Water Heater Help!

[Racer-Ref]

My family has inherited my Dad's motor home. A 2002 Jayco Designer. We are very new to this. The water heater went out. We need to replace. Looking for a used one. Suggestions on surplus dealers to find one? It's an Atwood GC6AA-9E. We pulled the old one, and the tank is gone, and some wires look like they got very hot. Thanks for the help!

 

[Kirk]

Probably the best chance is an RV salvage lot. Used RV appliances are pretty rarely available.

 

[Racer-Ref]

Probably the best chance is an RV salvage lot. Used RV appliances are pretty rarely available.

Do you know of any reputable ones to start with?

 

[donn]

Go online and look for new ones. Depending on model they're not that expensive. Sure better than dumping money on something your unsure of.

 

[Kirk]

Here is a list of RV salvage yards that I compiled years ago but I have not kept it current so they may not all be valid today. I do know that AZ RV Salvage is still in business and so is Cooper RV Salvage.

 

[Rene T]

If it was me, I would get it welded

 

[donn]

If it was me, I would get it welded

Finding a qualified aluminum welder might be nigh on impossible. And the cost probably more than a new unit.

 

[8Muddypaws]

The tank can be replaced by almost anyone who knows which end of a screwdriver to turn. Not terribly expensive either.

I used to go to a shop in Moro Bay that always had them in stock. Unfortunately they closed due to Covid.

The hard part is getting the water heater out.

I would personally opt to replace the whole shebang and perhaps a good used one can be found.

 

[Rene T]

Finding a qualified aluminum welder might be nigh on impossible. And the cost probably more than a new unit.

Quality welders are all over the place. Most any sheet metal shop will have a aluminum welder in house. I would think it wouldn’t cost anymore than $50.00

 

[CharlesinGA]

Atwood tanks are easily welded if it is not totally corroded inside. If it was left with water in it, it may be badly corroded, but if just split from freezing, it should be easy to weld. Lots of them done after the big Texas deep freeze a couple of years ago.

The problem is, that size/shape water heater is no longer manufactured. Dometic decided to change the shape of the heater a couple of years ago.

Suburban actually makes a replacement designed to fit the opening where the Atwood was (they saw a market that Dometic created) Now I don't care for Suburban water heaters because I do not feel the porcelain on steel holds up as well as aluminum does, but Advantage Direct Fit Water Heater for RVs & Campers - Suburban and the other option is a new Dometic water heater and a conversion kit that consist of filler plates and a new door to cover up all of it.

Amazon.com: Atwood | Dometic WH-6GEA Water Heater #94002BP : Automotive

Dometic Water Heater Door Assembly 6 Gal - Black- 6 Gallon Door Assembly (Fits Older Atwood/Dometic Units)

Dometic Water Heater Door Assembly 6 Gal - White- 6 Gallon Door

Charles

 

[Kirk]

You can also get replacement tanks for RV water heaters from Amazon and several other sources.

 

[Racer-Ref]

Thanks everyone! We're going to try and weld it. My son is a welder and says he can fix it!

 

[Rene T]

Before using it after weld repair, you should hydro pressure test it. What you need to do is fill the tank with water making sure ALL the air is out of it. Then pressurize it to around 75 psi. If while you are pressurizing it you develop a leak, the pressure will fall immediately so it will not blow up. DO NOT just use just air to pressure test.. That will be a bomb if it should explode.

Remember you have to use water not just air.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Double that is the standard, it's not a stretch for municipal supplies to hit 80PSI and sometimes higher.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[braske988]

My family has inherited my Dad's motor home. A 2002 Jayco Designer. We are very new to this. The water heater went out. We need to replace. Looking for a used one. Suggestions on surplus dealers to find one? It's an Atwood GC6AA-9E. We pulled the old one, and the tank is gone, and some wires look like they got very hot. Thanks for the help!

Since this forum is not that active I suggest to call some places from this site Find the best salvage yards online | bestsalvageyards.com you can pick the ones with best reviews so you can miss the possibility of dealing with weird ones.

 

[John From Detroit]

What do you mean by "Went out"
If you mean leaks like a sive.. yes it needs to be replaced
If you mean no water flows through it.. There are valves that shut it off for the winter
If you mean it won't light/heat (Gas or electric) The module that controls the thermostats the heat element (electric if it has one not all do) and the burner assemble/control valve are all way way easier to replace than the entire heater.

 

[Rene T]

Since this forum is not that active I suggest to call some places from this site Find the best salvage yards online | bestsalvageyards.com you can pick the ones with best reviews so you can miss the possibility of dealing with weird ones.

Why do you say this forum is not active? You just joined yesterday.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

There is seldom any reason to replace the entire water heater and they aren't cheap. If you explain what it does or doesn't do, we can probably help you get it going.

 

[Tom]

My family has inherited my Dad's motor home. A 2002 Jayco Designer. We are very new to this. The water heater went out. We need to replace. Looking for a used one. Suggestions on surplus dealers to find one? It's an Atwood GC6AA-9E. We pulled the old one, and the tank is gone, and some wires look like they got very hot. Thanks for the help!

Try Colaw RV | Used RV Parts & RV Salvage | North America's

 

[Kirk]

Since this forum is not that active

Since Racer-Ref was last here on June 3, I would suspect that he either got it reparied or has replaced it.