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Koop · 08-05-2013, 03:52 PM

I have a Suburban SW10 DE water heater in my coach. As far as I know, I've never before run it on propane, it only seems to work when I have AC power.

Today when I hooked up to shore power my wife turned on the water heater using a rocker switch over the cooktop. I usually turn it on with a switch that looks like a house light switch near the door. It has a red LED on the switch housing that illuminates when it's switched on.

Today, with shore power and the switch over the cooktop on, my heater fired up on propane. It sounded like a jet engine and got the water so hot that water began to drip from the pressure relief valve. I've looked in the manual but I can't find anything that details running on gas versus electricity or both.

Can anyone school me?

Scarab0088 · 08-05-2013, 04:23 PM

The propane heater and electric coil might not be inter-connected and were both running if switched on. Some folks like that because it decreases the time to recover (makes hot water faster).

Both heaters should be temperature controlled and will shut-off at a preset heat level.

Yes, the water heater makes a fantastic sound on propane...not to worry.

Hot water expands - the dripping relief valve is just a sign that it is about time to replace it. Mine drips when the water is getting hot too, but a quick snap of the arm reseals the valve and stops the dripping...but I really need to replace it.

Sound like everything is working properly.

Safe travels

PlayItForwrd · 08-05-2013, 04:51 PM

The rocker switch on the heater itself is to engage the electric element, the red switch is to activate the propane and the piezo igniter. Now this is important-- the red light on the switch comes on ONLY if propane valve to the burner is on, but the burner IS NOT FIRING YET. As soon as the burner fires, the light should go out. If the burner doesn't light after a short time (because say, the peizo igniter isn't working or the propane tank is shut off) the heater will turn off the piezo pilot and gas to the burner, AND the red light on the switch! Once you start using propane regularly, you'll notice the red light pop on and off as the burner fires.

Because the light doesn't just stay on, you have check the switch position! And I've seen more than one switch mounted so "on" was DOWN, and also some switches aren't marked for on & off..

As for running both at the same time, it's okay to do it, but if you're paying for electric, no reason to waste your propane!

You might want to check your temperature while on propane. Dripping from the relief valve, that usually happens from USING it, just a little bit of calcium build-up will cause them to leak. How I stop the leak is to GENTLY smack the end of the small rod protruding thru the handle a few times with the handle of a bigger screwdriver, that re-seats the valve (for me anyway)

Koop · 08-05-2013, 06:29 PM

Thanks for the responses. I'm still unclear on why the propane ran today and never did in the past. What am I missing?

Arch Hoagland · 08-05-2013, 06:57 PM

Couldn't tell you why it didn't work before but with mine when I have the gas heating on the red light stays lit the entire time it is on.

Every RV I've had leaked a bit from the relief valve. Will usually run the hot water at the kitchen sink for a second or two and drop the pressure.

We will run both if the water hasn't had sufficent time to heat or we have guests all taking showers.