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Old 01-11-2010, 05:39 PM   #1
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Mixing Valve in Water Heater

We have an Atwood Water Heater and recently have noted that our hot water is warm at the tap (100 to 104 degrees) but at the heater it is 135 to 140 degrees. This leads us to believe that...once again...the mixing valve has failed. Today we took the MH in for service on the water heater. First of all, the technicians claimed we didn't have a mixing valve on it. At which point, we said..."oh yes we do...and here is the previous service order where it was replaced". Shocked as they were, they did look and sure enough there was the valve. They have suggested that we bypass...or remove entirely...the valve. However, we note that it will void the warrantee on the water heater. Have any of you done that? If so, how and have you had good results?
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Old 01-11-2010, 05:50 PM   #2
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The Atwood heater that has a mixing valve is supposed to do what you describe. A conventional 10 gallon heater gives you 10 gallons of hot water, The XT is supposed to heat the water hotter than a normal heater and then through the mixing valve, mix it with colder water to deliver a total of 16 gallons of hot water.

It seems it is working correctly, the problem may be that the temperature is set too low at the tank and when you mix the 10 gallons of hot (140 degrees) with 6 gallons of cold (ambient, 40-60 degrees or less depending on where you are in the USA today), you go from 140 down to about a 104 degrees.

Is there an adjustment to increase the temp at the tank and/or an adjustment on the mixing valve to allow a greater percentage of the hot verses the cold for the mix?
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Old 01-11-2010, 05:57 PM   #3
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As Jim notes, removing the valve will reduce your hot water capacity and deliver dangerously hot water.

I'd replace it.
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Old 01-12-2010, 02:56 AM   #4
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It has been found and is required maintenance to remove, soak the valve assembly in hot white vinegar to remove mineral deposits that hinder it from working properly. Unless you have a water softener ahead of the water inlet you will probably have to do this when the water does not seem to be as hot as before.
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Old 01-12-2010, 04:54 AM   #5
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I assume the thermostat in the Atwood water heater is fixed and can't be adjusted for temperature, and removing the mixing valve would result in dangerously hot water as Dirk says.

If you get tired of replacing and/or soaking the mixing valve and wanted to remove it completely, would it be possible to replace the 140 degree thermostat with a standard one? That way the temperature wouldn't be dangerously hot, although you would have less volume of hot water. We get along fine with 2 people and a washer/dryer with a standard 10 gal. water heater. We just allow 15 to 30 minutes between showers, and the water is plenty hot. Oh yeah...make sure you don't start the washer just as someone steps into the shower either.
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Old 01-12-2010, 05:27 AM   #6
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As posted, do not by-pass the mixing valve. You will have water that is way too hot. The mixing valve has a red or black plastic "knob" on it. In the center is a allen head screw, remove the screw then pull the "knob" off. This gives access to the temp adjusting screw. Adjust this to give more"mixed hot water" at your faucet then install the "knob".

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Old 01-12-2010, 02:42 PM   #7
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Thank you all! We have a mixing valve kit on order and will have it installed when it arrives. I did speak with Atwood Customer service and they verified almost everything you have advised. Their only comment was that we shouldn't try to adjust the mixing valve as Richard suggested. We were happy when it was working properly...and will be again tomorrow!! They did send me a "new" owner's manual which states that the tank should be flushed every 60 days for full-timers or every 30 days in the SW USA and for part-timers twice a year or every 90 days if in the SW USA. They also suggest using the solution described for ridding the tank of unpleasant odors annually to clean the tank of any accumulated scale deposits. By the way, we'll do a water softener too!
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