Dometic/Atwood RV Water Heater Overview, Burp, And Backflush

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Certified Mobile RV Technician, Darren Koepp, walks you through a few maintenance items on an Atwood RV water heater. The video starts with a general overview of how the heater works, followed by a demonstration of how to "burp" your RV water heater, and wrapping up with how to clean out or "backflush" your RV water heater.
If you are in need of RV Repairs in the Olympic Peninsula area of Washington state, submit a service request on our website at myrvworks.com today!

[@RichardRincon-77]

The most informative I've seen regarding an Atwood/Dometic water heater maintenance and repair video! The only thing this video didn't have is how to boil hot water LOL

[@alecruzcruz9047]

*Works great **Fastly.Cool** compact and Easy to install*

[@danielrayturpin]

This guy has obviously spent his life on top of a large hill in a really cool historical building with neatly maintained plants studying the way of rv hot water heaters. Wow.

[@johnflynn1381]

Best description of the water heater function I have ever seen!!

[@richardwolske2015]

I count on the videos posted on you tube to learn when I need information, you Sir have posted the best video I’ve ever seen Thank you ! absolutely the most detailed information ever . 👍

[@markbartlett1251]

Thank you for the common wisdom that share with your viewers. Your channel is my favorite RV channel. Keep up the great work.

[@peterdanniels2310]

Peter Danniels, Victoria BC, eh? Great explanation of this burp & backflush process. You really seem to know your stuff - not a wasted second!

[@davidmiller8727]

Thank you. Exceptional explanation of how the Atwood water heater should work. 😊

[@TJsPlayground]

This was the best informational video on rvs I've ever seen. Well done.

[@burtburt1755]

Thank you for explanation of these wires. I really needed this info. I also really like the area you are in. Beautiful part of the states. We are in south Alabama on August 19th 2023 and it is 101 and that's not the heat index. Thanks again for all the very informative videos...

[@flow_922]

You just saved me I just checked the hot water fuse and it was fine.. but after watching your video I went ahead and checked them all and one was bad and I replaced it now my hot water heater works thank goodness two days without a shower but that's all over now thanks to you

[@flow_922]

I would have never thought it would have been a different fuse you would think it would be the hot water fuse what's the chances thank goodness for you tube and people like you

[@alexisvaldes7029]

Hola buenos días, es de por mucho la mejor descripción que encontré a cerca del funcionamiento del calentador, compré hace poco una autocaravana con ese mismo calentador, exacto, y no me funciona en ninguna de las dos formas, tampoco envía señal de mal funcionamiento al panel de control, ( led rojo ), hice un diagrama en papel de todos los cables voy a comenzar a medir he intentar encontrar el problema, gracias.

[@rolfschubert1853]

Great explanation. I love listening to people who know what they're talking about. I now have a much better idea of what to look for in my water heater.

[@erikrezlman7900]

Great video Darren! Appreciate your explanation of all the various items on a water heater and how they work.

[@Lineman052]

Just stumbled on this amazing information. As a newbie camper it will be invaluable to maintain my camper. Also comes with great explanations.

[@lishster]

Thank you for breaking down the operation system on the Atwood hot water heater! Great explanation!

[@hardtruth2039]

Excellent video! I carry an extra pop off valve in my 5th wheel. We live about half the time in our rig and I try to carry a few parts just for peace of mind. When I bought my rig I almost bought a couple of anode rods that were labeled for Atwood water heaters. I’m glad I did a little research first before buying them.

[@chetgarrison9101]

Fantastic video. I was having some blowback from the P/T valve. Thought it might be gone but used a punch on the little stem and small drip stopped and no leakage and no stream of hot water. Thanks you were great.

[@fairoaks42]

Just the type of video I was looking for. New RV owner and needed to feel comfortable messing with the water heater. Thanks for the info!

[@soozsavoy]

Absolutely fantastic explaination. Thorough, detailed description that was easily understood and instrumental in allowing me to diagnose my hot water heater problem.

