no inside hot water

[Kirk W]

We get cold water. Then if we turn the handle at the back of the hot water heater, the hot water side totally stops. But the cold one will still flow.

That definitely sounds like a problem with the check valve. It could have been installed backward on the new install if it has not ever worked or it has failed if not. If you are not comfortable working on it, I suggest that you take it back to the shop that put in the new water heater.

If you take a look at this online Suburban Water Heater Trouble Shooting Guide, starting on page 14 there are directions for exactly how to replace the check valve.

[kathydavidb]

It is the atwood one, we can open the valve on that outside, hot water will burn you. The only lever inside at the back of the hot water heater, if we put it in the up and down position, it shuts down all the hot water faucets, no water comes out inside the Motorhome. The shower head outside only has cold water also.

It seems that the water is HOT but is not getting out to your faucets. To me I would suspect a valve in the off position somewhere. I would start at the heater and trace the water line checking all shut offs along the way. If all is in the open position then check the shower heads and shower faucet handles like Kirk suggests. The good thing is your hot water heater is heating the water hot. You just need to trace down why it's not getting out of the heater. Good luck, Dave.

[Guest ticat900]

We get cold water. Then if we turn the handle at the back of the hot water heater, the hot water side totally stops. But the cold one will still flow.

Ok thanks for finally clairifying that situation

The only thing I can think of is the bypass system is not shutting the cold water off to the bypass so cold is flowing to the tank and also bypassing to the hot line at the same time because when you turn the bypass valve it should not stop cold water from the tap but would stop hot water and you said when you turn the tap(winter bypass)whichever way you can at the water tank you get No water flow from the tap .it should not do that

[Kirk W]

 

Mulready, did you ever get the hot water to work properly?

 

[F350R]

Kirk / All,

 

Here is a picture (my photobucket) that Patty (friends of mine) sent me a week or so ago of the back side of the water heater. I've not seen one done this way all of my campers have had the 3 valve system for winterizing. So the top hot water outlet at the tank is a plastic check valve that everyone is talking about? That being the case then the check valve must be defective. I can see where the 3 valve way would be better, valves don't generally fail. I couldn't really see how the check valve system works until someone posted a different picture of it earlier on, makes sense now how it will bypass when the only valve is switched. They are making hot water I verified that over the phone the other day. I'll see if I can hit her up on FB.

 

They also told me that they have 2 different switches for 2 different water pumps, that one still has me stumped, I've not seen a motor home that required 2 water pumps, maybe some sort of flush system for the black tank? They are somewhere in Florida enjoying the warmth, I am in Colorado enjoying a light snow.

 

<a href="http://s554.photobucket.com/user/F350R/media/2014%20Pictures/10-14-14%20Truck%20Detail/1251_zps4f201bad.jpeg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i554.photobucket.com/albums/jj404/F350R/2014%20Pictures/10-14-14%20Truck%20Detail/1251_zps4f201bad.jpeg" border="0" alt=" photo 1251_zps4f201bad.jpeg"/></a>

 

 

Mike

[Pat & Pete]

 

 

So the top hot water outlet at the tank is a plastic check valve that everyone is talking about?

 

We had a plastic check valve go bad . Same place , if I recall .

I replaced it with a metal valve , which cost only a couple dollars more than the plastic .

[F350R]

I've looked at that picture several times. The fitting on the top outlet looks to be the same as the bottom fitting, there may not even be a check valve there. Nothing worse than taking a cold shower when your not even in trouble.

[Guest ticat900]

Kirk / All,

 

Here is a picture (my photobucket) that Patty (friends of mine) sent me a week or so ago of the back side of the water heater. I've not seen one done this way all of my campers have had the 3 valve system for winterizing. So the top hot water outlet at the tank is a plastic check valve that everyone is talking about? That being the case then the check valve must be defective. I can see where the 3 valve way would be better, valves don't generally fail. I couldn't really see how the check valve system works until someone posted a different picture of it earlier on, makes sense now how it will bypass when the only valve is switched. They are making hot water I verified that over the phone the other day. I'll see if I can hit her up on FB.

 

They also told me that they have 2 different switches for 2 different water pumps, that one still has me stumped, I've not seen a motor home that required 2 water pumps, maybe some sort of flush system for the black tank? They are somewhere in Florida enjoying the warmth, I am in Colorado enjoying a light snow.

