Recently, we noticed our RV water heater was leaking. This was, of course, incredibly unfortunate. I was super nervous to try to replace it, but we did figure it out with some help from friends. Here’s what we learned along the way…
Diagnose the Problem
My first (and possibly most important) tip is to properly diagnose the problem before fully diving in. We realized after we had already ordered a new water heater and pulled the old one out that our leak was likely just a fitting that could easily be replaced.
Even with that being the case, we were only with those friends for a short period of time and I didn’t want to risk the old water heater leaking again and being stuck without help, so we did go ahead and install the new one and made sure all the fittings were high quality and fastened tightly.
That said, I highly recommend finding the actual problem before ordering anything. It might just save you hundreds.
Choose the Right RV Water Heater Type
When I started shopping for a new water heater, I realized I had lots of options in terms of replacements. Looking through these and learning about each took time. Here’s what I found out.
Propane Tank Water Heater
This is what we had originally and what we decided to stick with. We like that the propane tank heater is good for boondocking and allows us to both carry a bit more water and avoid wasting water while waiting for hot H2O to come through the lines. That said, these traditional tank heaters are a bit more expensive than other options and are also heavier.
Propane and Electric Tank Water Heater
We also had the option of buying a tank water heater that had an electric heating element in addition to propane heating. This would be nice to have, but ultimately we decided it wasn’t worth the extra cost and installation hassle (i.e. wiring up a new control panel that includes an electric heater switch).
RV Tankless Water Heater
Tankless RV water heaters are all the rage right now. They are pretty cool because they heat water on demand, meaning you never run out of hot water. They are also relatively lightweight.
They heat water using propane, which would lead you to believe that they are good for boondocking. Unfortunately, as of now, that isn’t the case. They take several seconds to heat up water once kicked on, meaning you have to run water down the drain as you wait for it to get warm at the tap.
We also hear that some campgrounds do not provide sufficient water pressure for the heater to even kick, meaning some RVers are using their pumps all the time in order to have hot water.
Under-the-Sink Mini Electric Water Heater
I really wanted this option to work because these under-the-sink water heaters are so much cheaper than their RV-specific counterparts. They are also plug-and-play, meaning I could have installed one by myself without ever even removing the old water heater.
Unfortunately, these little water heaters use electricity to heat water, and they use a lot of it. This means you can’t run much else on the electric system when using your water heater in your RV. It also means it won’t really work for boondocking.
After debating all these options, I ended up ordering a direct replacement for my propane tank heater. However, I can definitely see how a different option might work better for you, depending on your situation and needs.
Check the Fit
Make sure the heater you buy will fit in the space you have. We chose a direct replacement so we wouldn’t have issues with this. That said, we did have to hunt around a little because our original water heater was an Atwood model, and Atwood no longer makes water heaters.
We found out that Suburban now makes a direct replacement, and it did seem to be almost identical to the old one.
Removing the Old Water Heater
Removing the old water heater was straightforward enough. Here’s what we had to do:
- Disconnect and turn off all water and power sources, including the shore power, batteries, city water, and water pump.
- Bypass the water heater and empty the water heater by pulling the plug on the front.
- Disconnect the water lines to and from the heater and snip the electrical wires to the heater.
- Remove the door on the front of the heater and remove the screws on the front of the water heater.
- Pry the door frame from the sealant holding it in place and pull the heater out.
Make sure you have a towel on hand, as there is likely to be water in the lines. You’ll also want to make time for (gently!) scraping old sealant away from the side of the trailer. It does need to be removed so the new water heater can go in properly.
Installing the New Water Heater
Because we purchased a direct replacement water heater, installation was pretty easy:
- Apply butyl tape to the wall around the outside of the water heater opening, then push the heater into place.
- Connect the water lines going to and from the tank and connect the wires using wire nuts.
- Screw the frame into place.
- Apply silicone sealant around the frame.
- Replace the door.
Double up on butyl tape in gaps if the walls of your RV are not smooth. It’s also important that you connect all wires correctly, so make sure you know what you’re doing. Once the water heater is installed, make sure to fill it and watch for leaks.
If leaks do appear, it may be that you’ll need to reroute the nearby water lines a bit to relieve tension. We found that the fittings on the new heater were ever so slightly shifted from the old ones, and our lines were too rigid to handle the change without some modification.
Once you’re sure the heater is water-tight, turn it on and wait to see if the water heats properly. If it’s on propane, ensure that the flame is a nice, healthy blue.
Congratulations! You just replaced your RV’s water heater like a pro.
About the author: Chelsea Gonzales
Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.
You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.
