Hot Water Heater Not working when coming from Fresh water tank

[EmilyJ]

Hi Everyone,

I have a 2017 Jayco Octane super lite toy hauler we just got last year. Mostly we’ve done full or partial hookups when camping and everything has been working perfectly, however the last two times we’ve done dry camping we can’t get our water heater to work when the water is coming from the fresh water tank instead of the sewer line hook-up. Is there something that needs to be switched or a valve needs to be turned on so that the water coming from the fresh water tank will heat up?

Thank you!
Emily

[Cavie]

Originally Posted by EmilyJ

Hi Everyone,

I have a 2017 Jayco Octane super lite toy hauler we just got last year. Mostly we’ve done full or partial hookups when camping and everything has been working perfectly, however the last two times we’ve done dry camping we can’t get our water heater to work when the water is coming from the fresh water tank instead of the sewer line hook-up. Is there something that needs to be switched or a valve needs to be turned on so that the water coming from the fresh water tank will heat up?

Thank you!
Emily

SEWER LINE HOOKUP I believe you mean City Water Supply. Yes, you must have water in the FW tank and you must have the pump on.
did you fill the w tank?

[EmilyJ]

Yes - haha. City Water.

Yes, I have the water pump on and I’ve filled the water in the fresh water tank - or are you implying that there is another tank to fill that I’m not? (Wouldn’t surprise me)

[Cavie]

No just one FW tank. Has the WH been dewinterized? HW tank full of water.

[EmilyJ]

Yes, we actually used the trailer and hot water heater three weeks ago and it worked perfectly - However this last weekend when we dry camped it wouldn’t work.

[Cavie]

check in your water bay. there may be a valve on them new fangled rigs.LOL

[1HasBeen]

Water heater bypassed inadvertently?

[EmilyJ]

That’s what I’m guessing but I have no idea how to Open it back up

[1HasBeen]

Here is a generic photo of a common setup. Some may have two separate valves, but basically it prevents cold water from flowing into the water heater, and bridges the cold and hot side lines.

[Jagiven]

Some pumps have a winterizing set of valves, so you can pump in rv antifreeze. Could be that the valve(s), is still turned to pickup antifreeze out of the jug verses out of the FW tank.

[1HasBeen]

Originally Posted by Jagiven

Some pumps have a winterizing set of valves, so you can pump in rv antifreeze. Could be that the valve(s), is still turned to pickup antifreeze out of the jug verses out of the FW tank.

Generally, that would result in no flow(don't ask me how I know), and I took it that there is water flowing, but not hot water???

[FPM III]

There often is a switch that makes the water heat using propane. It might not be on. Where the switch is located varies. Have you looked in the owner’s manual? It will tell you there.

[EmilyJ]

Correct. I have water - just cold water.

[EmilyJ]

I know where the propane and electric switches are. Doesn’t matter which one I click - no hot water when it’s from the fresh water tank

[FPM III]

When you turn on the switch to run on propane, is the burner coming on? If you're not connected to city water and you get (cold) water from the hot water spigot, then the water has to be coming from the FWT and the propane heater in the HWT isn't working. You should be able to hear the water pump and the flame in the HWT to confirm this. I can hear people's HWT heater when they're parked in the next campsite. They aren't quiet by any means... unless they're running only on electric.