Water Heater Replacement June 10, 2021, 08:09:15 am Hi Folks,Straf14 here. Rosemary and I own a 2001 Rear Bath purchased new from Ed, original owner/founder of LD and Steve's father. Spent a year on this Forum when it was, I believe, on another site. That learning experience led to our decision on Lazydaze vs. Born Free. No regrets. Have enjoyed our LD immensely.Now we need to replace the water heater. Todd at LD advised Dometic no longer makes the water heater we have. Looking for help from anyone who has recently replaced one. Ours is a 6 gallon electronic ignition type. Did you choose the tankless and on demand type? Suppose to give quick hot water. Or non tankless? Where did you buy it? Brand? Did you have any adjustments to fit the replacement into the space provided? Thanks for any feedback and glad to be back.Regards,Straf14 1 Likes
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #1 – June 10, 2021, 08:26:29 am Quote from: straf14 - June 10, 2021, 08:09:15 amHi Folks,Straf14 here. Rosemary and I own a 2001 Rear Bath purchased new from Ed, original owner/founder of LD and Steve's father. Spent a year on this Forum when it was, I believe, on another site. Thanks for any feedback and glad to be back.Welcome back! Can’t answer the water heater question but one of our members surely will. Regarding the old forums, I noticed you joined back in Sept. 2000. You were probably a member of the old Yahoo forum called “Love My Lazy Daze RV.” It ended and later on another Yahoo group was formed called “Life With A Lazy Daze.” This forum (LDOF) is the continuation of LWALD on a new platform. For fun, a little history here:The Oldest LDO Forum Reply - A Long Time AgoHope your question is answered soon! 1 Likes
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #2 – June 10, 2021, 09:30:20 am You might want to look at the Dometic website; the specific water heater model in your 2001 may not be available any longer, but there may be a replacement listed. 1 Likes
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #3 – June 10, 2021, 01:32:15 pm We installed the Girard GSWH-2 instant hot water heater in a tiniHouse we finished last year. It cost under $500 with the outside metal door. The Girard has worked well but needs to have the water in-flow set just right, we plumed a lever style valve as the in-flow control and it works well, set it once and forget it. I seem to remember that it will supply hot water at about 2 .5 gallons per minute but that has not been a problem even with someone using a bathroom sink at the same time as a shower. The box is the same size as a 6 gallon RV water heater. May I suggest that if you chose a standard RV water heater, you get one with the 110v capability for when you are plugged in. We added the Camco Hot Water Hybrid Heat kit to our Atwood hot water heater in our 98~MB and it makes quite a difference when you are plugged in. We take our LD skiing and we plug, it keeps the tank hot and the lines from it from freezing. Otherwise we needed to remember to put on our propane hot water heater once a day in the evening to keep it from possibly freezing. It's always nice to have warm water for washing! Hope that helps? Karen~Liam 98 ~ MB NinA 1 Likes
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #4 – June 11, 2021, 08:29:55 am Thank you, Karen and Liam. Your input is exactly why this forum was so helpful to me when I did the due diligence 19 years ago to help us settle on LD vs. Born Free. Your suggestion of having both electric and gas capability makes sense. I also am leaning toward a tankless/on demand WH.Did you consider a Furrion or Fogatti brand for your RV?
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #5 – June 11, 2021, 12:47:15 pm I would say one consideration on a tankless is if you reside in cold weather, they have a tendency to freeze easily.Jon
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #6 – June 11, 2021, 05:34:44 pm So we chose the Girard for my son's tiniHouse because it has a cold weather protection loop which keeps the heater on from time to time automatically so it will not freeze as long as you supply water from tank, propane and 12v electricity. For our LD we would probably just use the same setup that is in there now with the 110v supplement. Both Karen and I have had long enough showers with the hot water supplied with our existing propane heater. I am more concerned about over filling our gray water tank. I would like to plumb in a shower bypass for shower water to be directly hosed out of our 98~MB into a outside tank or "ground" as we wish? As seen in an earlier post here on LDO there is good access to the P-trap for the shower under the driver side lounge for possibly a clever lever diverter for the water? - it on my list! Karen~Liam 98 ~ MB NinA
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #7 – June 12, 2021, 09:37:23 am Update to all of you who shared some input on my search for a water heater replacement for our 2001 26 1/2' RB. I did call Dometic and they do have a replacement (6 gallon, electronic ignition, gas only fueled, non-tankless) . Only problem is they have different sized door and our present door painted like our RV WILL NOT FIT. Dometic was emphatic that our door cannot and should not be altered to fit their replacement. I am sure Dometic's position is influenced by their legal counsel. So, I call LD and Todd explains they do not use this replacement!!! Why? Because the door is not the only problem. Todd informed they had to make other modifications to fit this replacement into their space. So, they went another direction. What they use today would not fit our 2001 unit. As a footnote, I asked Dometic what their opinion is of the tankless water heater. Their reply was they don't make them and said "that should tell what they think of them". I found that comment interesting and would be curious to any of you who replaced with tankless water heaters.I also called Camping World. They said they use the Dometic replacement mentioned above. So, there you go.I would appreciate hearing from others who have had to replace their water heater and what's been your experience with installation and performance of the replacement. Thank you.Regards,Straf14
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #8 – June 12, 2021, 11:25:08 am Quote from: straf14 - June 10, 2021, 08:09:15 amNow we need to replace the water heater. Regards,Straf14Curious what failed on the original water heater? Could it be repaired?Thanks!
