Replacing a Cracked Water Heater in a 1986 Winnebago Chieftain

[S☉L_starr]

Hi all ! I am slowly going over my New OLD RV. I finally got the batteries all charged up after them being drained many times. (troubleshootin that too) and finally filled her up with some fresh Rock Quarry well water. Only thing is she started leaking both under the rig from a pipe hole ( there are two next to each other not sure if that is just an overfill vent) will post photo later for that.. But i did take the styrofoam off the water heater and noticed its cracked so I am looking for a replacement. thank you for your help!>
Sol Starr - Eagl3 8 - HOPE

 

[klook]

If your looking for advice on models of water heaters for replacement you need to give us what model is in the camper. The old Atwood models are no longer available as Dometic bought them out and discontinued their models. Suburban makes a replacement however for the Atwood.

 

[S☉L_starr]

Its a 1986 winnebago Chiefton, p30 31

 

[klook]

I have never been in one. I need the model of the water heater.

 

[Bobn1957]

Hi all ! I am slowly going over my New OLD RV. I finally got the batteries all charged up after them being drained many times. (troubleshootin that too) and finally filled her up with some fresh Rock Quarry well water. Only thing is she started leaking both under the rig from a pipe hole ( there are two next to each other not sure if that is just an overfill vent) will post photo later for that.. But i did take the styrofoam off the water heater and noticed its cracked so I am looking for a replacement. thank you for your help!>
Sol Starr - Eagl3 8 - HOPE

I expect the water "leak" is a system drain, there should be a valve directly above it in the coach. Is the water heater tank aluminum or steel? If steel it might be repairable but how long the repair lasts is a guess, if aluminum the repair will be easier and more reliable. I would take it to a welder and have a patch welded on it!

 

[klook]

I have not been able to get a welder to weld a water tank. It is considered a pressure vessel and they don't want the liability.

 

[Bobn1957]

I have not been able to get a welder to weld a water tank. It is considered a pressure vessel and they don't want the liability.

You need a welder qualified to weld a pressure vessel; they are out there!

 

[Morich]

Two different paths to chase and decide?
One is replacement and for that we need to know what brand and model of water heater you have to make better suggestions. One idea is if you do want to replace iit, knowing which you have is one step to getting a new one that has the same features and small points like where the gas and water lines connect. Easier to replace one if the new has the same places to connect gas and water lines. Looking on the outside of the water heater may let you find a tag with that info?

But the idea of fixing can often be cheaper and work very well at times. One of the questions on welding is finding where and how it cracked as that changes the problems of welding. For that, I would take the question by a welding shop and let them take a look at the problem. Welding can sometimes be very easy, sometimes it takes a really good welder!
A tricky question on several points as the water heater brands have changed over time as different companies have been sold or bought out. What you find in your area may be different than in other areas.
We have had several folks here that reported good results on getting them welded, but I have no personal experience with it.
Wish you luck on the search?

 

[klook]

You need a welder qualified to weld a pressure vessel; they are out there!

IT is cheaper to buy a new one and get a warranty. Even if you have to pay a guy like me to install it. You have to take it out, find a welder, transport it to him, get it back and install it. And you still have an old water heater.

 

[S☉L_starr]

Looking at getting a instant hot water setup I saw one at camper world for 400bux that looks perfect.. do we know what the og model is for this rig?AI says its a suburban sw6p but not sure that is exact

 

[klook]

Camping World should be able to tell you if there is a kit or if it is a direct replacement. Many of the on demand are smaller then the existing hole. The SW6P is gas only and that is fine with an on demand replacement. Just have to have 2 wires for the control display. The RO for the sw6p is 12 3/4 x 12 3/4. I prefer the Girard but its not $400.....

 

[S☉L_starr]

Found these two

 

[S☉L_starr]

Only you cant (from what he told me) limit the hotwater usage. To help ppl from taking really long showers and exhausting the limited resources.

 

[klook]

With tankless I tell people to set the temp at the control and only run the hot water....they are sensitive to flow rate and temp. They also have problems with poor water quality and hard water.