Our water heater quit working & there's plenty of propane! Eek

[doodlebug52]

Gawd, if it isn't one thing, it's another during the worst winter we've seen for awhile in Utah.

We have a 1997 Jayco Eagle 5th Wheel.

We are parked in an RV park for the winter. Because of the extreme cold, my husband decided to leave the water heater on all night. Water was hot at bedtime. Propane tank full.

I don't know why he did it, since we've been doing fine with the wood skirting, the light underneath our black/gray tanks and the light inserted into the area where the water heater is.

But this morning....the water was NOT hot. And the water heater won't come on. Nothing frozen. He doesn't know how to turn the water heater on manually.

Help.

[Jim Stewart]

Is it both electric and gas? You could switch it over to elevtric if you have enough power to run it on electric with your elctric heaters (if you are using them).

When you try to turn it on, do you hear it trying to light or not?

[RVThere]

What brand is the water heater?

There is a thermal cut off wire that may have melted. This wire goes from the propane controller (lower left of water heater) up to near the circuit board. Check that first.

[Ray,IN]

A few thoughts from the cobwebs of my mind_. The water heater requires 12VDC to operate, make sure your house battery is fully charged. When attempting to light the heater, do you hear a snapping while standing at the outside access door? If so the ignition part is working. LP gas, the regulator may be frozen if there is moisture in the tank, preventing gas flow, attempt to warm it some with a hair dryer.

[doodlebug52]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVThere What brand is the water heater? There is a thermal cut off wire that may have melted. This wire goes from the propane controller (lower left of water heater) up to near the circuit board. Check that first.

Well, turns out you were correct, RVThere. The RV guy came out to our RV and it was the Thermal Cutoff. He changed it; my husband watched intently so he could do it next time. Cost? $74.91 (service call, part and labor), but worth it the first time, I guess

Thanks everyone!

[RVThere]

A spare Thermal Cutoff is one spare part to ALWAYS carry in your rig!

There are other threads where we all list the 'hardware store' that we carry along with rest of our gear. You may want to check those out so you can start building your mobile tool chest.

Enjoy the hot water!

[Ray,IN]

Doodlebug you got off a bit cheaper than I. My lesson on the water heater PC board cost me $81 back in 1998. The mobile service technician simply un-plugged each wire from the board a few times and the heater fired right up. He was kind enough to tell me the connections corrode and lose connectivity as they age.