Water Heater issue

[First Time Owner]

My Atwood Gas/Electric 6 gallon heater will not deliver hot water. The unit is lighting but still no hot water. We replaced the thermostat and assembly and still nothing.

[oldmanAZ]

So when you turn on a hot water tap, all you get is cold water?

[ALJO]

are your valves set correctly (cross valve blocked position) and the two others open?

[First Time Owner]

At times it seems it might be a little warm but not much. Mainly cold. Valves are in correct position.

[First Time Owner]

According to the manual, the valves are all correct.

[RedHorse1]

You say it lights, are you talking about a pilot light or the heating flame? The heating flame makes a pretty noticeable noise. Have you tried the electric heating element? If you are getting a strong flame and/or you’ve tried the electric setting then I’d take a strong look at the bypass valves.
Another thought is after it’s had enough time to get the water hot the relief valve or the area around the drain plug should be hot (really hot, be careful).

[ALJO]

Maybe state year and model so we can better help you. Old technology uses pilot light, new tech. ignition.

[dhinkle57]

I read somewhere that if you have an outside shower and leave the faucets on but shut the water off at the shower head the hot and cold water will mix so it seems you don't have hot water.

[Tunce the traveler]

Originally Posted by dhinkle57

I read somewhere that if you have an outside shower and leave the faucets on but shut the water off at the shower head the hot and cold water will mix so it seems you don't have hot water.

You are correct!

[First Time Owner]

The unit is lighting. I have also tried the electric. Thanks for all the suggestions. I will try them out. Am looking at new heaters just in case. Was leaning toward tankless till I saw concerns over how hot they get in area around them, plus either have to select gas or electric.
Again, thanks to all.

[ALJO]

If your WH fires up and heats up the tank, then your problem is in improper valve settings.

[TCNashville]

Sorry to ask this but are you sure there is water in the tank? Something's amiss here and it sounds like valves.

[Brownie]

FTO,

Please tell us the age of your rig/water heater. If it's brand new, I would return it to the dealer for warranty service. If it's more than a couple years old, you may have some sediment build-up in the water heater's tank - especially if your water supply has a lot of calcium or iron in it. A sediment build-up can "insulate" the water in the tank and keep it from heating up (think beverage cooler).

You might start by shutting off the water heater and the water source (water pump or city water connection), then draining the water heater by removing the nylon plug and opening the pressure-relief valve. Once the tank has emptied, flush the tank with a garden hose or by turning the water source back on. You may see a lot of calcium particles and maybe iron sediment. If that's the case, you will need to clean out the build-up using white vinegar (about 4 gallons). Remove the pressure-relief valve and reinstall the nylon plug. Using a funnel with a short hose attached, fill the w/h tank with the vinegar until it runs out the pressure-relief valve opening. If you have a calcium build-up, you'll see "a whole lot of foamin' goin' on"! Let it set for an hour or so, then add some water to it. Let it set for a few more minutes, then drain the tank by removing the nylon plug. Make sure you do this away from your lawn! The vinegar will kill the grass! (Don't ask me how I know this.)

You'll want to "flush'" the water heater several times to get all the vinegar out of the system. If you still see a lot of calcium inside it, you may have to repeat the process. Once you no longer taste any vinegar in the water, you can replace the plug & p/r valve and refill the water heater with fresh water.
I live in my trailer full time, and the places I stay have very hard water. I have to do this about every 6 months or so. You should drain your water tank when you winterize, but may only need to do this procedure every couple of years. It'll take a couple of hours (or longer), so grab an adult beverage and enjoy your "down time".

I've found a noticeable difference in my water temperature every time I do this. Hope it helps with yours. A few gallons of white vinegar are certainly a lot less expensive than replacing the water heater.

Good Luck!