 

<a href="http://s554.photobucket.com/user/F350R/media/2014%20Pictures/10-14-14%20Truck%20Detail/1251_zps4f201bad.jpeg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i554.photobucket.com/albums/jj404/F350R/2014%20Pictures/10-14-14%20Truck%20Detail/1251_zps4f201bad.jpeg" border="0" alt=" photo 1251_zps4f201bad.jpeg"/></a>

 

 

Mike

[Pat & Pete]

I've looked at that picture several times. The fitting on the top outlet looks to be the same as the bottom fitting, there may not even be a check valve there. Nothing worse than taking a cold shower when your not even in trouble.

 

They look the same because they are the same . Seems to me that both have check valves : one in one direction and the other the opposite direction . Top to stop back flow into the tank and the bottom to stop back flow out of the tank .

 

Similar to :

 

[Guest ticat900]

 

They look the same because they are the same . Seems to me that both have check valves : one in one direction and the other the opposite direction . Top to stop back flow into the tank and the bottom to stop back flow out of the tank .

 

Similar to :

 

[Pat & Pete]

I see it as being plumbed correctly . The handle indicating that it's currently in by pass position . Turn the handle up for hot water .

 

It's plumbed virtually the same , but for the bottom check valve , as the tank in our Monaco .

[Guest ticat900]

I see it as being plumbed correctly . The handle indicating that it's currently in by pass position . Turn the handle up for hot water .

 

It's plumbed virtually the same , but for the bottom check valve , as the tank in our Monaco .

[Guest ticat900]

We get cold water. Then if we turn the handle at the back of the hot water heater, the hot water side totally stops. But the cold one will still flow.

The more I digest this deal the more I go back to what I suggested 3 weeks ago.The Hot water tank one way out flow back check valve is stuck shut or looking at the picture has one in the bottom installed the wrong direction (if those grey pipe nipple extentions are one way flow valves)

 

you don't have two water pumps you have two switches usually one in the kitchen and one in the bathroom or three like mine as one in the wet bay

for outside shower

[Pat & Pete]

Kirk / All,

 

Here is a picture (my photobucket) that Patty (friends of mine) sent me a week or so ago of the back side of the water heater. I've not seen one done this way all of my campers have had the 3 valve system for winterizing. So the top hot water outlet at the tank is a plastic check valve that everyone is talking about? That being the case then the check valve must be defective. I can see where the 3 valve way would be better, valves don't generally fail. I couldn't really see how the check valve system works until someone posted a different picture of it earlier on, makes sense now how it will bypass when the only valve is switched. They are making hot water I verified that over the phone the other day. I'll see if I can hit her up on FB.

 

They also told me that they have 2 different switches for 2 different water pumps, that one still has me stumped, I've not seen a motor home that required 2 water pumps, maybe some sort of flush system for the black tank? They are somewhere in Florida enjoying the warmth, I am in Colorado enjoying a light snow.

 

<a href="http://s554.photobucket.com/user/F350R/media/2014%20Pictures/10-14-14%20Truck%20Detail/1251_zps4f201bad.jpeg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i554.photobucket.com/albums/jj404/F350R/2014%20Pictures/10-14-14%20Truck%20Detail/1251_zps4f201bad.jpeg" border="0" alt=" photo 1251_zps4f201bad.jpeg"/></a>

 

 

Mike

 

Mike ,

 

Is that a pic of the Original Poster's water heater ?

[Kirk W]

Mike, I'd bet the others who say they have two check valves, to cold one allowing flow into the tank that the hot allowing out only. That isn't commonly done but but looks to be what they have.

 

They also told me that they have 2 different switches for 2 different water pumps, that one still has me stumped, I've not seen a motor home that required 2 water pumps, maybe some sort of flush system for the black tank?

I have never seen any RV with two water pumps(from the factory) but I have seen many that had two switches for the one fresh water pump, located in different areas. In fact, that is actually quite common with one near the kitchen and one in the bathroom, or sometimes one inside of the RV and one in the wet-bay. I'd be willing to wager that your friend has the same thing, one fresh water pump with two on/off switches.

[F350R]

Turns out one of the check valves was in backwards, thanks everyone.

[Barbaraok]

A check valve. Yup, just like I suggested in post #6, funny little thing that once you replace it you will know the instant it needs to be replaced again.

 

Barb

[Guest ticat900]

A check valve. Yup, just like I suggested in post #6, funny little thing that once you replace it you will know the instant it needs to be replaced again.

 

Barb

yes you and I both suggested it was a check valve BUT I was the only one that suggested it was one in backwards