Suburban Water Heater 2


Shadow

Shadow

Senior Member
We seem to be having a problem too. We always have used electric on our water heater. I push the on button at the water heater and listen for it to come on. This time it did not come on. I pushed the switch on and off a couple of times, but it never came on. The switch to me felt like it was not working. Didn't feel right. So assumed it was the switch. (did check breaker). I had Shirley turn the gas button on while I stood at the heater. Nothing. That was till I pushed the button at the heater to on. Fired right up on gas. So the switch must work.
So oh wise ones :) . Where should I start??
 
A

ARCHER

Senior Member
Re: Suburban Water Heater 2

Hey Shadow, we had an ATWOOD so can't help a lot, but when it would not work on LP, I replaced the ECO and THERMOSTAT located at the access panel on the side of the water heater thru the outside shell. I cleaned the tubing good and it worked just fine. Made sure the LP leak detector was on and working and that the LP was on. May not be relevant to the suburban but who knows. That was on our MH. On the TT we just use electric and have only used it one time (all winter long last year). Have not tried to use it on dual or just LP, but will probably check to make sure it will work on LP in case we need to do that route....oops, just read your post again and I see now that it runs on LP ok. Does it have two switches.....one for LP and one for ELECTRIC? If your ok on LP and it won't start up on electric, how do you know???? You can't hear the electric element heating can you???? I could not hear mine on electric, but I am pretty much deaf so ????? Anyway, nice chatting with ya. Hope you had a good summer so far. We are getting itchy to head back down South to Florida. Been home 4 months and are ready to go. We're going to go over thru Virginia, stop and see Kenneth at GTS and then on to Williamsburg to find where my GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT GRANDPA IS BURIED and also his son. They came from Ireland around 1730. Sorry got off track of you post. Hope someone can help ya. ;) :)
 
Shadow

Shadow

Senior Member
Re: Suburban Water Heater 2

Hey Mike, doing good over here. We keep the trailer at our lot down at the coast. We have city water and sewer with electricity. Plan on maybe building some day. Go at least every other weekend, or when on vacation. Travel a bit with the trailer but mostly use it as our camp house. We have a switch inside for LP, and it has a switch outside for electric. When I turn it on outside you can hear it come on if you have your ear close to it. Don't hear anything now. And won't heat on electric. Good to hear from you, and enjoy Florida. Hope to get that way if I get to retire!!
 
A

ARCHER

Senior Member
Re: Suburban Water Heater 2

Hey Butch, do you know if your getting power down to the heating element or board? Glad all is ok with you and yours. We are just fine. We will be in Melbourne Beach if your near there.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Re: Suburban Water Heater 2

Butch ,, i would do as Archer suggested ,, take a meter and see if u'r getting any power to the element ,, if not ck and see if u'r getting any power to the board (i assume u are ,, cause it lights on lp) but ck the outgoing lead to the element ,, u may have a fried board ,,, opps also ck for power at the switch also ,, as u mentioned before ,, that maybe a prob also ,, let us know ;) :approve: :approve: :approve: :) :)
 
C Nash

C Nash

Senior Member
Re: Suburban Water Heater 2

Butch, ck to see if you have two gizmos, can't remember their proper name , located next to the hot water tank in line before the heat element. they are about the size of a dime and look like dieods. One will have a reset button on the back side that you can reset. they are bad to pop out. mine is located on the inside of the rv and sit against the tank. Probably to keep the water heater from overheat.
 
Shadow

Shadow

Senior Member
Re: Suburban Water Heater 2

Thanks guys. Will see what happens when we get back down there. Has to be something easy. Everything worked great the weekend before..
 
Shadow

Shadow

Senior Member
Re: Suburban Water Heater 2

Went fishing so stopped by the trailer to check on the heater. Chelse, I pressed on the reset buttons you mention. Still didn't come on. Think it's in the switch. Know it's getting power to the switch. Hands were wet when I tried it. Got stung a bit :eek: . Going to check and see if I can just get another switch.
 
Kirk

Kirk

Senior Member
Re: Suburban Water Heater 2

Shadow,
If I understand, the water will heat on propane, but not on 120V power? Is this a Suburban or an Atwood water heater as there are some differences? If I knew which it was I could be more help by checking the service manual. If you visit Bryant RV( http://bryantrv.com/docs.html ) on the web, he has a digital copy of the Suburban water heater service manual posted there. If you have an Atwood, send me a private message with your email address and I can send you a digital copy of the manual for the Atwood or one for Suburban. I know that for an Atwood, there is a separate ECO for the electric element and one for the gas heat so you would need to replace the proper one. If memory serves, Suburbans are that same way, but I'd have to look that up to be sure.

Either one will have different control circuitry for the electric heat from what is used by the propane heat. And for either the best place to start is with a meter by checking to be sure that you have 120V power to the unit, starting at the local switch. It could be that the heating element has failed, as that does happen. They are not difficult to replace so let us know just what you have.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Re: Suburban Water Heater 2

Good for u Shadow ,, u want a job ,, i need a tech bad ,, i like going camping and not worring about the stuff getting done :eek: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
 
Shadow

Shadow

Senior Member
Re: Suburban Water Heater 2

No thanks Rod !! Trying to retire from the job I have. Meet with the financial advisor Friday. Looks like you can put us down for the Sept. get together :bleh:
 
G

Guest

Guest
Re: Suburban Water Heater 2

well good for u ,, and the meet and greet wil prolly be next yr ,, but i am gonna spend labor day at MR this yr ,, they have a big yard sale thingy going on ,, i don't care about it ,, i just need time away ,, u know ,, but i thought it would be fun ,, and maybe this time might catch some fish ,, :eek: :approve: :approve: :approve: :laugh: :laugh:
 
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