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Atwood WH adjustable thermostat
Yahoo Message Number: 105538
Has anyone here installed the adjustable thermostat? If so, did lowering the temp setting stop the water leaking from the pressure relief valve?

Jim C
Re: Atwood WH adjustable thermostat
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105546
Quote
Has anyone here installed the adjustable thermostat? If so, did lowering the temp setting stop the water leaking from the pressure relief valve?

Jim C
Dear Jim, No, but both thermostats shook away from the tank (they are held on by springs and plastic disks) Believe me, nothing gets your attention quicker than the tank overheating and the pressure relief valve doing it's job while your reading the newspaper in a chair next to the water heater! Clouds of steam and hot water pouring out of the pressure relief valve.
Quick, shut off the heater, turn off the water, and look at the mess!
 The piece of sponge material that covers the thermostats can be peeled back using a razor blade. (since no one would do warranty work on an Attwood product, I had to do this myself) I reinstalled the springs and clips on the thermostats, then used a bedding sealant to make sure this wouldn't happen again.  Long story short, if I had known there was an adjustable thermostat I would have installed it at this time setting it at say 120 degrees, 140 degrees is just way too hot! (IMHO) Because of the drenching the unit got, I am living with the problem of the unit reaching 140 degrees, shutting off, then firing back up within 60 seconds. (I think all the hot water escaping messed up one of the logic boards)
 So my thoughts for you is that this is a very doable job. Take pictures with a digital camera if your uneasy about remembering which wires goes where. After you install the new thermostat (the one on the right as your facing the unit is the 140 degree thermostat, the one on the left is set for 180 degrees) You can re-glue the foam piece back down and your done. If I was going to do this job I would swap out the 180 degree thermostat with the 140  degree thermostat you will be replacing for obvious reasons.
 I replaced the pressure relief valve also because after it blew, it leaked more than ever. The new one now leaks also. I think this is due because the temp is still set at 140 degrees. So my advice is to go for it and post back your results. If it works, I just might tear into mine again and fix it once and for all.
Good luck, Jim Pappas Tacoma, WA
Re: Atwood WH adjustable thermostat
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105552
Hi Jim
 99 per cent of time drips from the relief valve are due to loss of the bubble
Re: Atwood WH adjustable thermostat
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105553
Hey Gus...You connect one end of the hose to the *park* fitting....ok I got that...then the *other end to the coach*....Say what???
to put an air bubble in the water heater
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105561
Or another way, no shore water required
 Let the water cool, cut off the pump and open relief valve and let it drain. Presto, an air chamber.

And be sure to remove and soak the relief valve in white vinegar to reduce calcium build-up.

Cheers, Don
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy
Re: Atwood WH adjustable thermostat
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105577
John:
 One end to the park fitting and the other end to the coach shore water connection, just as you do for water, but this time there is air
Re: Atwood WH adjustable thermostat
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105578
Yeah Vince showed me how to "burp the tank".
It's at best a short term fix for an engineering mistake made by Attwood.
Besides I thought the OP wanted to know if anyone had changed to an adjustable thermostat? Hope I didn't scare him off. (g) Jim Tacoma, WA
Re: Atwood WH adjustable thermostat
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105608
Quote
Yeah Vince showed me how to "burp the tank".
It's at best a short term fix for an engineering mistake made by Attwood.
Besides I thought the OP wanted to know if anyone had changed to an adjustable thermostat? Hope I didn't scare him off. (g)

Jim

Tacoma, WA
Not at all Jim. RV Today had the installation of the adjustable tstat on video and you can still find it on youtube. You can find it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W27BoIh_0w
 I would like to do it just to be able to lower the temp. It adjusts from 110 to 150, I believe. However, it is about $40 including shipping and I am not sure if it is worth the cost if it won't stop the leaking from the relief valve by lowering the temp.
 In case anyone is interested the part number is A93105. The only place I have found it online is at marksrv.com. You can find it here http://www.marksrv.com/atwood_wh_parts.htm

Camping world has never heard of it and can't find it in there database. However, I did see one at a local RV dealer's parts dept but they wanted even more for it.

