Posted 2015-04-30 2:56 PM (#163306) Subject: Hot water tank won't heat
New User
Posts: 3
Location: Texas
When we purchased the trailer we only used electric on the hot water tank. Now it won't heat. The monitor says that it is on. Fuses are good. Pump is working but have cold water instead of hot. Any suggestions?
Posted 2015-04-30 3:47 PM (#163307 - in reply to #163306) Subject: RE: Hot water tank won't heat
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Penrose, Colorado
if it was ever turned on with no water in it the heating element may be ruined, some one on here will be able to tell you how to check that with an omm meter. Does it also run on propane? or electric only?
Posted 2015-04-30 6:48 PM (#163311 - in reply to #163306) Subject: RE: Hot water tank won't heat
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
You can test the element with the ohms function or a continuity setting. First, make sure the heating element is OFF. Most of them plug into a 110v outlet right in back of the heater. Unplug the heating element. You can then test the element with the ohm scale or continunity setting. You should have a reading or show continuity when putting the meter on the two terminals on the element. The other thing to test is the thermostat mounted to the back of the heater. Again, when the heater is cold, you should read continuity across it. The thermostat turns the element on and off as needed. If you read "0" ohms, you have continuity and it is good. You will have several ohms of resistance if it is good, use one of the lower ohms scales.
Posted 2015-05-02 8:22 PM (#163319 - in reply to #163306) Subject: RE: Hot water tank won't heat
Veteran
Posts: 122 Location: Monroe, WA
This just happened to me a couple weeks ago. I had the RV place check my tanks for leaks. When I picked it up I asked if they had drained them. He said no, they left tanks with water, etc. Obviously the boss didn't know what the tech did but it turned out one valve was closed to the water heater. Cold water was coming out of the faucet but water was not getting into the heater.
Hot water tank won't heat
