HELP needed with Water Heater!!!!!

Helptasha · 01-06-2018, 03:02 PM

I'm new here on this forum and have never been on a forum... Don't even know if I'm doing this right...
My issue is, it got below freezing and I was out of propane so I turned water off at source and didn't stay in here for a couple days... When I came back and turned the water back on, I immediately started cleaning and taking a shower(hot water) but I noticed first the hot water while washing dishes didn't last long... So I waited for shower... Then taking shower I noticed water turned cold pretty quickly... About 2 hours after turning main water source on(after dishes after shower) I started smelling something burning... And it was coming from hot water heater... No smoke inside(the inside access is under the queen bed in my 04 outback) so I went outside and opened the w/h door and I noticed water was spewing out of the pressure valve(I now know it's a pressure valve from you tube��I'm new at rving) so I immediately turned the water off... Then after watching YouTube videos I found out I'm supposed to empty the w/h ever so often(I was never informed of this) so a couple days later of no running water I decided to try to turn water back on to rv... I opened the pressure valve and it POURED out the pressure valve... And would not stop until I finally turned water off at the source....

**sourdough** · 01-06-2018, 03:27 PM

I think we need a moderator to move this into a new thread just for your predicament. Then everyone can offer help..

**sourdough** · 01-06-2018, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helptasha

I'm new here on this forum and have never been on a forum... Don't even know if I'm doing this right...
My issue is, it got below freezing and I was out of propane so I turned water off at source and didn't stay in here for a couple days... When I came back and turned the water back on, I immediately started cleaning and taking a shower(hot water) but I noticed first the hot water while washing dishes didn't last long... So I waited for shower... Then taking shower I noticed water turned cold pretty quickly... About 2 hours after turning main water source on(after dishes after shower) I started smelling something burning... And it was coming from hot water heater... No smoke inside(the inside access is under the queen bed in my 04 outback) so I went outside and opened the w/h door and I noticed water was spewing out of the pressure valve(I now know it's a pressure valve from you tube��I'm new at rving) so I immediately turned the water off... Then after watching YouTube videos I found out I'm supposed to empty the w/h ever so often(I was never informed of this) so a couple days later of no running water I decided to try to turn water back on to rv... I opened the pressure valve and it POURED out the pressure valve... And would not stop until I finally turned water off at the source....

I have sent a PM to moderators requesting this be moved to a new thread properly titled to get you help as quickly as possible.

**sourdough** · 01-06-2018, 03:47 PM

Is the pressure valve open? Look at the little lever. It should be in the down position vs. in the up position which opens it. The valve could be faulty and need replacement or you could have over pressured the tank causing it to open.
Realize that you have a very limited amount of hot water with a 6? gal. tank. If you have a unit that can use both LP and 12V you can have more hot water but I have no idea what kind of systems you have. Check the valve first.

ctbruce · 01-06-2018, 03:52 PM

Tasha, you said that you opened the pressure valve on your water heater. Did you also close it? You didn't say in your post. If you don't close it it will spew water all over.

You also said that you ran out of propane. I am assuming that you have filled your tanks. It sounds like you are trying to run on electric which heats slower than propane and that your water heater is not lighting on propane. Could you give a little more information?

sonofcy · 01-06-2018, 05:12 PM

First look up the procedure for shutting off the water. You can NOT just turn off the supply valve, the water in the lines will freeze and cause much damage. Part of that procedure is instructions on emptying the hot water tank. Unfortunately, this is one of those cases where what you do not know will hurt you. The following google search will get you started. There are 2 ways of doing it, one involves RV anti-freeze and the other compressed air. Good luck.

https://www.google.ca/search?newwind....0.vhVXlqPYi8c

**sourdough** · 01-06-2018, 05:16 PM

I'm not clear on if you are living in the rv, it's seasonal or ?? More info would be greatly beneficial.

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