[@isaacmiranda9250]

Thank you so much for your videos. they help me out so much at work and you explain things in a great way where i learn what i need to do and how to find out how and why not just fixing the problem and not learning anything but that fix 🙏👍

[@yaacovbenchaim2094]

great video ! Incredible tool for full timers ! Darren, you rock !!

[@MyRVWorks]

Thank you!

[@kylewilliams8390]

Excellent video, definitely the best video I've ever found on RV Atwood water heaters! Thank you so much!

[@tkfess]

Excellent video with thorough descriptions.

[@sheshickey]

Really interesting and informative! Thank you. Our brand new wh is now clicking, but that's hopefully a repairable problem and better than the backfire due to (likely insect) obstruction that created the need for a new wh ....

[@teriluna1855]

Wow, best video I've ever seen on the water heater! Thank you! I am new to this, and the manual says flush the water heater annually, but not how to do it. I wondered if it meant drain it and refill it a few times, which I figured wouldn't get that crud out of the bottom very well. And the explanation of how things work and troubleshooting tips really helped!

[@marykeandgarrygauvreau2355]

is there an electric 12 v fuse for the heater

[@tomstrothers4104]

Once per year should be adequate as long as your fresh water source is contaminated.

[@frankchen1237]

Excellent explanation, I know the control circle very clearly. And solved my problem. Thank you.

[@garyosterhout128]

Great video, this is the one I was looking for. Thank you so much for this information. good job.

[@clogtowner]

Great video - very professional.

[@Wildmouse73CJ5]

Great explanation! Saved our week camping. Turned out to just be dirty but know where to look.

[@PaulMotu]

My almost exact same unit has stopped working and your information has been absolutely brilliant thanks mate. I can at least try and diagnose where the issue might be armed with this extremely helpful information and just a multi-meter. I cleaned it out as it had a ton of Aussie red fine dust in the whole unit built up over a year of two of outback travels and may have created my own problem by applying a small amount of hose down water (indirectly) but still in there which may have caused a problem in the sensor line. At least I have an idea of how it should work now so can try and diagnose the issue before employing outside assistance that I fear will be at exorbitant rates given the shortage of tradies here in Australia in this post COVID era we're in! Appreciate this a ton! Thank you very much. Paul (& Sans) 😀 I know now to give it a clean out a lot more frequently too!

[@rogerpolson]

Wow, great job of explaining how it works.

[@daveschuberth2081]

Very well done video, thanks!

[@bryanguthrie4038]

This was great and very informative. Thanks

[@LeoSilva-vp1lt]

Thank you very much for your video! Great explanation! You really knows what you are talking about!!! You really helped us! God bless you!!!

[@mrjeanbeaulieu]

excellent explanation, clear and organized, thank you :))

[@levimessinetti5213]

Another great video. Thank you.

[@theonly9]

We bought a used Lance 1685, when we first tried to take a shower the water heater would turn on, burn a couple seconds and shut off (with the electric off and tank cold) after a couple tries I thought better take a look. The thermocouple looked a little far away, I bent it down a fraction and tried again...viola it worked. Strangly, the camper is 8 years old, and the oven was never used. The first time I fired it up, flames were shooting out of almost every joint leading to the pilot...that was a scary moment.

[@chicofino111]

Extremely helpful! Thank you!

[@wannabefulltimers]

this was an awesome video, thank you!

[@jerrykorf4444]

This is the second video on water heaters where you have a pop off dripping on the heat exchanger and rusting it out. I would add a fitting (maybe a 30 or 45 degree plastic fitting and a pipe to keep the drips below the components outside of the WH.

[@iair-conditiontheoutsideai3076]

Hello I appreciate all the videos you have they really helped me I have a question though how often should I replace my anode rod if I live in my RV full-time and my water heater is always on I would assume it needs to be replaced more often given the fact it is always on?

[@Josejohn22]

Excellent Video, THANKS!!!!!

