Suburban Water Heater, Changing Thermostat

This customer says that her Suburban water heater just isn't as hot as it used to be, so I changed the thermostat to see if it would help.
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Due to factors beyond the control of All Seasons Mobile RV Service LLC and Hillbilly RV, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. All Seasons Mobile RV Service LLC and Hillbilly RV assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. All Seasons Mobile RV Service LLC and Hillbilly RV recommends safe practices when working with power tools, ladders, climbing, repairing LP gas lines or appliances, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of All Seasons Mobile RV Service LLC and Hillbilly RV, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained.

[@benoitgodingodin5655]

Thanks for your time....😊

[@donaldmanning7379]

My brother was always the one I went to for electronic questions and he would walk me through it. I was better at mechanics then he was so we called each other when we needed help. I lost my brother a few years ago, so this is one reason I watch your videos to better understand the electronics part of repairing these things and you do a great job of explaining it. Thank You.

[@hillbillyrv]

Glad I can help. My brother and I do the same thing. I am sorry you no longer have your brother to lean on.

[@alissamckee2334]

Thank you! This was so easy to follow! Mine just went out and I was so worried it would be too hard to replace

[@utube012341]

I love it that you are working on my old kind of rv’s . I have an 05 Newmar . You helped my fix my furnace, beetles in the lp gas jet , works great . Now for this water heater , looks like I have enough information to figure that out next . Really appreciate you taping your work and explaining the systems

[@hillbillyrv]

Thanks Tom

[@davidpickrel523]

Love the humor in this video. Also, thanks for showing how easy the thermostat is to change! Mine has a burnt blade connector so I think it might be the culprit.

[@hillbillyrv]

You are welcome.

[@chuckspace6695]

Thanks Hillbilly RV. Just bought rv and hot water was warm. Looked for thermostat thinking I could turn it up hotter. No dial. Watched your video to change “bad” thermostat but heard you say could have some cold water bypass mixing. Looked at T valves and bypass looked correct in perpendicular “off” position and others straight in “on” positions. Tried to turn bypass valve to straight ON position and found it kept turning! Turned back and went past perpendicular until reached true OFF as tightened. Real hot water came out immediately. Previous owner had kids so may have used bypass to cool hot water for safety. Thanks again.

[@hillbillyrv]

Awesome. Glad I could help.

[@rayraycthree5784]

As an electrical engineer needing to work on live circuits, I have been zapped a few times, better to turn off the power if you can. Once while troubleshooting a low voltage circuit with a scope probe, I accidentally touched a 300 volt dc avalanche diode circuit that was close by. Fortunately it was low current but it definitely gets your attention.

[@hillbillyrv]

I get into some live power every now and then. It will wake you up.

[@RichValrek]

I have a 2006 Fleetwood Bounder and my hot water is super hot. Once in a while it will go cold. My problem is the faucet in the black/gray water bay was left on. That faucet acts like a mixing valve.

[@hillbillyrv]

You are RIGHT. I ran across that once a long time ago and then forgot about it. I should have checked that. Thanks

[@redc8783]

After being a. Safety Eng for 35 years it is funny what you said, till it Bites You in he Butt. 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫🤣

[@hillbillyrv]

ha ha...glad you enjoyed that.

[@daviscrt]

Safety all depends on if you're the viewer on KZbin or the KZbinr making videos. Thanks Don

[@hillbillyrv]

That's a lot of variables. I hope I can keep up with those.

[@madjack7979]

Hey I see you are using that I tech Nut driver with Torque specs built in

[@hillbillyrv]

This was not a critical job so, I had disabled the torque part of it for this job. ;)

[@marcuscarmouche9023]

Thanks Kenny appreciate the comment now that I know I’m not ugly 😂. Keep up the good work bud.

[@hillbillyrv]

Did I miss something?

[@marcuscarmouche9023]

@@hillbillyrv nah bud I think you covered it all 👍

[@hillbillyrv]

@@marcuscarmouche9023 Why did you think you were ugly?

[@marcuscarmouche9023]

@@hillbillyrv I guess I never just looked in the mirror and said man that’s a good lookin dude 😂

[@hillbillyrv]

@@marcuscarmouche9023 lol...ok

[@coreymerritt7742]

Nice job Kenny I was also going to mention checking the resistance in the heating element somebody already beat me to it I had a element go bad on my Block heater on the dodge was not getting up to temperature 😮

[@hillbillyrv]

hummmm. I don't think I have run across one of these elements that was party bad. I guess it could happen.

[@coreymerritt7742]

@@hillbillyrv ya if they are just running on electric it could be just covered in calcium I would put 5 gallons of vinegar and the rest water and let it run over night ant clean the tank out really good just like cleaning a coffee maker

[@hillbillyrv]

@@coreymerritt7742 I haven't heard from them. They were supposed to let me know of it was any different. So I don't know yet.

