Tags
RVers should perform a maintenance check on water heaters every six months to a year — that is, if you want to enhance its operation, extend the life, and prevent high repair costs. This is especially true if you’re spending most of your time in areas where the water has a high mineral content. It’s a simple task that just takes a little know-how. And we are here to help.
Draining
Draining and flushing is necessary because mineral build up corrodes components inside your heater over time.
- Safety first. Make sure water has completely cooled off — you might even want to turn it off the night before you plan to work on it
- Flip the breaker to turn off power
- Close gas supply and water pump
- Open all hot and cold fixtures through the unit
- If you have a bypass valve, place it in the bypass position
- Open the exterior door to your unit and remove anode rod if you have one (you may need a socket).
Flushing
This works best if you have a flushing wand attached to the end of a garden hose. It works like a water pic for the interior of your drain hole. Don’t be surprised if the water coming out is white looking at first — just keep flushing until it’s clear and clean.
Storing
If you won’t be using your hot water heater for while, simply drain your water heater before storing it. This will prevent damage from freezing and mineral content in your tank.
Cleaning
As a side note, it’s a good idea to also clean your tank every couple of years. Just put a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar in your tank via your winterizing system intake. Then just turn on your water heater and allow it to boil for an hour or so. When complete, turn off and allow complete cooling before you drain and flush as instructed above. As always, read your owner’s manual for specific instructions related to your model.
We own a 2012 American Revolution, that the electric side of the hot water heater has never worked from day one, Aqua Heat has never been ablew to fix, American coach has never been able to fix. After two years of frustration, I had a go myself, I replaced the sensor and the relay, still no hot water, replace the computor board, and had to pay 60 % plus shipping and import duty, still no fix.
On our way south we had electrical hook up problems, so a private RV repair shop was called to check things out, while there I asked if he could look at the Aqua hot water, he did and between to two of us we found the heater was wired wrong from day one, thanks American copach for all your NON EXISTING HELP, and AQUA HOT
The person who fixed the heater was Tim, of Chances Creek RV Center, he is polite and super helpful, need help go to Tim, thanks Tim for everything
LikeLike
My Winnebago was the same way. Wire wrong from the factory. The RV dealer General RV was able to rewrite it.
LikeLike
After owning 21 RV’s I should have expected stupidity from either Aqua hot or American Coach, good job the wiring defect did not cause a serious electrical short, and possible fire.
LikeLike
How about installing a tank less hot water heater, never run out of hot water
LikeLike
In January 2014 it was serviced by Aqua Hot AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE FAULTY, in late April (same year) IT WAS AGAIN SERVICED BY AMERICAN COACH, DECATUR, AND NO FIX, NOT ONE FOUND THE WIRE WAS HOOKED UP INCORRECTLY AT EITHER AQUA HOT OR AMERICAN COACH, now tell me how does servicing find a wiring problem that was incorrectly fitted before the coach left the factory NEW, it has never worked from day one, when we purchased the coach new. I am an inter provincial licenced truck and coach mechanic, and auto mechanic, I used to teach automotive, and I am a great believer in preventative maintainance, but stupidity is not covered by this.
I wrote this as a warning to other American coach owners, who may be suffering the same problem as myself. Or if it come to that any Aqua hot owners who may have the same problem.
LikeLike
Pingback: 12 Best Coach-Net Blogs | Coach-Net