[@Sebastian-dx2xg]

Great video!

[@mrkrause3]

Thanks for sharing!

[@TheBirdandEagle]

Great video. Thank you.

[@davidcampbell4174]

Super helpful, thank you. Liked and subscribed.

[@terebianchi8772]

Great video. Explanation of wiring & what, where & how it does what it does. I have a 1988 rv, therefore a 1988 hwh i believe. It is dc/gas only. 3 wires: green, blue, black no orange or yellow. It is also heated by engine. Any reason you can think of where gas WON'T turn off after temp met. This was after engine off & water cooled. Turned on water htr switch & never heard it cycle off. Fortunately i was in rv when this occurred.

[@charlesrose7212]

Another very helpful video! 😀

[@candicecameron6545]

Great video! I learned a whole lot more than from the manual or the dealership! But I was wondering if you've got a video or information on the back of the heater? The side thats in the RV. I'm having issues with leaks!

[@jbrosam]

You are my hero. Don't every change your process. Cant thank you enough for your videos bro❤️

[@CoyoteGo]

Great video. All maintenance performed on my water heater. Electric side and propane functioning. Water gets hot, but after a few quarts it starts to go warm. Propane doesn’t light to keep hot on demand. Thermal cut off is good according to meter. I’m thinking the thermostats are faulty. Would you agree?

[@TheBobberVlog]

Thank you sir a great explanation 😮

[@SG-hi4zn]

Thanks, I have got water now! Brown wire connection issue!

[@ksh2488]

We have this in our new Forest River Solera. We have read that to heat with electricity there should be a on off switch inside at the place this is installed. There is nothing like that. We switched it on inside the camper but it did not heat up the water. We are perplexed.

[@kathyweber793]

Great video and that you mentioned if the water comes out of the pressure release area there is too much pressure buildup or the it's at 150 psi or 210 deg it will release the pressure shooting the water out of it. That's what mine is doing. So my question is, how do you adjust that? How do you adjust the pressure that's going through this? It only happened when I was trying to use hot water at the kitchen sink. No hot water. That's when I realized that the water was shooting out of the pressure release component. Thanks much!

[@busaj383]

That was a lot of good info on how they work and easy enough to follow, after rewatching the wiring part about 6 times. My 120v water heater section stopped working a few months ago. So how do I get to the relay to check that since u said it is "behind" the tank. Also I just back flushed the tank yesterday like always and now the flame will not stay lit. Ignitor comes on and flames stays on for about 7 seconds then turns off. LP is 1/2 full and the gap is more than 1/8" but then it has been for the last 5 years with no issues. Since u work on these so much u prob would have fixed it already in the time it took me to write this. Thanks for the good videos.

[@Sleeperdude]

Good information thanks for sharing

[@donkimble1417]

I was there once. Built a power plant on eden's hook I think it's called. Out by the coastguard. I really liked Bushwackers restaurant. Nice place. Great video. Subbed from West Virginia.

[@MyRVWorks]

Hi Don, Yes, the area around Ediz hook has been under re-development the last few years. The papermill, that made all they 'yellow pages' shut down for many years but is back up and running making cardboard now and the fueling plant next to it is making Port Angeles a great fueling station for all the ships coming in and out of the straight. Always exciting to see such massive ships sitting right out in the port of Port Angeles. We are also getting a new hotel, conference center, art center etc. Thanks for making the power good all those years ago! Happy Camping My RV Works Media Team

[@glocksm40]

Thx for sharing !!

[@phillipmorris1334]

hello from the ozarks!! thanks for a very informative video! how do u check electric atwood control board on electric. im getting 12v to switch inside and 12v. leaving switch inside and into my control board but nothing happens

[@tmtex]

Excellent info

[@vegasrider2246]

I bought an older R/V. Ever since I found your channel and have been binge watching. Your information is very helpful to me. I have a question though. I have a gas only Atwood. It fires up no problem gets to temp. But when cools it will not restart to maintain temp. Would that be a new thermostat?

