Hot Water Heater

[iezzif]

Does anyone know if there is a thermostat for the electric hot water heater system on a 2003 Winnebago Sunflyer? It does not get as hot as when you select propane mode.

[rgvtexan]

Yes!

[rgvtexan]

What make and model?



https://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=m...at+replacement
https://video.search.yahoo.com/searc...9&action=click

[iezzif]

2003 Itasca Sunflyer 39ft

[imnprsd]

I would remove the thermostats and sand them with 800-1000 grit.

Chances are oxidation is interfering with the heat transfer.

Cost $0.

I also would order a backup set of thermostats you can replace in the future should one fail.

https://www.amazon.com/Atwood-91447-...29239414&psc=1

I have attached several pictures for your understanding, but in this case the last picture is the one you should focus on.

Just turn off your 12V power by turning off your "Salesman Switch" at your front door, and 120V shore power. Then peal back the thermostat back tape, release the thermostat, sand the back of the thermostat, then sand the tank... and reinstall.

Note: The thermostat has a plastic insulator you must rotate into the correct position or you "hot" wires will short against the aluminum tank... which is conductive.

[rgvtexan]

Wouldn't heat transfer to the thermostat cause the water to be hotter than thermostat, not colder?

Still don't know what kind of water heater he has. Atwood, Suburban, or SOB.

[iezzif]

Thank you for the very detailed and informative explanation! Will explore the unit today.

[iezzif]

Sorry to mention that it is an Atwood

[imnprsd]

rgvtexan: Those thermostats are Normally Closed (NC) safety switches.

You want a good conduction so the temperature in the tank reaches the switch. Then it will "open" and turn off the circuit.

So it's just the opposite of what you said. I.e., if you don't have good conduction between the tank and the thermostat then the thermostat will not turn off and the gas heat or electric heat will just keep heating up the water.

Therefore, if you find your hot water unusually hot, but not boiling hot, then chances are you just need to clean/sand off the tank oxidation behind the thermostat.

Reminder: Every 3 years or so I would also use a wand to clean out all the calcium in the bottom of the tank. (Go to YouTube to watch a video if you have never done this.)

IF YOU DON'T HAVE HOT WATER

* I would bypass the thermostat switch by just unplugging it. Then use a fuse to connect the 2 wires together... and see if your gas flame lights or of your electric heating element works. Soon you will have hot water, but know this: Your hot water heater is not safe to leave alone in this manual mode condition.

===> So don't forget to turn off the water heater manually when you tank gets to normal hot water temperature, because it will NOT TURN OFF when you bypass the thermostat. ...And then I would remove the fuse bypass and reconnect your water heater like it used to be.

Note: Sometime you can physically move the thermostats against the tank to make a good connection.

The Black Tape you see covering the thermostats does two things: 1) I holds the thermostats against the tank; and 2) it sort of seal the moisture out to prevent corrosion from forming. (More or less.)

[rgvtexan]

That was my point, OPs complaint was of colder water on electric.
It should have read Wouldn't poor heat transfer to the thermostat

Improving the heat transfer will cause an earlier shut off.
But I agree they should be clean and bright.

Depending on model, some use an electrical thermal block thermostat for electric operation.

See part pg 16 #27 or pg 19 #17 in this manual. https://www.viewnavionmotorhomes.com...leshooting.pdf

part here https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories.../CAM08143.html

[creativepart]

New T-Stat and ECO cost just $14. Quick and easy fix.

https://www.amazon.com/Thermostat-As...dp/B08P7N7W5M/

[iezzif]

So the tape just holds the two round thermostats up against the tank?

[creativepart]

They both screw on. Kind of. It's not threaded, but the body of the thermostat has a lip or tab that screws on.

[iezzif]

Thank you Creativepart!

[NeilV]

It can be a bayonet or screw tab mount which loosens up over time causing the water to get hot enough to melt the shower surround and pop the relief valve melting any fiberglass or plastic too close to its vent outside the water heater cabinet.

You clean it up and press the tabs back in towards the tank to tighten them up.

If its an aftermarket electric heat stick stuck into the tank drain it does not use the same thermostat as the gas burner and may even have one integral to the element.

[Pianotuna]

Originally Posted by iezzif

Does anyone know if there is a thermostat for the electric hot water heater system on a 2003 Winnebago Sunflyer? It does not get as hot as when you select propane mode.

The electric takes 5 times as long to get to the same temperature as the propane.

[imnprsd]

rgvtexan: Sorry. Now I catch your drift.

Yes... If the thermostat is NOT making good contact with the aluminum skin of the HWH, then one wound think the hot water would be "hotter" than usual. TBD. Anything is possible. The key metric it to identify "out of the ordinary conditions."

[NeilV]

Originally Posted by Pianotuna

The electric takes 5 times as long to get to the same temperature as the propane.

Yes that is quite true. My 2001 Adventurer has the built in electric element along with the heat exchanger using engine coolant so its already hot when I arrive at a campground. To maintain that I turn on the electric element and only switch on the propane when my wife and two daughters are going to shower since they will use more hot water than the electric element can make up for.


If you let the water heater get cold then its going to take a very long time to heat it back up on just the electric element however in that circumstance you turn on both the electric element and gas burner to get hot water in a few minutes.

[Wyatt]

Isn’t “hot” water heater redundant?