE before assuming the element is bad.
Mopar1973Man
Well-known member
Rene T said:
At least for mine it survived 4 day stretch of being empty and plugged. Still working today. Don't ask why it didn't burn out or burn the RV down?