[@tjplusproductions]

You're just really good!

[@annblair4459]

Thank you

[@chrismorgan89084]

Darren another GREAT VIDEO! Back Flush 101! Could you post a general pic of your Back Flush tool with general description, I see it a Ball valve 1/2 inch?, reducer (size) copper tube (size, length) bent end (60 or 90 degree) and crimped end! OR do you sell such tool? Quick question ; RV furnace gas system and water heater gas system are almost identical except the Furnace has a blower wheel to purge the gas system (15 seconds) but water heaters do not?? Thanks

[@jaymewalter5788]

Hey, my HW tank was a bit different; however, you explained it so well, I could get the job done. Thank you so much for the tips! I am a new RVr with an old RV. I am somewhat confused about the inside lines that have all the different shutoffs and how they work. Can you please explain those also .. thanks so much

[@user-cg6di6li1j]

Enjoyed I enjoyed your video very much if you could please have a video of something about a hot water heater the hot water not lasting thank you have a nice

[@rodtussing7880]

Great Video - thanks so much. I was boondocking and my Atwood WH was running on LP but when ever I turned on the Generator it would also turn on the Electric WH Element. Tried to switch off electric from inside coach but unable to make it run just on LP when Generator was running. If I turned off the Gas WH Switch it would turn off the WH. Trying for figure out what's causing this.??

[@MegaJorge40]

Great video and after following the step I still can’t get my flame to stay lit.

[@johnpratt9429]

GREAT INFO!

[@renaeelliott5037]

Can I use my water heater as strictly electric with no propane pilot being lit? I am a very new full time live in 5th wheel, I have this same kind of water heater that you are talking about in this video and so many things make sense from what I was told when purchasing it used and the whooshing noise that happens everytime we turn it on with the gas, so in addition to adjusting the gas I was just wondering if I could just strictly use electricity...

[@ri5659]

Great info

[@petset77]

Excellent explanation. I'm helping a neighbor install a new Atwood heater, and it has the 4 wires (orange, white, green, blue) as explained here. The old unit (also Atwood) only had three... and the new unit did not come with a manual!! Testing the existing switch inside the RV, power feeds only one wire heading to the unit. We were wondering if tying both the white and orange to the switched lead would work, but it sounds like that would turn on both gas and electric operation. There is a separate 120vac switch to power the electric element, but that does not tie into 12v operation. SO... I'm going to tap from the supply 12v wire and add another switch to isolate electric operation from gas (an "on/off/on" single switch would be ideal, but there's not one available anywhere around here, and he's heading south for the winter before deep freeze this week). Anyway, thanks for the full explanation of how/why it works. I hope I never have to install another one of these things, but if I do, now I know what wires go where. THANKS!!!

[@MyRVWorks]

Hope my explanation helped. Happy camping and thanks for watching.

[@mwholty]

Great video. I am having an issue with my Atwood WH. It is burning back through the air shutter. I cleaned the tube and vacuumed the heat exchanger both not helped. Any ideas?

[@selayma]

Excellent vid... Question: I replaced the igniter and circuit board... Igniter now doed it's job, as well as the board in that it ignites, but even though the flame comes on, igniter continues to click, and then has closes as though it couldn't detect the flame after about 10 seconds. Any ideas? I'm also full time, with gdaughters that I'm raising... Cold showers in the summer is one thing... Not so fun in the winter... TIA

[@evstudios9309]

great job. your a very good teacher.. when you fill back up can that be done via water pump or does it have to be from a hookup?

[@waynehall6273]

Doesn't matter. Just make sure the tank is full before turning it on.

[@tedshantz6193]

learned alot from ur videos every spring my atwood water heater wont ignite 4 quite awhile sumtimes a day or then it lights and works great after that igniter is new and is adjusted properly anyone suggestions plse on how to get it to light faster thx

[@TheAirboss1955]

First, Great video. Regarding the pop off valve, couldn’t you as a rv owner, pipe from pop off valve down to lower level of cabinet so water during flushing and if valve would start to leak it’s not dripping on heat exchanger? Again Thankyou

[@greatfuldaddy]

Thanks!

