Bonehead Mistake Atwood Water Heater

[RUSSELL5000]

So, did the bonehead mistake of not recognizing that the water heater was bypassed.

Arrived late, did not think, turned power to water heater on following minimal set-up, showered in campground bath house, and went to bed.

No hot water the next morning; instantly realized the water heater was bypassed .

Turned water heater off, changed bypass valves, turned water heater back on. Water heater worked fine on gas, but was leaking.

I hope that the nylon drain plug was deformed due to the hot tank when no water; that is where water was leaking from.

I have the six gallon Atwood gas electric dsi model number GC6AA-10E.

Did I hopelessly ruin this water heater or is there a chance it will be ok?

Thanks!

[TWP723]

You may have gotten lucky and not burned your element up if you finally got hot water. The plug may have been deformed from the heat I guess. Never heard of that happening but, who knows. If you have hot water, the element is probably ok. Maybe there was just enough water in the tank to keep it from frying.

[TWP723]

And...even if you did burn the element up, they're not that difficult or expensive to replace.

[olyelr]

Did you try using the water heater just with electricity yet? The element may be burnt out.

It might just be a coincidence that the water heater leaked after this event. I cant imagine that would have caused any issues with leaking.

[RUSSELL5000]

Thanks, guys.

I am back at work and the family is using the shower in the bath house at the campground and a trip to the bath house for a jug of hot water to wash dishes. An inconvenience, but not substantial.

I have assembled my tools and parts and will be at the trailer this weekend.

This gives me hope that I did not destroy the unit.

[cekkk]

I did the same thing a few years ago and only lost the heating element. But I though of it in a much shorter time and shut it off. But once the element fries, I would think the problems ends as far as it being on all night. I had no leak. good luck.

[RUSSELL5000]

Thought I would add a follow-up.

Drove to campground Friday night, 06/17. Replaced plug; used new plug with a couple of wraps of Teflon tape in a thread or two. No water leak.

Water heater works fine on propane; will use on propane only until this trip is over.

Will then replace electric heating element, go over all the rest carefully.

Seems I got lucky.

[olyelr]

Originally Posted by RUSSELL5000

Thought I would add a follow-up.

Drove to campground Friday night, 06/17. Replaced plug; used new plug with a couple of wraps of Teflon tape in a thread or two. No water leak.

Water heater works fine on propane; will use on propane only until this trip is over.

Will then replace electric heating element, go over all the rest carefully.

Seems I got lucky.

Did you happen to try it with electric yet?

[DumpStation]

I did the same thing but for only 1/2 hr and luckily there was some water in the tank. It does behoove me as to why these things do not have a safety shutoff switch for such a easy mistake.