Water Heater Temp

AKRUEBBE · 06-08-2019, 10:23 AM

I have a Dometic 10 gallon electric/gas combo water heater. I'm looking for a temperature setting for the water but can't find one and there is no mention of a thermostat in the manual. Am I looking for something that doesn't exist? The water is extremely hot!

**JFlightRisk** · 06-08-2019, 12:02 PM

As far as I know, there's no adjustment to the water temp. I just checked our PDI spec sheet, and it came out of the faucets at 132*. Ours is the six gallon, but they're probable the same. Keep in mind that the faucets closest to the heater will be warmer. The hot water in ours doesn't have to travel very far from the wh.

dewey02 · 06-08-2019, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKRUEBBE

I have a Dometic 10 gallon electric/gas combo water heater. I'm looking for a temperature setting for the water but can't find one and there is no mention of a thermostat in the manual. Am I looking for something that doesn't exist? The water is extremely hot!

Yes, you are probably looking for something that doesn't exist.
You can purchase a thermostat and install it - here is a video that shows how to do that:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuBoRRojKcA

But you might just want to adjust the valve near your water heater that bypasses the heater. There is a valve that will mix your hot and cold water together. Just play with that one until you get a mix that is the temp you want, either by increasing or decreasing the amount of cold water that gets mixed into the flow. I hope this helps you.

In the following photo, it is the valve that is on the vertical piping.

Sundancer330 · 06-08-2019, 12:28 PM

No adjustments, its either on or off. If the water is to hot and you have the three valve system on the back of the HWT you can slightly open the bypass which will add cold water to the hot leaving the tank and lower the temp.

Robbbyr · 06-08-2019, 01:53 PM

I have an Atwood XT model which incorporates a mixing valve on the rear of the water heater. An XT heats the water hotter than older water heaters and then uses the mixing valve to reduce the outlet temperature to a more reasonable level. Makes it seem like the water heater is even larger than it is.

If you indeed have an XT the mixing valve may have become obstructed (with mineral buildup, not uncommon) and the water may come out too hot. Usually when that happens replacement of the mixing valve in indicated.

Here is a picture of the mixing valve, if it is connected to the back you have an XT model!

AKRUEBBE · 06-08-2019, 01:56 PM

Thanks guys! Don't think I have a XT.

jbagnall · 07-06-2019, 09:18 AM

I have a dometic on my 2018 19h. I have a bypass line, but there is no valve in the middle. Anything I can do to not scold my children? Thanks.

AKRUEBBE · 07-06-2019, 09:28 AM

The only way to get to the back of my water heater is to completely remove it or train a squirrel to run the "gauntlet". I have never seen so much crap strewn all over the underneath. Wires, hoses, duct work all thrown in like someone was pissed off at their boss when it was built at the factory.

jbagnall · 07-06-2019, 09:29 AM

I just ordered an Atwood 93105 from Amazon. Hopefully installing that will do the trick per the video above.

RetiredOne · 07-06-2019, 09:56 AM

I have a 6 gallon, and I wondered the same thing about temperature. So, I ran it on electric, and it heats to 120 degrees. When running on propane, it heats to 140 degrees.

Tunce the traveler · 07-06-2019, 09:59 AM

It’s real easy to adjust (use Sundancer’s picture) the top one “ normal use” and just turn the center valve slightly so a small amount of cold water mixes into the hot line. With just a little fiddling you’ll get it just right and no more scalding hands. I’ve got mine marked for the hands and rinsing the dog and kids feet outside then I’ll turn it “hot” for the dishes. It might take an extra minute but it no big deal “ I’m just camping “.

bankr63 · 07-06-2019, 10:06 AM

The only down side of doing the mixing valve trick is that it works on both directions. So yes, it will mix cold into the hot stream when you want it, say having a shower. But it will also mix hot into the cold when you don't want it, say flushing the toilet.

I think a mixing valve would be the ideal solution as it would make it seem like you have a much larger water heater. Adding a thermostat to a little tank will probably make it seem like you have a much smaller water heater. A 2.5gpm low flow shower head will empty a 6gal HWT in just over 2 minutes on full hot.

If you are worried about scalding, it might make some sense to replace faucets with single handle designs and teaching kids to NEVER turn/lift to the hot side. Really just doing the hot cold mixing at the faucet then.

RedHorse1 · 07-06-2019, 10:19 AM

Our first TT (X23B) had a gas only 6 gal. WH and it had an adjustable thermostat and a pilot flame that I had to light. The 5th’s WH is gas/electric and it’s non-adjustable

jbagnall · 07-06-2019, 10:27 AM

Mine is running on electric. But I haven't measured the temp. But it's too hot for us, that's for sure. I'll report back to see if what I bought works. Seems like it should do the trick.

jbagnall · 08-11-2019, 06:50 PM

I got around to installing the dometic adjustable water heater thermostat. Took about 10 minutes and a couple of curse words working with the spring / retaining clip.

For those curious, the A letter is the lowest, and then it goes up from there. As far as you can make it A, I found the water temp to be about 100 degrees. I cranked it up a little bit to get it around 110.

No more worrying about my children (or myself!) getting burnt. Not sure why this isn't factory ...

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