Jim C
Re: Atwood WH adjustable thermostat
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105617
.... "burp the tank". It's at best a short term fix for an engineering mistake made by Attwood....an adjustable thermostat? Jim
 Here is an RV Tankless water heater - that would end the dripping from the release valve as well as give adjustable heat, IA
 http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=2899053

Virginia Starr and Midnight Roadie
Re: Atwood WH adjustable thermostat
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105629
Quote
I would like to do it just to be able to lower the temp. It adjusts from 110 to 150, I believe. However, it is about $40 including shipping and I am not sure if it is worth the cost if it won't stop the leaking from the relief valve by lowering the temp.
Hi Jim C, It would have been nice if you could vent the "drippings," behind the paint finish. Excuse my brashness but maybe an extra strength condom would fit over the valve opening I think I'll give that a try and report back.
Best, Jim P
Re: Atwood WH adjustable thermostat - Installed
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105876
Quote from: jcgc50"

For anyone that might be interested I ordered the adjustable thermostat and it was quite simple to install.
 It has 5 temp settings A-E. It comes from the factory set at C. Adjustments make 10 degree changes but they don't tell you what that temp might be as a reference point.
 I set it at A, the lowest setting. It did not stop the dripping from the pressure relief valve but it drips much less before the the unit shuts off. The A setting is pretty much warm enough for us to take showers without having to turn on the cold water without being too hot. In fact on the rinse cycle I had to add a little cold. So all in all we are happy with the tstat.
 Ultimately we found the best shipped price at American RV. We ended up paying just under $30 shipped.

http://tinyurl.com/oklssu
 In the end we should also save some on propane given that we aren't heating the water nearly as much.

Jim C

P.S. No explosions so far. Keep your fingers crossed.
Re: Atwood WH adjustable thermostat - Installed
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105881
On Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:25:34 -0000, "jcgc50" jcgc50@...> wrote:

Quote
For anyone that might be interested I ordered the adjustable thermostat and it was quite simple to install.
So why don't install thermostats like TT does tail lights?

Signed, not driving in smoky LA
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy
Re: Atwood WH adjustable thermostat - Installed
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105883
"For anyone that might be interested I ordered the adjustable thermostat and it was quite simple to install."

Jim
 Thanks for the link. It doesn't look too difficult to do and for $30, you get a much safer water temperature (a very good thing if children are around) and a chance to save a little water and propane.
 This looks like a good mod for us. The thermometer and timer method of water heating does not work for us.
We normally shower in the evening, before going to bed. Using the timer method, the first one in gets a nice, warm shower but second bather gets increasingly cooler water, due to the mixing of cold and hot water that occurs in the water heater.
 The adjustable thermostat should lead to less water use. I know I waste water while fiddling around with the faucets, trying to get temperature right. Of course, the ultimate solution would be a water recirculation line, from the shower, back to the water heater. It would be recirculate the shower water until the hot water arrives and the tubing warms.
 As long as the heater gets turned off after the second shower, it shouldn't use much more gas than the timer method and, maybe, a little less than the stock thermostat.

Larry.
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Atwood WH adjustable thermostat - Installed
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105885
That sounds great, Jim--simpler than the aquarium thermometer method I'm using, and more consistent than the timer method, which must be adjusted depending on the outside temperature. I've just ordered a thermostat of my own and will give it a try. Thanks for doing the research and posting your results! :-)

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
 
Re: Atwood WH adjustable thermostat - Installed
Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105897
I should add one other thing about the installation. The new tstat includes two wires each with a flat tip on one end and spade connector on the other.
 The instructions don't mention these wires and I paid little attention to them until I tried to get my original spade connectors on the new tstat. The new connections were too wide for the old wire connections. The new wires connect the old wire with the thermostat.
 I suspect most folks will realize this quickly but thought I would pass it along.

Jim