Water Heater Question

[washtubman]

Can someone explain why there is not a controllable thermostat on motorhome water heaters?  The water gets hotter than one needs and thus seems like a waste of energy.  Hope you all have a great day!

 

[Karl]

Jerry,
Good question, and maybe some newer models do have them - I don't know - probably a cost thing. There is an adjustable therm. kit you can install yourself. Look HERE. It's almost to the bottom of the page.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Atwood sells one as an option for some models and they also sell different temp fixed thermostats.  Why the standard one isn't adjustable I do not know - maybe just saves a dollar?  And they use relatively low temps ones too - helps avoid liability issues (water scalding is a surprisingly high frequency product lawsuit - remember the McDonald's coffee?).

 

[mayfair]

Does anyone know where the anode ( I think that's what it's called ) is? It's that thing that the water attacks so that it won't attack your element. I have one on my home heater, and I've seen then for sale for RV's, but i can't seem to be able to find it in my trailer or my pops

 

[Tom]

If yours has an anode, it will be screwed in where the drain plug would normally be screwed in. The drain plug is often accessible from the outside of the RV. Some water heaters don't need an anode because the lining of the tank serves the same purpose.

One caveat: If you decide to unscrew the drain plug to see if it's an anode, be sure the water is cold first.

 

[Ron]

If you have an Atwood no  anode is necessary if you have a Suburban then they have the anode.

 

[mayfair]

If yours has an anode, it will be screwed in where the drain plug would normally be screwed in. The drain plug is often accessible from the outside of the RV. Some water heaters don't need an anode because the lining of the tank serves the same purpose.

One caveat: If you decide to unscrew the drain plug to see if it's an anode, be sure the water is cold first.

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't know that. I didn't see an anode, so I guess the water is attacking the lining  :-\

Speaking of ...

When I went to drain the water out of my HW heater, my Pop told me that he has gotten in the habbit of draining his HW tank every time he parks his trailer. He's installed a valve where the drain plug was to make the job that much easier. I too have now done the same thing ( like father like son ) only I installed one of those John Guest fittings and some 1/4 tube with a valve at the end of it so that when I drain my heater it'll drain away from the trailer rather than in the little door area. Seems to work pretty good. If you guy's would like to see it, I can take some pics the next time I'm there.

 

[Tom]

.... so I guess the water is attacking the lining

That's what it's designed to do; The lining has sacrificial anode material (zinc?) as a component of the surface. This applies only to tanks manufactured by Atwood. If you have a Suburban, it should have an anode.

...I can take some pics the next time I'm there.

Yes please!

 

[mayfair]

Ok. I'll be down there in a week or so. I'll take a couple of pics then.

 

[riverotter]

I'd like to see pics also. Been thinking of doing the same thing!!  ;D

 

[Jim Dick]

Can someone explain why there is not a controllable thermostat on motorhome water heaters?  The water gets hotter than one needs and thus seems like a waste of energy.  Hope you all have a great day!

The older manual light heaters had adjustable thermostats for temp. One had detents where you could rotate a wheel to set the temp. Newer ones had a lever that could be moved. All the auto light units I have seen do not have an adjustment. I believe there are two thermostats available, one is 120 degrees and the other is 140. Neither can be changed and are controlled by the circuit.  I'm guessing at the temps  right now but pretty sure that's true.

 

[Karl]

Jim,
I know you're correct on the 140 one.

 

[Jim Dick]

Jim,
I know you're correct on the 140 one.

Karl,

I was trying to remember from the past and it gets harder each year. ;D I do believe there is also a 120 available.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

HERE is the available adjustable t-stat for Attwood heaters. Adjustable from 110 to 150 and fits the later DSI models.

 

[Karl]

Gary,
I'm thinking that's the same one that I posted a link to earlier at Mark's RV. Same spec's, $31.50. Too bad that your's doesn't have a picture, and mine does, but it's not very good. Oh, well  :

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Should be the same one - it's an Atwood product. I bought and installed one in the King of the Road fifth wheel we had several years back.

 

[Gottasmilealot]

Look for the temperature lever on top of your gas valve.

See Photo Here.

 

[Karl]

Keith,

Look for the temperature lever on top of your gas valve.

Wow, that guy's been around the block a few times! Actually, we were talking about Direct Spark Ignition models; not the Standing Pilot types, but Thanks anyway!

 

[Gottasmilealot]

Its going to go around the block a few times more, because it still works great!