hot water

[steve jones]

Recently I will turn on the water, a mix of hot and cold to get temp right. Then the water will pulse between hot and cold. First experienced it in the shower, then the bath sink, and then the kitchen. Most noticeable in the bathroom fixtures. Have an atwood gas/electric water heater. Using it in the electric mode. The water is plenty hot when it comes out. Just won't stay at temp selected. Keep pulsing from hot to cold, extreme change. Any thoughts???

 

[donn]

Are you on city water or internal water pump?
Common with a water pump.  If your on city water I would start checking at the source and move inword.  Likely culpret is the inlet check valve.

 

[steve jones]

I am on the coach pump at the moment.  I had just replaced the pump before making this trip.  Worked fine before replacing pump and worked fine on city water.  Friends are saying no way it can be a pump.  I assume that if it works on city water when i hook up that it will be the pump.  But why would it be the pump?  It is brand new. 

 

[Rene T]

1st. Do you by any chance have a outside shower? If you do, make sure both the hot and cold faucets are turned off and don't just shut off the water at the shower hand wand. Just a thought.

2nd. How many valves do you have for bypassing the water heater?

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

That problem most often results from some other faucet being open, e.g. the outside shower that Rene mentioned.  Under pressure, cold water crosses over to the hot side, disrupting the hot flow, but the cross flow changes the pressure again and it oscillates.  Any single-lever faucet can do that back, as can  a faucet that mixes hot & cold through a single spout. If there is another shutoff, e.g. a shower head valve, you may not realize the faucet is slightly open and mixing.

The other possible cause is a sticky check vale in the water heater tank outlet.

 

[Rene T]

The other possible cause is a sticky check vale in the water heater tank outlet.

That's what I was getting to when I asked how many valves he has. Need his answer.

 

[steve jones]

Thanks everyone.  I can always depend on the forum to help out when i need it.  Think i found the problem.  I went to check the outside shower to make sure they were off.  I noticed i had the intake valve turned to the position for water to come in to the holding tank.  I had left it in that position after filling the fresh water tank before coming to the rally.  I switched it back over and everything seems to be working fine.  thanks again everyone.

 

[Rene T]

That'e awesome. Although we didn't really help other than getting you to the right area. Thanks for getting back to us.

 

[steve jones]

Well, took a shower and not so good.  Still doing it.  But it does not seem to be doing it in the kitchen.  The hot water heater is located below the sink in the kitchen.  Only does it in the bathroom.  shower and sink.

steve 

 

[Rene T]

Can you answer the 2 questions I asked in Reply #3 especially the second one?

 

[NY_Dutch]

What brand/model water heater do you have? Some "extended capacity" Atwood models have a mixing valve on the back that's prone to acting up due to mineral buildup.