Replacement Options for Girard Tankless WH

[schristley]

I have a 2014 Jayco Greyhawk 31FS. The Girard tankless water heater has completely failed and I need to replace it. Is there a 6 gallon water heater that would fit in the same location as my current Girard GSWH-1M? Is it easy to swap out or would it take a lot of modification to my RV?

[CarlB]

I looked into this once before, but decided to keep my Girard for the time being.

I didn't keep my notes from that research, but the lynch pin is the exterior opening and the internal cavity needed for it. My dealership said that nothing would fit, but I don't feel that is 100% true.

[hoppers4]

I replaced mine with a Suburban SW6DE. This water heater will fit without any mod to the exterior opening. You'll have to look around for 115VAC wiring to supply the electric side of the water heater. On my MV there was a bundle of wires fairly close by so I figured out which wire fed what circuit and chose to use the inverter 115VAC. You'll also have to decide where to put switches for the 115VAC and the propane and then fish those wires in. You'll also have to make some minor mods to the propane and plumbing to make it work.

[WaltW]

schristley, if you are still within warranty see if Jayco will pay for the w/h replace. They paid for mine.

[JDSport]

Don, I had a shop do an estimate for me to replace my crappy tankless water heater. They said something about having to do something with the propane line, which seamed to make it costly. Does that make sense to you and did you do the work yourself?

[hoppers4]

I didn't do it myself but the installer said nothing about adapting propane being a problem.

As far as cost, they charged me $1250 but I got the shaft. The water heater can be had at Amazon for around $350 (they charged me $600) and then $600 for the install. I know I could have done better elsewhere.

Sounds like you need to go elsewhere and get another assessment of the situation.

[NC Roamer]

We just got our Greyhawk back from the dealer last Friday. After several calls to Jayco by our dealer and one from me, they finally authorized a replacement. We now have a 6-gallon Suburban SW6DE. At least for our 31FK, there was no cutting required. We will be taking it on its first outing in two weeks and are looking forward to less troublesome showers!

[hoppers4]

Nice going NC! I should have been more patient in replacing mine and gotten it financed by Jayco. Guess I hated it enough to just "get er done".

[NC Roamer]

The Girard had always been touchy, but after the last two trips where it would randomly fail to lite (frequently for the rinse phase of a shower), we were done with it. It was going to be replaced --- period.

[klassic]

If these are so finicky why did Jayco add them as an option for 2017 TT's?
It does say generation 3...maybe better?

[hoppers4]

Originally Posted by klassic

If these are so finicky why did Jayco add them as an option for 2017 TT's?
It does say generation 3...maybe better?

You can only hope!!

[NC Roamer]

I think ours was the second generation. I understand they work okay for camping with full hookups, but we usually boondock or have only water and electric at state parks. Without the sewer connection, we could not run the shower constantly without quickly filling the grey tank.

[CarlB]

If only RVs came with the same anti-scalding plumbing that is in residential showers, then maybe the tankless could work better, but seeing as it depends on flowing water, not even that would work well. We do long road trips mostly and go for a couple days without proper showers until we have full hookups.

[The Logans]

The tank-less water heater is, best case, useless when using the water pump... worst case, dangerous (we've met 3 people in campgrounds that have been burned when the water pump cycled).

Dealers we've talked to do a brisk business in replacing them, and sometimes Jayco will pay.

The tank-less may work in a campground, but why pay for the electric, and then use your own gas... doesn't make sense to me.

JMHO

[JDSport]

I have a 3rd generation and don't find it to work any better than others have described of the other versions. I will be on the water pump this weekend for the first time so I'm not looking forward to that.

[thegatorsrock]

Originally Posted by NC Roamer

We just got our Greyhawk back from the dealer last Friday. After several calls to Jayco by our dealer and one from me, they finally authorized a replacement. We now have a 6-gallon Suburban SW6DE. At least for our 31FK, there was no cutting required. We will be taking it on its first outing in two weeks and are looking forward to less troublesome showers!

where did they put your switches for the new heater, elctric on/off and gas on/off

[hoppers4]

Switch placement will depend on the layout or your rig. On my 29MV I put them on the stove side of the fridge. There's enough room between the side of the fridge and the paneling for the switches to fit. After the install I also changed out the 115VAC switch to a switch with a pilot light so I know when it's turned on.

[NC Roamer]

The electric on/off switch is built into the water heater unit behind the access panel. At first I thought that would be annoying, but then realized we do not turn the electric heating element on and off often. When we hook up at a campsite, the electric is turned on and stays on until we are ready to disconnect, usually several days later. Plus, I'd want to open the access panel anyway to use the pressure relief valve to make certain the tank is full before powering the electric element on.

The dealer removed the old Girard tankless temperature control knob from the bathroom wall and installed the gas on/off switch in its place. Looks like it was there from day one. Having the gas control inside is nice because I turn that on in the evening and then back off after showers and dishes are done.

[Joe1mc]

Just finished 1500 mile trip with my new Seneca, it drives like dream, everything worked like a charm except the tankless what're heater tripped and I had to pull out the useless tech manual. They talk about a reset button but don't show you where to look. Thank god someone out there youtubed how to reset the tankless hot water heater. As for the fueling, I did passenger tank first then moved rig to other pump and filled driver side just like it was recommended in this forum. With 2500 miles on the odometer, during this trip I averaged 11-12 miles per gallon non towing. Florida to Indiana round trip. Oh it took about 2 gallons of DEF.

[thegatorsrock]

hopper, nc what models did you use? I am thinking SW6DEL so I can turn the electric on/off from inside