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Topic: Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater (Read 3842 times) previous topic - next topic

Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater

Pulled into the campground this afternoon and water was leaking from my water heater. I have the 10 gallon Atwood with 110, propane, motor aid. I started looking for a new one online and discovered they are $1700 to $2000. They are also in extremely short supply.

I tried looking with a mirror and with a remote camera, it appears the water is coming from the bottom of the water heater on the backside. I've bypassed the hot water heater so I can function with cold water. You can buy tankless and suburban water heaters for about half of the cost. I'm going to be stuck changing this out in a campground somewhere, and I need to make a decision quickly if I'm going to purchase the Atwood, because it will have to be delivered to my sons house in Albuquerque. We are on the road until October. Bad timing.

I also can't figure out what comes out in order to remove the water heater. I just finished installing a residential refrigerator. I'm a little worn down at the moment. The current hot water heater is original to the coach.

Re: Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater

Reply #1 –
Not having a propane coach water heater I can only guess that it would have an anode rod that periodically needs replacement to stop electrolysis from eating the tank. If not then they have a finite life and yours may have died. Taking it out and brazing or soldering a patch might be possible. 

Re: Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater

Reply #2 –

Short term solution?
Amazon.com: Bosch Electric Mini-Tank Water Heater Tronic 3000 T 4-Gallon...
I had considered this before I repaired our aqua hot. I know nothing about them and if the would be large enough. Just a idea

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Re: Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater

Reply #3 –
Quote from: craneman –
Not having a propane coach water heater I can only guess that it would have an anode rod that periodically needs replacement to stop electrolysis from eating the tank. If not then they have a finite life and yours may have died. Taking it out and brazing or soldering a patch might be possible. 
I thought they were a stainless tank.

Re: Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater

Reply #5 –
Your water heater tank is likely aluminum, mine is on an Atwood dated late 98. No anode rod. Look closely at the 2 fittings on the back of the heater, as well around the heating element. I've had to replace both fittings.

Re: Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater

Reply #6 –

If you want another fun project (after doing the fridge), they sell replacement tanks.  Google "Atwood 10 gallon water heater replacement tank" for a list of suppliers.  Also, there are some Youtube videos showing how to R&R the tank.  It's not rocket science, but there are some tricks to it so good to watch the videos before diving in.

Amazon.com: Atwood AT91059 Replacement Inner Water Heater Tank : Automotive


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Re: Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater

Reply #7 –
I'm going to have to remove it one way or another.  How does it come out? Need to check out fittings on back for sure.

Re: Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater

Reply #8 –
Have you drained the tank yet.  If you do and there's some sediment that comes out with the last of the water then the tank could be corroding but I doubt it.  Ive had ours twice and the first time some yucky stuff came out.    It's probably an aluminum tank and the leaking just might be from the fittings on the back of the tank.

Re: Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater

Reply #9 –
My HW tank was leaking from the line that goes to the water manifold from the HW tank. I r/m the line and was able to get the fitting over to the hole in the side wall to replace the cone gasket. I also changed the gasket on the fitting at the manifold just in case. I thought my HW heater had a hole in it but it was replaced about a year before I bought the coach.
To take mine out you remove the screws around the lip, take the gas line off and slide it out. There is caulk between the lip and wall and it is tight pulling it out. There is thermostat and power wires that come out too. make sure none of the lines on the back doesn't pull tank sensor wires loose. I wasn't careful.
Just my two cents.
Good luck and I hope your leak is simple to fix.
Ron

Re: Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater

Reply #10 –

I installed a Fogatti  tankless in my (now sold) Wanderlodge PT40. We were very happy with the never ending supply of hot water but it takes some adjusting to get it to come on and not cycle when you are taking a shower. I installed ball valves on the supply and return piping so I could adjust both intake and outflow.

Amazon.com: RV Tankless Water Heater, Fogatti 2.9 GPM, 55000 BTU Hot Water...

TOM

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Re: Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater

Reply #12 –
Try PPL in Houston.

Re: Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater

Reply #13 –
PPL was the first place I checked- listed but not available. Drained tank and water was clear. Tank is aluminum. I have drained tank several times in last six years of ownership. Also have replaced pop off valve when it started leaking.

Re: Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater

Reply #14 –
Is there slack in the pex lines so that it can be pulled out, or do you disconnect by feel? How about motor aid lines?

Re: Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater

Reply #15 –
Have you checkef the fittings on the back of the water heater, I changed them with the heater in place. The pex lines will not have enough slack in them.

Re: Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater

Reply #16 –
Quote from: Realmccoy –
Is there slack in the pex lines so that it can be pulled out, or do you disconnect by feel? How about motor aid lines?
Depending on how your water heater is situated, and what is in the adjacent bay, you may be able to cut a access port in the bay wall.  If this is possible on your coach, it makes it easier to get at the fittings on the back of the water heater.  Note I said "easier"...which is not to say it is actually EASY.  Every little bit helps when working in tight quarters.  See thread below:

Behind the Water Heater Access Port

Re: Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater

Reply #17 –
2nd that.  Bruce.
  The pex  lines will likely not have enough flex in them to pull it out. You'll have to disconnect the them blind.  But on mine you can at least see what you need to do by looking through the port hole on the right side of the bay.  Maybe even get your arm in there to disconnect.....  I didn't figure that out until the second time I needed it out ( don't remember why I removed it the second time).

  And ( thinking about next time) the smart thing would be to add 2 ft of braided flex in between the tank and the pex line. Way easer to remove next time.   

    OH and while your in there, change out your electric 110 sensors , reroute your overflow line and install your See Level strips on the water tank....  Now I remember why I yanked it out the 2nd time.

Re: Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater

Reply #18 –
Forgot about Seelevel. My fresh water tank sensor is notoriously inaccurate. Also would like to reroute overflow.

Re: Replacement for 10 gallon Atwood Water Heater

Reply #19 –
On my '95 u320 there was enough slack in the hoses and power cable to pull the water heater out and set it on a box. Easy access to all connections.
I think I had to disconnect the motor aid hoses then pull it out.