On demand water heater

[1644 Kearny]

Can a person replace a IW60RL water heater with a IW60. If so how do you eliminate the Recirculating loop.

[ChuckS]

Yes.. Several Alpine owners with the piece of junk RL model have removed it and replaced with the standard over the counter IW60 unit..

The lines that would have been connected to the recirculation pump fittings are just capped off...

The IW60 unit has a service manual available and parts are available for it... the IW60RL is OEM builder only and you can't get a service manual and you can't easily buy parts

[4Buck]

You don't like the recirculate model? We have that in our 2021 Alpine and it works great, not sure I would like it without that feature. Makes a huge difference on how fast the water gets hot.

[ChuckS]

The RL model is also prone to cracking that recirculation pump. And there is no service manual available for the RL model should one need for TS.. the IW60 however has good service manual and parts are readily available

When Alpine installed the On Demand IW60RL water heater it was a major screw up

I would not own a fifth wheel that I can’t heat the water electrically

[4Buck]

Well I would guess mine will have a problem come spring. I was told and read that I didn't need to winterize a tankless water heater. Not even sure how to get at mine.

[Mikendebbie]

You did not say what model Alpine you have so I am not sure where your water heater is located. Mine is next to the basement storage. They are easy to remove and replace. My heater is IW60 - not IW60RL. Remove the bulkhead wall in the basement storage compartment. Remove the outside cover. There are a couple of screws toward the back anchoring it to the floor. There are lots of videos that will help.

[Mikendebbie]

Compare the back of the IW60 and the IW60RL...you can see the recirculation fitting on the upper right...so that would be the line to cap. All other connections should fit the IW60...plug and play.

[ChuckS]

Originally Posted by 4Buck

Well I would guess mine will have a problem come spring. I was told and read that I didn't need to winterize a tankless water heater. Not even sure how to get at mine.

Sadly you were given incorrect information on the Airxcel IW60RL WH... IT does require winterization UNLESS you leave it hooked up with LP turned ON so that you can MAYBE Depend on the freeze protection circuit actually preventing the unit from freezing and cracking..

There has already been one Keystone recall on the IW60RL WH due to improper winterization causing the water recirculation pump to freeze and the tank to crack....

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/20...70646-0001.pdf

Page 7 of this service manual will tell you to winterize the on demand unit.. read further in the manual and it will show you how..

https://www.rvupgradestore.com/v/vsp...W60-Manual.pdf

[ChuckS]

Originally Posted by Mikendebbie

Compare the back of the IW60 and the IW60RL...you can see the recirculation fitting on the upper right...so that would be the line to cap. All other connections should fit the IW60...plug and play.

Yup - your instructions on how to replace the IW60RL with the IW60 are spot one.. I know of at least Five Alpine owners that have yanked out the IW60RL and installed the IW60 in its place

[4Buck]

Thanks for the info. Still doesn't say if I should add the pink stuff to the water heater or not?

[4Buck]

Can you still use the same on demand control center if switching out the IW60RL for the IW60?

[ChuckS]

If your control panel looks like this then yes..

https://suburbanrvparts.com/suburban...w60-on-demand/

[ChuckS]

Originally Posted by 4Buck

Thanks for the info. Still doesn't say if I should add the pink stuff to the water heater or not?

RV antifreeze is NOT needed if you drain that recirculation pump and tank as indicated

You can use it if you want but it is not needed.. IMO

[4Buck]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

If your control panel looks like this then yes..

https://suburbanrvparts.com/suburban...w60-on-demand/

Yep looks like this, but has the option to recirculate?

[4Buck]

I would imagine I might as well get one ordered, the chances of mine working are not good when not draining the tank?

[ChuckS]

Originally Posted by 4Buck

I would imagine I might as well get one ordered, the chances of mine working are not good when not draining the tank?

Of you didn’t winterize it properly the tank may crack as shown in the recall notice I posted precisely

I wouldn’t jump and order anything until you visually inspect the WH prior to dewinterize

[Mikendebbie]

Watch this video to see the guts inside the IW60RL...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkTWPQ2hUe0

[4Buck]

Thanks guys, they sure make it sound like the RL model is better? Reading on here it sounds like people like the old model better. We sure liked the recirculate feature last year, to bad I probably ruined ours. I don't even see where you can buy the RL model.

[ChuckS]

You can’t over the counter buy the RL version.. it is an OEM builder only item

[cjenks234]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

Yes.. Several Alpine owners with the piece of junk RL model have removed it and replaced with the standard over the counter IW60 unit..

The lines that would have been connected to the recirculation pump fittings are just capped off...

The IW60 unit has a service manual available and parts are available for it... the IW60RL is OEM builder only and you can't get a service manual and you can't easily buy parts

Where did you cap it off at? If it is not capped in the right place would water just stand in the loop with no where to go?