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #9 – June 12, 2021, 12:57:05 pm You may not get a lot if any, responses, few water heaters ever get changed out. The water heaters are very long-lasting and usually only have problems with the control boards and fusible links. The tanks rarely rot out, the few tanks I know of being changed were accidentally damaged, usually when drilling holes.Does your tank leak? Larry
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #10 – June 12, 2021, 02:04:47 pm When we owned our Tiffin, and were back at Red Bay for service, we noted that many people were having their tankless water heaters replaced with the "old style" tank type. At that time, Tiffin was trying to be modern (I suppose) and a lot of their motor homes had the tankless water heater. Apparently, a lot of people didn't like them. I suppose if this is something you are accustomed to, running enough water to get it warm that is, it's not too bad to go tankless. Perhaps people either love them or hate them? (Or just tolerate them Personally, I'm not a fan.Ken
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #11 – June 12, 2021, 03:06:23 pm The water heater in my 96 failed last year. It's a basic 6 gallon, non electric start made by Atwood.The specific model I had wasn't available but they did have a replacement that fit.You might try Atwood to see if they have something that fits. Many of the the 6 gallon size are similar.
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #12 – June 12, 2021, 06:17:32 pm Could you just replace the aluminum tank, they seem to be available.Jon
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #13 – June 12, 2021, 09:53:13 pm "You might try Atwood to see if they have something that fits."Dometic bought Atwood in 2014, so Straf14 has already talked with the manufacturer.
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #14 – June 13, 2021, 07:29:57 pm Quote from: Bumper - June 12, 2021, 11:25:08 amCurious what failed on the original water heater? Could it be repaired?Thanks!Strong leak. Beyond repair.
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #15 – June 13, 2021, 08:37:10 pm Have you tried the RV salvage businesses?Art 2 Likes
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #16 – June 15, 2021, 08:18:45 pm Thank you all for your comments. After doing the literature search, talking with Dometic, Camping World, Todd at Lazydaze and a very welcomed phone visit with a 2005 LDMB owner who installed the recommended replacement by Dometic, I have settled on that model- WH-6GA. Camping World has it at $498.99( Good Sam rate). I saw same model on ebay for $399. Seller is Pleasure Land RV Center, Brainerd, Minnesota. I have not spoken with them yet. Has anyone dealt with these folks?WH-6GA is like the one we are replacing with a tank but with some improvements over ours.Thanks again for the comments.
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #17 – June 16, 2021, 01:53:07 am Quote from: straf14 - June 15, 2021, 08:18:45 pmThank you all for your comments. After doing the literature search, talking with Dometic, Camping World, Todd at Lazydaze and a very welcomed phone visit with a 2005 LDMB owner who installed the recommended replacement by Dometic, I have settled on that model- WH-6GA.I don't know - that does not look like the same format at all as the one LD uses, and the insulation appears inferior. I don't know if that would fit the cutout at all, and the door certainly would not line up...Steve
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #18 – June 16, 2021, 02:24:08 am Hi Steve B. I agree that the Atwood doesn't appear at all similar. I think this much less expensive one, a Suburban from Amazon, might work as well, and you could retain the 'painted to match' Lazy Daze color scheme door. Amazon.com: Suburban - 5117A Water Heaters 6 Gallon: Automotive It is the one I would try to shoehorn into the spot where my present heater is. If you needed the new door, Steve would probably paint it to match your pattern and color (for a reasonable fee). On his time table of course. RonB As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #19 – June 16, 2021, 10:15:25 am Ron, the Dometic 96136 seems the closest match, the Suburban would not match the door either.Atwood Water Heater w/Heat Exch, LP Gas, 6 Gal. 09-0062 96136 80-1326 -...Steve 2 Likes
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #20 – June 16, 2021, 06:04:36 pm Thanks Steve, I've bookmarked that. Hope I don't ever need it. RonB
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #21 – June 16, 2021, 06:59:18 pm Quote from: straf14 - June 13, 2021, 07:29:57 pmStrong leak. Beyond repair.I found this and there seems to be a fair selection.Atwood 6 Gallon Replacement Inner Tank GC6AA-10E - 7.89Amazon.com: Atwood 91641 Water Heater Replacement Inner Tank Kit Camper...Jon As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #22 – June 16, 2021, 08:31:52 pm Quote from: Joan - June 10, 2021, 09:30:20 amYou might want to look at the Dometic website; the specific water heater model in your 2001 may not be available any longer, but there may be a replacement listed. Yes, Joan, had conversation with Dometic and got their recommended replacement (WH6-GA. Thank you.
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #23 – June 16, 2021, 09:20:52 pm Quote from: straf14 - June 16, 2021, 08:31:52 pmYes, Joan, had conversation with Dometic and got their recommended replacement (WH6-GA. Thank you.The only reason I can see for that recommendation is because they no longer manufacture a drop-in replacement. I have no doubt that model will not fit the cutout and your LD compartment door will not fit. Get return privileges. You can either get a replacement tank as Jon suggested, or a complete new exact-fit unit as I posted above.Steve
Re: Water Heater Replacement Reply #24 – June 17, 2021, 09:40:32 am Quote from: Steve - June 16, 2021, 09:20:52 pmThe only reason I can see for that recommendation is because they no longer manufacture a drop-in replacement. I have no doubt that model will not fit the cutout and your LD compartment door will not fit. Get return privileges. You can either get a replacement tank as Jon suggested, or a complete new exact-fit unit as I posted above.SteveThank you, Steve. The fellow LDMB owner who has installed the WH6-GA Dometic unit says it it is snug but fits. Do you know if the 2005 Mid Bath has a bigger cutout than ours (2001 26.5' RB)?
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