[@coreymerritt7742]

@@hillbillyrv might have to do a follow up video where did you get the probe ends for your meter

[@hillbillyrv]

@@coreymerritt7742 I bought mine from Sears. They are Fluke brand. I found some that were real close on Amazon. They are in my store.

[@AllenRedmon]

great video sir now i can change mine thanks

[@hillbillyrv]

Awesome

[@MsPookiesmom]

Concerning safety: you have a warped sense of humor, I like it. Lol. Personally, I usually leave the elec on, just make sure I am very, very careful. So whatever number that is, that's me.

[@hillbillyrv]

Yes. Very very careful, that’s me too. Ha ha

[@46fd04]

Those rocker switches can fail without touching them. Mine failed last year. It melted at the back, and broke the electrical contact.

[@a1smith2468]

It looks like the pick you used put dents on the aluminum and distorted the plastic cover as well. I just took the same cover off on my Suburban HWH and used a small 5 1/2" pry bar. It worked great and didn't leave any marks. I posted a link to the pry bar set but YT didn't like that . . . .

[@hillbillyrv]

Cool.

[@dongriffin3025]

That black rocker switch went bad on ours! Great video!!

[@hillbillyrv]

Yes, that is an interior switch. They don’t like being out side in the weather.

[@dongriffin3025]

@@hillbillyrv had to call our local rv tech - he’s almost as good as you! I need to learn to read a meter for sure - I’m kind of a parts cannon guy most times it doesn’t work out!!

[@hillbillyrv]

@@dongriffin3025 Cool

[@braylonjackson2358]

Ha,haaaaaaaaa, we can change it live. That was hilarious 😂 😃 😄 😁 🤣

[@hillbillyrv]

Glad you enjoy my humor. Not everyone does.

[@bookooc5605]

Ahhh, sorry but this was kinda worthless. You didn't tell us if this fixed the issue or not. Should have waited until you knew either way. Is there no way to test the stat? I have an issue where my Suburban (practically new RV) doesn't work on 120v, but it does on gas. I have already tested the anode, but replaced it anyway.

[@hillbillyrv]

I don't know of any way to test the thermostat in the field. Sometimes it is more practical to just replace a $20 part, rather than spend 2 hours trying to devise a test. The anode rod has nothing to do with heating the water. I would be more suspicious of the heating element or something else in the system. There are several components in the 110v AC side of a modern water heater.

[@billschmitz-k9b]

I have a 2005 motorhome. The gas heater fires up but only runs for 5 minutes then it shuts down. Is it the high limit switch on the gas side . Don’t know how to trouble shoot it ?

[@andrewk1916]

Hey Kenny- did you look to see if the outdoor shower had a quick-disconnect shower? Some times people leave the hot and cold valves open even when disconnected but that too will serve as a mixing for the water yielding colder water at the shower in the bathroom.

[@hillbillyrv]

Rich K mentioned that in a comment below. I did not check that because it has been years since I ran across that, and I had forgotten about it. They did say it was fine now, so must have been the thermostat. Thanks though.

[@2manytoyz123]

I actually had that happen on our previous RV. Wife had used the outside shower to rinse beach sand off her feet, left both valves open, and pressed the water shut off on the spray nozzle. I had heard about this issue from a forum years before, so it was easy to troubleshoot. I also had one of these rocker switches fail on a trip. I used propane to heat the water, then ordered a new switch when we returned.

[@hillbillyrv]

@@2manytoyz123 Good catch. I had seen that happen before, but had forgotten to check that.

[@frostieswift4887]

Safety always #1 Leave electrical work to the pros.

[@hillbillyrv]

But I am supposed to be the pro. Now what?

[@jeffh5388]

Great video. Solved my problem. Cheers Sir. Thanks

[@hillbillyrv]

Awesome

[@samhanna9409]

people like me who are attempting suburban WH repair with no experience defiantly put safety like #3 on the list!

[@hillbillyrv]

Ha ha. That’s pretty high on the list.

[@samhanna9409]

i have a sw6de and replaced the heating element and element switch and im still not getting h.w. on electric mode. should i try replacing the 120v t-stat next? i already shocked the crap outta myself lol. lp side works fine but want to use 120v if i can, i learned a lot from your video. thanks a lot! @@hillbillyrv

[@randytorboli]

Can you do one on replacing a heating only thermostat for the furnace

[@hillbillyrv]

It has been years since I saw a separate thermostat for a furnace. I doubt if I will have a call for that, but if I do, I will video it if possible.

[@randytorboli]

@@hillbillyrv sounds good to me

[@craigcho6797]

Where do you turn on and off the water heater and where do you refill the tank, I’m still learning about this rv

[@hillbillyrv]

There are way too many variables to answer that question remotely.

