Water heater too hot

[PancakeBill]

My Atwood water heater has a red lever on the right side of the gas control valve. Has about 150 degrees of swing, from all the way to bottom to up top. Higher it goes hotter it gets. I have it all the way down and still pretty hot. Not sure if there is a fix other than replacing the gas valve, probably what I will be doing. It screws into a port on the tank and has a temp probe, thinking possibly the probe is crusty, so not sensing actual temp. Model isa G6A-7. The replacement valve has a dial on the front. At almost $200, wondering about just replacing with a DSI unit. Found some under $500. Everything new, no standing there lighting a pilot.

 

[Henry J Fate]

Sounds like its time to take care of the problem. It could be a safety risk. I don't see anything in that system that will shut down the gas if runaway heat occurs, except for the temperature control that is malfunctioning. Easiest fix would be to replace the temperature control which appears to include the tank probe. I cannot say for sure if the probe is replaceable independent from the control but you are probably correct about the probe being bad.

Modifying the current tank to a DSI may be a good choice. I have never been involved in a modification that changes the ignition design. I would look closely at what the modification involves and take into consideration the age and condition of the existing tank. It may be best to replace the entire system rather than modifying or repairing an old tank.

 

[PancakeBill]

Replacing seems most prudent to me as well. I have had older water heaters with tanks that ended up leaking. Adding a tank with DSI only takes adding 12 v and a switch. Well within easy mods. The last time I had a non dsi appliance I swore I would bnever have another. This one is pretty easy to light though.

$200 part or $450 total replacement. Been doing my research.

However, 400 here 500 there, the low priced little camper is getting pricier. AC, new steps, I would like to get electric jacks, but before long....

 

[Henry J Fate]

Replacing seems most prudent to me as well. I have had older water heaters with tanks that ended up leaking. Adding a tank with DSI only takes adding 12 v and a switch. Well within easy mods. The last time I had a non dsi appliance I swore I would bnever have another. This one is pretty easy to light though.

$200 part or $450 total replacement. Been doing my research.

However, 400 here 500 there, the low priced little camper is getting pricier. AC, new steps, I would like to get electric jacks, but before long....

After initially reading your original post, I thought you were looking into modifying the existing tank to a DSI set up. I may have read that wrong.

 

[Kirk]

The Atwood G6A-7 service manual, so you may want to download it. Is this the control valve that you have?

 

[RayIN]

Wooaa, pull up. First check to insure the thermostat is tight against the tank. If it is not tight against the tank it cannot "read" the correct temperature of the water, instead it must read the temperature of the air between it and tank.
When you're finished, carefully replace the insulation covering the thermostat.

I'm a big advocate of using the KISS principle. I do the things that cost nothing first, if everything I try fails, then it's time to spend money.

 

[CharlesinGA]

The gas water heater is designed to be hot, about 130 degrees, scalding temperature. I'm not a fan of the pilot light models, but unless you buy used, you will not find a direct replacement except for the Suburban Advantage series, which is designed to replace the Atwood. After Dometic took over the Atwood line, they redesigned the water heater, changing the shape of it, taller and narrower, they do have adapter kits, with filler plates and extra wide doors to cover the filler plates up. They have much less insulation than the heavy molded styrofoam of the Atwood, a simple, thin, loose fitting, foil blanket. The air slots of the Atwood are adjustable for a proper flame for altitude, which neither the Suburban nor the Dometic are.

Charles

 

[John From Detroit]

Before you throw money at it Throw a thermometer at it. Get a good flow of HOT and run it into a Styrofoam cup.. Stick a cooking thermometer in it (let the water overflow the cup) and read the temp. 140 is "Kind of hot" but that's what my heater is set to by my choice. 180 is throw money time.