Community Forums

namwob · 02-15-2010, 01:42 PM

How often does the water heater need replacing? My MH is 11 years old and has the original Suburban 10gal heater. The reset light for the electrical element comes on when I try to use that function, but the reset buttons don’t seem to help… any suggestions?

Gary RVRoamer · 02-15-2010, 04:17 PM

RV water heaters last indefinitely, but you might need a replacement heater element. They can burn out, especially if you have been in an area with hard water( or if you ever turned it on when the tank was empty).

RV Wizard · 02-16-2010, 03:25 AM

Your water heater tank if maintained properly should last you a life time. The electric heating portion of the water heater did not come with a reset light. You may however have a lighted 120vac toggle switch that may be going bad. The LP gas mode has a light if ignition fails. Have you tried heating on electric mode and made sure that no breakers were tripped?

Roadking · 02-23-2010, 10:35 AM

While working on your heater take the time to flush the tank. If the tank is not periodically flushed then failure due to leakage could occur within just a few years. This type of leakage is typcially caused by electrolisis from chemical reactions when using the 110VAC heater. This electrolisis is minimized in Suburban heaters via an aluminum "anode rod" that should periodically be replaced, maybe every two or three years depending on use. Check your owners manual. THe tanks in Atwood heaters are made of a "special" coated aluminum and these units do not require anode rods, however, Atwood still recommends periodic flushing.

I full time and went two years since my last flushing and then began getting an odor from the hot water. Clearly to much time had passed since the last flushing. To flush I remove the drain plug and the Thermo-Popoff-Valve (TPV) and use a flushing wand and flush until the water flows clear. This takes at least 5 to 10 minutes of flushing with a strong water flow and a wand that can be inserted into the tank.

It's amazing how much stuff, rust, calcium, sediment, junk, can be flushed. Good luck on your repairs.