[@tomsommer54]

I love your videos. Do you have a video of how to replace the old atwood 16 inches by 12 to the new Dometic wh-6gea 12 by 12 with the new doors 94067? The new door is 3 pieces the door and 2 spacers. I can't find instructions for the install of the 2 spacers. Thank you. Tom in NW Arkansas

[@Sam-qi4hm]

There was a foul smell when using the hot water. I did the back flush on my Atwater heater. After re-filling the heater had the same smell. Some one suggested using a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water mix and heat up the heater and let it run for a few hours, is this a good method or is there there a better way of getting rid of the smell? Thanks

[@brucestone3950]

Great video, you talked about the rear or back side of the water heater. I'm assuming that's where the reset switch is for the electric is.Mine is gas and electric. I have a Thor Wind Sport 27k I understand that I have to access the water heater behind the drawers but can't seem to get the drawers to release. If you or any of your followers have any ideas, they would be greatly appreciated.

[@jenniferh376]

A little late for you, but on our drawers, there are little black latches on the slides. You either push them up or down depending on how they were installed. On one of my drawers, I have to pull one side up and push the other side down. They are very small levers.

[@brianwaddell6044]

I have a brand new dometic water heater that is shutting down on the gas side after three successfull ignites wiht blue flame...I am checking grounds on the flame sensing side as well as measuring the gap on the probes...thanks!!

[@MyRVWorks]

What that translates into is the control board not detecting the flame. You are correct in checking to confirm 1/8" gap. It may be the electrode itself or the control board has faulted.

[@brianwaddell6044]

@@MyRVWorks your video solved my issue. Not my dealer whatsoever. I bent the two probes as close as I could without letting them touch and that solved the issue. I made hot water with LP all weekend!! Thanks!!

[@tommybaez5260]

You sir are a god, thank you.

[@philc.9280]

Just wonderful. Thanks. Why doesn't the atwood have a sacrificial anode?

[@beckyyu7455]

Phil C. Atwood tanks are aluminum so don’t need sacrificial anode rod like suburban steel tanks

[@billwilliams972]

Good morning, I'm starting an mobil rv repair business I'm a retired plumbing and electrical contractor I'm 71yo and I'm bored stiff doing nothing sooooo, your KZbin page is a great source of knowledgeable information about everything rv, keep up the great work, also were do you get all your parts or appliances? Ray s.

[@markdrevelator]

I think I will try this. Lost power and heated water hose froze. I got things thawed but now that I am hooked back to city water I do not have pressure when I turn my hot water faucets on. Was going to check for sediment in line out but I can’t get to it. Do you think this will work?

[@flgardener1155]

Terrific video. This video contained the content I needed to diagnose the problem with my water heater. You explain the functions of every part of the water heater both gas and electric in simple, easily understood terms. Bravo. I have one very small point of critique though. You should consider a remote microphone. The volume of your voice would fade out when you looked away from the camera (guessing) making it a bit difficult to hear what you were saying at times. Normally I'd just turn the volume up, but i'm using headphones and normally they are at maximum volume. Otherwise a perfect video.

[@MyRVWorks]

On some of my other videos, I have tried the lavaliere microphone - both wired and wireless. The wireless one I use had great reviews on Amazon so I chose that one but it has a bit of a hum with my setup, so I am looking for other options. The wired one works great, but I get it caught some times as I move around. Thanks for the input though! Thanks for watching!

[@flgardener1155]

@@MyRVWorks I plan to watch more of your videos. You probably saved me a bunch of money with your video. Hope to learn more from you.