[@brutherb]

I have a sw6d lpg only dsi heater. It fires and heats the water fine but doesn’t cycle back on after the tank cools. If k Gluck the switch on and off it comes right back on which part (I am thinking the t stat) triggers the water heater to come back on

[@hillbillyrv]

Maybe, but probably a bad control board.

[@strings1955]

Mike Rowe of "Dirty Jobs" says Safety is 2nd. BTW, thanks for NOT calling it a "HOT" water heater.

[@hillbillyrv]

It would be silly to heat "hot water", right?

[@strings1955]

@@hillbillyrv Check that.

[@bobbattiste980]

Is there a 12v fuse somewhere ? Not on panel

[@hillbillyrv]

Not usually.

[@nerdhomestead]

Hey what county are you in? Do you know if there is much demand for RV techs in Putnam or Kanawha?

[@hillbillyrv]

Raleigh county. I would say every RV dealer is hiring.

[@rvlifeafterretirement1498]

He’s in Raleigh County. My Aunt and Cousin live in Beckley. I graduated from Meadow Bridge H.S.

[@markmccurdy8646]

Possibly could it have been the heating element, checking it by ohm ing it out

[@hillbillyrv]

It was making hot water, just not hot enough. I never suspected the heating element, but I guess it might be possible.

[@vanessaramos3467]

Thanks for the video

[@hillbillyrv]

You are welcome

[@MrCaprock7]

Just recently discovered your channel, I’m sorry I didn’t find it sooner as I have really enjoyed watching many of your videos and learned lots. I must admit surprise at your proficiency with your video production… great equipment/editing and sound quality. You always note when the shot is not the best and take time to make it better, I can only imagine how much time is required. In addition, your easy-going personality especially adds to the appeal of your videos. Now for a question if you please… regarding a 2000 Thor Tahoe with a Suburban water heater. The electric switch appears to be “frozen” in the off position. Would it be possible to replace the switch? If so, I assume the only way would require the unit to be at least partially removed to get to it. The unit does function with propane. Thanks for sharing your experience and wisdom - Take care of yourself!!

[@hillbillyrv]

Turn the AC power to WH off and just pry it out with a small screwdriver. The wires sometimes are pretty short, but you can usually get it out far enough to get the wires off old switch and back on a new one.

[@craigcho6797]

It’s stationary and it’s not gonna be moved, but my girlfriend bought this place with this 5th wheel trailer and a ohana on 1acre of land in Hawaii, so I’m trying to learn as much as I can for now anyway

[@hillbillyrv]

Keep watching.

[@brianbiggs3484]

👍👍🇨🇦✌️🇨🇦🔧🔧 Great information Kenny !!!

[@hillbillyrv]

Thanks Brian

[@chaspre8525]

Does the live wire hook to the top or bottom of the thermostat

[@hillbillyrv]

I don’t remember. I usually just put the wires back on the same terminals that they came off of.

[@chaspre8525]

@@hillbillyrv I took my wires off and they fell down so I don't know which one goes where but thanks

[@a1smith2468]

It doesn't matter - the two thermostats (emergency cutoff thermostat and 130F thermostat) are in series.

[@seanlavelle8526]

working with hot wires keeps you alert

[@hillbillyrv]

Yes

[@jeffh5388]

Sir, thank you.

[@hillbillyrv]

Sir, you are welcome.

[@ToddB987]

How long do these typically last?

[@hillbillyrv]

It just depends on the quality of the water you put in it.

[@jimbrown9007]

Safety overated😅 so I had a friend in the Navy who was an electrician and used to check if there was power on the line by raking it across his tongue. He got discharged on a section 8😮

[@mondavou9408]

Safety third!

[@hillbillyrv]

3rd or 4th I would say.

[@biggfoot52]

I accidentally let the ground cable break away while probing a 5kv dc circuit. Why oh why did I think to reattach the ground cable... Lost all consciousness! Safety 24/7!

[@hillbillyrv]

I have zero experience with high voltage DC circuits. I’ll stick with low voltage.

[@EddieWingard-z7b]

Safety meetings are mandatory

[@hillbillyrv]

Naw !!!

[@sandiebock8035]

Suburban is NOT also a Atwood. They are really different.

[@hillbillyrv]

Ok

[@kaiatherton]

Safety 3rd.

[@hillbillyrv]

Yes. Safety 1st really hinders production.

[@deepforestspices8383]

Try shooting some close ups 😊

[@hillbillyrv]

Ok

[@bengreene8430]

Safety 2nd lol!

[@hillbillyrv]

Yep

[@alfredabbey6162]

Safety? We don't need no stinking Safety.

[@hillbillyrv]

I like the way you think Alfred.

[@mtnpwr]

Safety is definitely overrated. Oh man, I gotta go, I smell something burning.

[@hillbillyrv]

lol...

[@t.s.tractorworkstrickland5828]

Safety should be 3.5 to 4 Not #1