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bigskymt · 10-09-2011, 10:06 AM

We have a Surburban Water heater SW10DE in our '04 KSDP. There is a 110 volt switch and adjoining pilot lamp in the control panel marked water heater. Turning the switch on illuminates the light but no hot water after on all night. The 20 amp breaker marked water heater powers the switch.
Since we rarely ever have hook-ups we've never noticed this problem
Is there something I should be doing besides turning on the switch and off the gas?
TIA for any advice.

pkmesser · 10-09-2011, 10:22 AM

It is probably like mine, there is another switch on the water heater itself. (open the outside hatch door, it is a rocker switch hidden under the control valve).

If you intend to use the elec heating element, leave the switch on the water heater itself on, and control with the one on control panel. (Our elec rates are very high, so when parked at home, I turn the switch off that is on the water heater, so that someone does not inadvertantly power up the water heater on elec

.) BTW, if you want fast recovery, you can use both.

GaryKD · 10-09-2011, 12:06 PM

Hi bigskymt,
There are three places to check.
1. The 120 coach breaker panel is a breaker for the HWH.
2. The rocker switch mentioned by pkmesser.
3. The switch mentioned by you on the control panel inside the coach.

If all three of these switches are in the on position, the next thing to check is the heating element. The heating element and special wrench to remove it should be industry standard. Lowe's or Home Depot should have the wrench and element.

bigskymt · 10-09-2011, 05:10 PM

Thanks Guys: I measured 122.4 VAC at the element connections and 311K ohms at the element with wires disconnected. Guess I've got an open element. Thanks Gary for the Lowes or HD advice.
My wife was hoping I didn't know how to turn it on....................always the optimist.