RV Water Heater Maintenance
TL;DR: Regular maintenance of your RV's water heater is crucial for its longevity and efficiency. Understand how it works and the specific needs of your brand (e.g., Suburban or Atwood). Tasks include replacing the anode rod, flushing the tank, checking the electric heater element, and inspecting vents for debris buildup. Clean the burner tube to prevent fire hazards and ensure hot water for your RV adventures.
Having hot water is one of the most luxurious differences between RV camping and tent camping. As with most RV appliances, your water heater needs regular maintenance to function correctly. Haven’t checked yours in a while? Don’t panic. Harvest Hosts has a simple guide to maintaining your water heater. Yours will be back to tip-top shape in no time.
Basics
In order to be able to maintain your water heater, you must first understand how this appliance works. On the most basic level, RV water heaters function similarly to those in traditional homes. A heating element heats the water in the tank. Then, when you turn on a hot water faucet, hot water is pulled from the tank and comes out of the faucet or shower. As hot water is pulled from the tank, cold water is pulled back into the tank and continues to be heated. If your RV water heater is switched on, it will continue to heat water if you are actively using hot water, or if the temperature of the water drops below the default temperature setting.Most RV water heaters run on either electric or propane, and most can utilize both electric and propane at the same time to increase the amount of hot water produced. Most RVers prefer to use electricity to heat their water in order to conserve propane. The most popular manufacturers of RV water heaters are Atwood (now Dometic) and Suburban. Unlike other RV appliances, there are some major differences between the two brands. Suburban tanks are made of porcelain-lined steel. They also include an anode rod that helps eliminate rust and deterioration of the tank. Atwood (Dometic) water heaters are made of light-weight aluminum tanks and do not have an anode rod. Another increasingly popular choice among RVers is the switch to a tankless water heater. These eliminate the need for a tank (which frees up that extra weight) and provide on-demand hot water.
General Maintenance
Most RV water heaters require some sort of general maintenance to prevent deterioration due to build-up. You must always consult your manual before beginning any maintenance and always ensure the power to your water heater is off by flipping the breaker switch. If you are removing your drain plug, anode rod, or attempting to drain it, the water heater must be off and cooled down. The water also needs to be off. Most water heaters have a pressure-release valve that needs to be opened as well. If you do not feel comfortable performing this maintenance, feel free to take your RV to a mechanic for its routine tune-ups.