Many fashionable RVs characteristic tankless or on-demand water heaters. Whereas these RV water heaters provide practically limitless sizzling water when related to metropolis water and sewer hookups, they’ll nonetheless require troubleshooting like all RV home equipment. Is your RV tankless water heater not working? Let’s define some fundamental RV troubleshooting you’ll be able to carry out earlier than scheduling a service appointment.
Key Takeaways
- Widespread Points & Causes: RV tankless water heaters might expertise issues like chilly water spurts, mineral buildup, system overload, error codes, or lack of flame, usually because of water stream inconsistencies, propane points, or electrical faults.
- Fundamental Troubleshooting Steps: Test for adequate water provide, energy, and propane; confirm exterior and inner switches are on; examine for leaks, blockages, or venting points; and clear or descale parts as wanted.
- When to Search Skilled Assist: If troubleshooting efforts don’t resolve the difficulty, particularly with persistent ignition failure or advanced error codes, an RV service heart ought to be contacted for additional inspection.
How Does a Tankless Water Heater Work in an RV?
Efficient troubleshooting begins with understanding the essential working procedures of an RV tankless water heater. Most fashions have an On/Off change on the unit’s exterior, which you will discover by opening the surface entry panel. This change have to be within the On place for the within command panel to work.
Technician Tip: Flip that change off when storing or winterizing your RV to take away energy from the water heater and keep away from battery drain or different points.
With the outside change on, you’ll be able to management the water heater from the inside panel. This allows you to flip it on and off and management your most well-liked temperature setting. With the within panel turned on, the water heater robotically provides sizzling water anytime an inside sizzling water faucet is opened.
Widespread RV Tankless Water Heater Issues
Whether or not you’re new to an RV with a tankless water heater or your heater has begun performing out of the strange, you’ll profit from realizing about these frequent RV tankless water heater issues.
- Chilly Water. With water heaters which have tanks, sizzling water comes from that tank when a sizzling faucet is opened. With tankless water heaters, you would possibly expertise spurts of cooler water between hotter water. Some name this the “chilly water sandwich” drawback.
- Mineral Deposits. Commonest in areas with tougher water, minerals can construct up contained in the water heater over time. As mineral deposits develop, your tankless water heater’s efficiency and effectivity might lower.
- Error Codes. The inside show might sign numerous water heater points. A few of the commonest error codes relate to inadequate LP provide, improper venting, or lack of energy. Every water heater producer’s error codes might sign completely different issues.
- System Overload. This happens when water demand exceeds what the water heater can ship. Conversely, it may occur when the availability is decrease than the water heater is looking for. The 2 main causes are inadequate water strain and opening a number of taps concurrently.
- Lack of Flame. A failed ignition may have a number of causes, akin to inadequate LP provide, a defective ignition change, or a burner blockage.
What To Do if Your RV Tankless Water Heater Is Not Working
Addressing your water heater problem requires figuring out the more than likely trigger. Begin by asking these easy questions:
- Are you related to metropolis water? Or do you’ve substantial water in your contemporary water holding tank?
- Is the water heater show on? If not, does the unit have adequate energy, and is the outside change turned on?
- Does the water heater have adequate propane to produce the burner? And do you hear the burner igniting when a sizzling fixture is opened?
These fundamental questions allow you to guarantee your water heater has its three necessities for correct operation: water, energy, and propane. If you happen to’re nonetheless having hassle along with your RV tankless water heater not working, attempt these fundamental troubleshooting ideas based mostly on the first water heater issues outlined above:
Chilly Water
After I purchased my first RV with a tankless water heater, my walkthrough technician really useful utilizing solely the new faucet when showering, versus mixing cold and warm water as I’d historically executed with my propane-electric DSI water heater. I turned the temperature setting on the water heater right down to a extra affordable stage in order that I may use solely sizzling water when showering.
Technician Tip: When utilizing cold and warm, the chance is occasional cool water spurts which are annoying however innocent. When utilizing sizzling water solely with out turning the thermostat right down to a secure stage, there might be no cool water to mood the heated water, and burns may end result if the temperature spikes.
This can be an choice for you, however listed here are two extra ideas for fixing your chilly water problem:
- Modify water stream till you discover a extra constant temperature
- Add a mixing valve to create a steadier sizzling water provide
Mineral Deposits
Water high quality varies vastly from supply to supply. Most homeowners use an RV water filtration system to take away minerals, chemical compounds, and different contaminants earlier than water enters their RV plumbing. Nevertheless, not all techniques filter out 100% of contaminants.
So, when you can scale back mineral buildups utilizing a filter or an RV water softener, tankless water heaters are extraordinarily delicate to the quantity of flowing water and received’t work correctly if the stream is lowered.
Technician Tip: Filters and softeners can scale back the stream to the purpose that the water heater doesn’t come on, particularly in the event that they aren’t frequently maintained. Water softeners depend on a surge tank in order that water techniques aren’t starved for stream, however they’re restricted in measurement in RVs, so they could create a restrict to the size of time a sizzling bathe can final.
Use the next tip in case you suspect a buildup in your tankless water heater:
- Descale the unit frequently utilizing vinegar or a industrial descaler designed for this objective. All the time observe the producer’s directions.
Error Codes
Learn the proprietor’s guide to your RV tankless water heater to grasp its error codes. Your troubleshooting steps will rely on the error code you’re seeing, however listed here are some frequent checks:
- Is the LP provide connection safe and leak-free?
- Is the water heater correctly vented?
- Are all energy connections absolutely plugged in?
- Is the battery disconnect turned on?
- Is the battery correctly put in, charged, and frequently maintained?
System Overload
All RV homeowners ought to be aware of water utilization when tenting. One draw back of tankless RV water heaters is that they’ll lead you to make use of extra water than conventional fashions. Nevertheless, there are a number of methods you’ll be able to defend towards system overload past monitoring water utilization and avoiding opening a number of taps concurrently:
- Improve to an adjustable RV water strain regulator or a excessive stream quantity strain regulator to optimize water strain and stream
- Take into account a extra highly effective RV water pump so long as it’s safely rated to your RV plumbing.
Lack of Flame
A scarcity of ignition is the more than likely trigger to have your RV on-demand water heater professionally inspected. Nevertheless, attempt these fast RV water heater troubleshooting ideas earlier than searching for additional help.
- Confirm an satisfactory quantity of LP fuel in container(s)
- Guarantee LP fuel valve(s) are absolutely turned on
- Test, clear, and re-install faucet aerators
- Test LP connections for leaks and/or obstructions
- Take away blockages within the burner tube, if current
- Examine for unfastened wiring connections within the exhaust openings or proof of critter exercise
Nonetheless Have RV Tankless Water Heater Issues?
We hope these troubleshooting ideas have solved your problem. But when your RV tankless water heater nonetheless isn’t working, contact a licensed RV service heart to schedule an inspection as we speak.
Troubleshooting is simply part of RV life. Use these further assets in case you’re tinkering with different RV techniques:
Is your RV tankless water heater not working? Inform us extra concerning the problem so we will provide personalized troubleshooting recommendation!
