No Water from Hot Water Faucets

[bdbeal412]

I have a 2001 Keystone Sprinter 327RL. Recently, the hot water faucets stopped working (mostly). When I turn a hot water faucet, I get a few seconds of water and then nothing. The water heater appears to be working normally. I removed the anode rod from the hot water heater and there was plenty of water in the heater. The anode rod was a bit corroded, even though it was replaced in the Spring. Not sure what to try next, but hot water is pretty important. Any ideas on how I might fix this? Thx.

Oh, the cold water works fine, so the pump is working.

[Carl n Susan]

Two common causes:
1) The hot water heater bypass is "on"
2) The check valve on the hot water output line has failed.

[ChuckS]

One other thing TK check is if you have an outside shower station in your water compartment make sure the hot and cold are turned off... otherwise you’ll have no hot water...

My moneys on a sticking hot side water heater check valve .. pic shows what one looks like on Suburban water heater

Valve is the brass fitting on top side

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

Valve is the brass fitting on top side

Could be a blackish grey plastic also.

[CrazyCain]

Is it only one faucet that the Hot water will not come out? I had that happen the last time i was out camping, hot water worked in the bathroom but not the kitchen. Turned out crude was blocking the screen in the faucet..all is well now.

[bdbeal412]

It is all of the hot water faucets. At this point, I think it must be something blocking the check valve. Will try to replace it.

Thanks for all the responses.

[bdbeal412]

Thanks, but there is no outside shower. I actually didn't know there was a check valve on the water heater. I know it is not in "bypass mode", since I had never open the panel to the hot water tank, before.

[ChuckS]

Often sediment that occurs as a result of the anode rod performing its function collects at the bottom of tank and some of it can become trapped in the check valve on the outlet side of water heater. This is why it’s paramount to drain and rinse out the water heater a few times a year... depending on use

If you have no hot water at any faucet and the water heater is working then check valve is the only thing that will cause your issue at all faucets.

Assuming of course the water heater ain’t in bypass mode and the water is actually being heated

[bdbeal412]

I got the check valve replaced and the problem is fixed. Thanks for your help. I am curious how I would go about flushing the tank. It was pretty hard to get to

[flybouy]

What type heater? Suburban? If it's s Suburban you unscrew the anode rod (after you shut down the heater, turn off the water, let it cool down, oppen hot water spigot to relieve pressure). Pull out the anode rod and either turn on water to flush out the hole or you can but a water heater "wand" that screws on a garden hose and you can insert it thru the hole.

If it's not a Suburban then there should be a plastic drain plug instead of an anode rod.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

One other thing TK check is if you have an outside shower station in your water compartment make sure the hot and cold are turned off... otherwise you’ll have no hot water...

My moneys on a sticking hot side water heater check valve .. pic shows what one looks like on Suburban water heater

Valve is the brass fitting on top side

Learn something new every day. What is the purpose of this check valve?

[bobbecky]

When a rig is set up with a valve to turn to put the water heater into bypass mode instead of having to access the back of the tank to turn two valves, the bypass function is actually just to turn off cold water to the tank. if no water is going in, then none is coming out. In order to keep water out of the tank coming from the hot outlet, a check valve is installed to only allow water to go out, but not in. On many rigs, access to the rear of the water heater is practically not possible, so this is how they make winterizing your rig possible.

[ChuckS]

I think on the Suburban water heaters the biggest cause of the hot side check valve sticking closed is sediment inside the tank caused by the magnesium anode rod ...

Personally I remove my anode rod upon every return from a trip and flush out the inside of the tank and reinstall anode rod with new Teflon tape on the threads..

Only take a few minutes.. keeps tank clean, prevents sediment build up, and makes taking that anode out very easy.

[wiredgeorge]

Thanks. I have easy access to the winterizing bypass valve but never noticed any valve; will have to take a look. Our water heater is behind a screwed on panel under a kitchen cabinet. I have winterized my camper several times by shutting off water to the water heater tank, drained it and blew out the lines. I like to add some antifreeze to pee traps if it looks like freezing temps for more than a few days.

[LHaven]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

Learn something new every day. What is the purpose of this check valve?

I always presumed it was to keep the cold water from looping around back into the water heater through your open shower faucet assembly when you activated the shutoff (or dribble-shutoff) on the shower head.

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

Thanks. I have easy access to the winterizing bypass valve but never noticed any valve; will have to take a look. Our water heater is behind a screwed on panel under a kitchen cabinet. I have winterized my camper several times by shutting off water to the water heater tank, drained it and blew out the lines. I like to add some antifreeze to pee traps if it looks like freezing temps for more than a few days.

George, the check valve looks like a close/short nipple, either plastic or brass, into the top of water heater, it doesn't look like a "check valve" that you may be thinking of.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

Thanks. I have easy access to the winterizing bypass valve but never noticed any valve; will have to take a look. Our water heater is behind a screwed on panel under a kitchen cabinet. I have winterized my camper several times by shutting off water to the water heater tank, drained it and blew out the lines. I like to add some antifreeze to pee traps if it looks like freezing temps for more than a few days.

George if you only have one valve on your water heater than you have a check valve, otherwise you would have 2 valves to turn to winterize.

[wiredgeorge]

My water heater. Do I have a check valve? The single bypass valve is on the rear of the cold water tee in the first image.

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

My water heater. Do I have a check valve? The single bypass valve is on the rear of the cold water tee in the first image.

Yep!
That short fitting in the top/hot that the 90 is threaded onto is the check, it appears to be brass & will only allow hot water out of the tank.

[JRTJH]

Here's a photo of the check valve and "its innerds"....