Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > RV SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES FORUMS > RV Systems & Appliances
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 04-03-2016, 07:48 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 29
Water heater--replace it?

Our 17 year old Suburban direct spark ignition heater will not light with the switch. I've been able to manually light it a couple of times but considering that it's so old, I'm considering just replacing the whole unit and switch. Looks no more difficult to change than a home unit (and a lot lighter!) They still make the same unit, so it appears to be a swap-out. Any thoughts or suggestions?
__________________
Tim and Sue Stoops
Brooksville, FL - Go Gators!
'99 Alpine Coach 36MDSS
s2per is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 04-03-2016, 07:50 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Dale & Mark Bruss's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,679
Wow, we have been lucky to get up to 6 years before a tank rust out on our Suburban 12 gallon heaters and we change the anode rod every year.
__________________
Dale & Mark Bruss
13 Years Full-Timing Now with a 2016 Bounder 33C
40' Travel Supreme winter residence
Lots of RV Information at www.dmbruss.com
Dale & Mark Bruss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2016, 12:13 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Redapple's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,123
Before you replace the entire unit, I would spend some time lookin at the switch and spark light controls. Since you did light it manually that tells me it is the switch, wiring or control at the wh.

Good luck...
__________________
2020 Grand Design Reflection 315RLTS
2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax
Redapple is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2016, 12:55 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Old-Biscuit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 26,692
Look at it this way........

Suburban uses a steel tank that is glass-lined hence the need for anode rod.
Residential WHs are built the same--------have you ever gotten 17 yrs of use out of a residential WH?
And then take in consideration the bouncing/jarring that your current RV one has gone thru.

Even if you replaced spark/ignition control etc. you still have a 17 yr. old glass-lined tank.
Time for a new unit.

Suburban 6 gallon will fit where a Suburban 6 gallon was.
Same with 10 gallon etc. provided it is same Brand

Suburban swapped with Atwood---------different openings so mods to exterior of rig would be needed

Now is a good time to upgrade to newer and go combo (electric/gas) if OEM isn't already a combo.

17 yrs....you got your monies worth
Old-Biscuit is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
ace, heat, heater, replace, water, water heater



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Water heater on 202 Open Road 30GA Water heater not working ButterflyDog Tiffin Owner's Forum 7 11-17-2015 06:22 AM
Replace old Atwood Water Heater With New Atwood Water Heater GlennLever RV Systems & Appliances 2 07-14-2015 10:41 AM
Leaky hot water heater, repair or replace? EmmyJ Vintage RV's 7 07-04-2013 07:34 AM
Replacing Water heater with tankless water heater? JAFORV2012 Class A Motorhome Discussions 5 09-24-2012 06:48 AM
Help Needed - How to replace hot water heater element? LK23 Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 4 02-23-2008 03:45 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:28 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.