1nolaguy Posted November 13 Share Posted November 13 It seems lately it is either electric or plumbing issues. Everything was fine until a few days ago. Then the water pressure and flow on the hot water side dropped to a dribble. The cold water side is fine. We are on city water so I am assuming the issue is not between the the spigot and the rig. What makes it even more complexing is that initially it was intermittent, that is the water flow would be just a little and then fine. At first I thought it might be a faucet issue but the problem is seen now at all faucets. Any suggestions on where to look? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrAmbassador Posted November 13 Share Posted November 13 Interesting, there is a possibility of blockage in the water heater. Does the outside shower have the same flow? Some water heaters have a screen on the inlet side. Hard water will calcify the system. I would try draining the water heater and then flush it. If the flow out of the drain is strong, I would say the obstruction is on the outlet side of the water heater. Wishing the best! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myrontruex Posted November 13 Share Posted November 13 If you can turn your valves to water heater bypass for a quick test it may lead you directly to a check valve on the water heater. I had to change mine several years ago. Getting the water heater out was easy, getting that darn check valve took three of us and and a torch to get the old one to break loose. While it was out it got a very good cleaning. A couple of years ago I changed the heating element to a higher wattage one and changed the snap discs so the water gets quite a bit hotter. This is a danger of course so I added a mixer valve and the water comes out steady and hot enough. With the added heat and larger heating element the wife never runs out of hot water. If she did I would turn the propane part on as well. Now that this thread has surfaced, it reminds me it is time to flush it out again. I found that removing the heating element really helped with the flushing. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1nolaguy Posted November 13 Author Share Posted November 13 Thanks Myron. To get to the back of my Atwood (where electric element and water lines are located) is a major undertaking as it is through the back closet and requires pulling out some built ins. We are leaving our current CS tomorrow and headed home for the holidays so I will wait until I get home and go after this. BTW - I flushed water from the HWH via the low point drain and flow at the faucets are improved though not full pressure. I am thinking you are right about a blockage or partial blockage, possibly at the discharge check valve. WILL KNOW FOR SURE BY NEXT WEEK. 3 hours ago, MrAmbassador said: Interesting, there is a possibility of blockage in the water heater. Does the outside shower have the same flow? Some water heaters have a screen on the inlet side. Hard water will calcify the system. I would try draining the water heater and then flush it. If the flow out of the drain is strong, I would say the obstruction is on the outlet side of the water heater. Wishing the best! FYI - outside hot water flow also effected so possible restriction or blockage near the HWH likely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solution Scotty Hutto Posted November 13 Solution Share Posted November 13 Echoing @myrontruex, exact same symptoms you mention. It turned out to be a stuck check valve. I was able to dislodge it temporarily, but eventually ended up having to pull the water heater out of the coach to replace the check valve. In my case (2006 Dip), I had to disconnect everything and completely pull the WH out of the coach to work on it. Took me about 2 hours start to finish. Everything has worked fine since (about 3 years ago) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myrontruex Posted November 14 Share Posted November 14 If you do have to pull the heater, I suggest you replace the heater element at the same time and any anode rod it might have. It is much easier to flush the sludge out with the heating element out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1nolaguy Posted November 14 Author Share Posted November 14 I agree and plan to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdinsmore Posted November 15 Share Posted November 15 Disconnect the output line from your water heater to see if calcium has narrowed it. It's a quick and easy check, and other than the screens in the faucets being clogged, this is a likely candidate. By the way several years ago I had slw flow from three faucets and thought there had to be some common, single obstruction. It turned out all faucet screens were plugged at the same time: I don't like unkiely coincidences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1nolaguy Posted November 15 Author Share Posted November 15 Thanks Bob, Good idea to check the out-flow point of the heater. I had already checked and cleaned the screens prior to writing the OP. The issue is intermittent so I suspect some heater calcification is causing blockage, either at the exit or in the line. I am still getting some hot water it just varies in flow rate and pressure so whatever is causing it must be moving around as this is occurring while we are stationary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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