Can you help with a hot water flow problem?

[Buddy and Beverly]

We have suddenly had almost no flow from our hot water system. Buddy has bypassed the filters (though they were not very dirty), turned the control valves on and off and finally got decent flow (thinking there was an obstruction). Now we don't have any hot water. When we turn the hot side on, water flows. The hot water tank seems to have hot water, and the lines seem to have hot water. He has worked on this for several hours and is at wits end.

The gas does not seem to turn on,but we also have the electric on.

Any suggestions?

Beverly and Buddy

[Buddy and Beverly]

We have suddenly had almost no flow from our hot water system. Buddy has bypassed the filters (though they were not very dirty), turned the control valves on and off and finally got decent flow (thinking there was an obstruction). Now we don't have any hot water. When we turn the hot side on, water flows. The hot water tank seems to have hot water, and the lines seem to have hot water. He has worked on this for several hours and is at wits end.

The gas does not seem to turn on,but we also have the electric on.

Any suggestions?

Beverly and Buddy

[Hitchhiker]

This can happen sometimes if the outside shower valves are left open with the sprayer hose off. If you have one check it.

Regarding the no flow from the hot side, a check valve on the water heater may be stuck. Good luck.

[SteveS]

B&B,
The first thing you need to KNOW for sure if there is hot water in the tank. I presume that there is no hot water from any faucet. If so, you apparently do NOT have hot water in the tank unless you managed to bypass the hot water tank completely. Is the hot water relief valve hot? If it is, your tank does have hot water and you must have bypassed it some way. If you can't tell, depress the relief valve and see if hot water comes out. From your description, I would guess there is no hot water in the tank, in which case you need to check the gas and electric heaters individually.

[Buddy and Beverly]

The shower valve was okay, so that is not the problem.

Water is flowing from the hot water side on both kitchen and bath faucets, though it is not hot.

There is hot water in the tank. Bud has just now checkd. The relief valve is hot, and when depressed a few drops of hot water comes out.

Buddy cannot find any check valves in the line. There is one shut-off valve that he can find. According to our manual, there should be three. Our coach is not plumbed according to the manual. Bud about had a fit when he saw the plumbing. He said he didn't know how it had worked for 18 months. He said it is really screwed up.

Can anyone tell us where he might be missing finding a check valve? The hot water tank is full, and the water is hot; but somehow it is being bypassed. The only valve he has found is in the cold water line tying both cold and hot together. That is the valve he turned on and off to try to find the obstruction.

Thanks for any further help anyone can give.

Bud has just now turned the valve. Then the hot water will come out when the check valve is depressed, but will not flow in our faucets. By they way he had earlier set the flow to go back thru the filters.
36' 2006

Bev and Bud

[TXiceman]

When you lift the safety valve, you should get more than a few drops of hot water, it should be a full flow of water (provided you have the system pressurized).

If you are not getting a flow of water, you need to stat back tracking from the water heater to where it gets it watter source.

Ken

[Buddy and Beverly]

The problem is solved. Buddy found that the hot water heater bypass valve was in an open position from the factory, but the hot water heater had worked in that position for the 18 mos. we have had the coach. Without warning, we lost hot water pressure. With the valve in the proper position, we couldn't get any hot water flow. The check valve in the hot water line where it comes out of the tank was stuck. When he took the check valve out and cleaned it, now we have hot water. He doesn't see how it evern worked befoe. Anyway, we now have MUCH pressure, more than we've ever had since owning the coach.

We had been told at the factory that we had a built in presssure regulator. Buddy has found no sign of that. Before when we put a pressure regulator on it at the hose, we would have almost no pressure. We normally just used our tank water. Now, since it is fixed, we had so much water pressure that he put a pressure on it at the hose, and we still have plenty pressure, more than we ever have had.

Thanks to your suggestions, he kept checking and finally found the problem.

Beverly and Buddy
36' '06 Alpine

[Buddy and Beverly]

I have tried four times this morning to send a reply and thanks to all of you for suggestions, which really helped. Couldn't get it to "send." Will try again.

Problem solved. The hot water relief valve was stuck (Buddy removed and cleaned). The valve for cold water bypassed the hot water tank (don't understand how it worked for 18 mos, though it didn't work well).

We now have more pressure than we've ever had--so nice.

Bev and Bud

[TXiceman]

Glad you get to take a hot shower now. So often the problem is really simple, once you can track it down.

Ken

[Ted III]

Buddy & Beverly, I was going to suggest that you check the by-pass on the hot water heater but in thinking I thought that would be a bit stupid as how have you been getting water for all this time. So I did not bother. Sorry, I guess I should have.

[Ted III]

Buddy, on the other hand did you think Miss Beverly got messing around down there one day and gave that valve a little turn? Beverly, Buddy is allowed to speak for himself. Get your fingers off his throat.