I have a 1990 Fleetwood Limited. The hot water heater seems to have a mind of its own. Sometimes it lights up, sometimes not. I've heard that those heaters need draining from time to time. Does anyone have an answer to this? Also, my hot water leaks a bit from the white plastic drain plug, could this be a problem? Looking for help.
I've been told spiders like the smell of Propane and build webs inside burners tubes. A quick blast of air should solve this if it is a spider. Was told to try this first, of course if your running on electric that's a different story.
Can't help with the sporadic operation problem, but your heater does require periodic maintenance.
RV water heaters, like the one in your house, require periodic flushing to remove sediment buildup. I do this at least once a season, usually when I shut down for winterization. I will also give it a quick flush when I am getting ready for the new season.
Spend a couple of bucks and get yourself a flushing wand like this one. You can find them at RV parts store, Camping World, or other places on-line.
Make sure that the heater is not operating on either gas or electric, if so equipped. Remove the drain plug, drain out the water and then insert the flushing wand into the drain hole. Direct it around the inside of the tank and flush out all there nasty stuff that has built up on the bottom of the tank.
Determine if the manufacturer of your water heater recommends the use of an anode rod. Suburban heaters need one, Atwoods do not. Again this is a couple of dollar item and readily available. Replace if necessary. The anode rod is a sacrificial item that the ions in the water will attack, thus saving your tank from corrosion.
The leaking around the plug sounds like you may already have a corrosion problem with the tank. Hopefully it has not corroded so badly that the threads are damaged. Get a new plastic plug (or anode rod). Remove the old one and then clean any corrosion from the tank threads. Wrap a couple of turns of Teflon tape around the threads on the plug and reinstall.
Prepare yourself for the chance that you may have to replace the heater if the leaking around the plug is so severe that a new plug with the Teflon will not stop the leak. The unit is 17 years old and probably beyond it design life span.
Dave & Mary
Isabel (a cuddly little Boston)
Buddy (The Beast) another Boston
2005 Itasca Suncruiser 35A
2003 Jeep Liberty
If it's listed in the Yellow Pages, the government shouldn't be messing around with it.
I have used the Atwood plug for years with no problems. 7/8" socket with a wobbler extention. I also wrap plug with teflon tape before reinstalling. I got a 2 Pak of plugs from Camping World for $2.00 acouple of years ago, Haven't needed them yet.
Bill & Kathy Francis
95 Itasca Sunrise 29RQ,P32 454 Chevy, Banks,ECM chip.Safe-T-Plus, Bilsteins, Super Steer Bell Crank, Stewart Stage 1 Waterpump, Severe Duty Fan Clutch, OilGuard Bypass Filter, Coolant Filter. Rear Tracbar. 1-5/8" Front Swaybar.
You might consider installing a "hot rod". It goes in the hole where the plug is leaking. That way if your hw heater does not work with propane you can plug it into electric.
I put one in mine so that I use the campground's electric instead of using my propane.
Jerry & Dee Dee Pauley
1998 Pace Arrow 36S, 1 Slide, Tag Axle, Triton V10, Front Konis, Rear Track Bar, Banks Ram Air, 2000 Tracker Toad
The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything they have.
desertdude wrote: One question; Why would you want to heat hot water?
That's suppose to be funny!!
We've had fun with this one for a couple of years. My argument is you can say "Hot" water heater. Hot water CAN be heated. Unless, it's "hottest" water.
To answer your question...you may want to heat hot water if it's not hot enough.
As to the original question/issue....Unplug the circuit board and clean the connections. That may be it. They do require periodic maintenance, as was stated.
2004 Coachmen Aurora on a FORD V-10 Chassis
2004 Jeep Liberty Don't take your organs to Heaven. Heaven knows we need them here! Dave has a dog named Muffy and Mike owns a Cockapoo!
Ours did the same thing and it was the control board and the igniter. I took the igniter out and cleaned it and replaced the control board. Check a trailer supply outlet which is less expensive than a RV dealer. I think the board was about $30.00.
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& Mary 