[@mjfriday2143]

Our dometic was working fine for over a year but then stopped on Saturday- the day before we were closing up for the season. We had hot water in the AM but in the PM it wouldn't work on either electric or propane. Any suggestions? RV is a 2021 Coleman and my guess is the water heater won't be under warranty.

[@michellewhite7957]

Do you have a video on how you made the back flush tool?

[@lyman0715]

Will gas part of the hot water heater work if they electric relay is bad ? The only thing I haven't replaced is the gas valve/ solenoid and( the relay and heating element inside )

[@user-mt4zr5kp7h]

My pop off valve on my water heater came with a barbed end so I just put a plastic tube on it and run it to the outside. It's never dripped, but now even if I have to really suppress her for any reason or even just to test it, I can do so without getting everything soaking wet. It's a good idea and I kind of wonder why or manufacturers don't ship it this way. I do have a question though. My water heater fires perfectly every time. Never fails. However, occasionally when it fires the flame will flutter for a couple of seconds before it smooths out. What would cause that? What am I looking for? I've had it all apart on an unrelated matter(electrode), and everything looked fine so I fixed what I had to fix and put it back together, and the fluttering is still there. Like I said it doesn't do it every time but it's one of those little things that just drives me nuts.

[@jeffreyengle2762]

Curious would you recommend using an anode rod in a aluminum tank water heater? And if not why?

[@gregspasiuk1924]

My dometic water heater WH-6GEA isn't working on electric or gas. I also have 120V right at the water heater. However there is no 120V on the other side of the relay to go to energise my heating element. After trouble shooting I have 12V coming in on the white wire. I also have 12V on the top brown leaving and going through my thermostat and thermal cut off and ending up on the brown wire. However that is when my bottom wiring harness is not plugged in. Soon as I plug it in I no longer have my 12V. There seems to be a volt drop inside the board. So then I have no 12V on the yellow wire to close the relay so the120V will be switched to energize my element. This is a brand new 2022 Winnebago and did work at one rime but now doesn't. I think it's the DSI board but what do you think? My trailer is permanently set up for the summer so I don't want to pack up and drive to the dealership to repair under warranty. Too much hassle and they may keep it for a while.

[@stephenchristian5739]

i really liked this crazy thing is i dont know how or when does the water 'enter' the tank? When I turn the switch inside the camper on, the light goes on but I never hear any water entering the tank, also when the tank has water does it always refill itself from the fwt ? Should I empty my tank after a certain amount of time?

[@dennisevans9306]

Great job, thank you very much. You made the statement that the plug "must" be plastic? Would you elaborate on that.

[@trevorwilton2723]

Dennis Evans If you use any type of metal plug you may set up some electrolysis and corrode the pug or the tank.

[@trevorwilton2723]

Don't put a pug in there to soft I mention plug cheers

[@DonziGT230]

Great explanation of how everything works. Some of the stuff that came out during the flush could be corrosion, aluminum does corrode, especially when it's continuously covered in water. From what I know about aluminum, and it may not be applicable to a water heater tank: It would probably be a good idea to leave the drain plug off and let it dry out so that the aluminum can oxidize. The aluminum oxide layer is what protects aluminum from corrosion.

[@JL-iu7bv]

So how do you use just electric? Is there a switch inside the outside panel? Or is it the switch in the bathroom? Thanks

[@mattgb1111]

Question. I cleaned out my Atwood water heater from the drain plug. And as I was draining the water it was as hot as could be, hot enough to make coffee. And when I open a tap it's only say 75% hot. All faucets are closed and I make sure no faucet is open to mix hot and cold yet I'm wondering. Because no water is dripping or running anywhere and no mixing, and no taps on other than the hot water to a sink or to the shower. Any ideas or suggestions to check.

[@bruceh3786]

It appears the ECO thermostat that prevents the water from exceeding 180 degrees F only comes into play when in the gas operating mode. What prevents the water temp from exceeding 180 in the AC mode? Is the ECO thermostat a failsafe since the thermostat on the right should not allow the temp to exceed 140 degrees?