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04-16-2007, 04:34 AM
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#1
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Home on the hill in Georgia
Posts: 296
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While outside playing with Jake this weekend, I heard a squeeling sound coming from the hot water heater.
Starting to check it out, suddenly the noise stopped. It was operating on electric, the gas was shut off. I checked the ammeter and it was still heating. Found that my wife was washing her hair and that any time the hot water was running, the heater would squeal.
I read somewher about check valve problems on hot water heaters. Could this be the problem and where could I buy a replacement. I don't remember seeing one in any RV store.
Help would be appreciated.
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Jerry & Patsy Potter, Taz & Jake Jr.
2000 Winnebago Journey
2006 Ford Explorer 4X4
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04-16-2007, 04:34 AM
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#2
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Home on the hill in Georgia
Posts: 296
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While outside playing with Jake this weekend, I heard a squeeling sound coming from the hot water heater.
Starting to check it out, suddenly the noise stopped. It was operating on electric, the gas was shut off. I checked the ammeter and it was still heating. Found that my wife was washing her hair and that any time the hot water was running, the heater would squeal.
I read somewher about check valve problems on hot water heaters. Could this be the problem and where could I buy a replacement. I don't remember seeing one in any RV store.
Help would be appreciated.
__________________
Jerry & Patsy Potter, Taz & Jake Jr.
2000 Winnebago Journey
2006 Ford Explorer 4X4
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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04-16-2007, 05:05 AM
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#3
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Back at the ranch
Posts: 2,041
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Yup - same symptoms that we have and it is most likely the check valve. Yours might be easy (or not) to access. I believe mine is very difficult to get to so we will leave that to somebody with experience.
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--John
2005 Horizon 40AD, 2005 Jeep Liberty CRD
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04-16-2007, 06:11 AM
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#4
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 304
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Sometimes the check valve makes noise because of hard water build up on the valve and spring itself. I would try and flush the hot water heater, refill with at least 3 to 5 cups of Vinegar. fill and warm it up. After warm up turn on the hotwater faucet in the kitchen (HOT) until you smell it coming through... Leave the mixture in there for about 4 hours. Re-flush and refill with fresh water...
Ours used to make noise but after flushing and using a water softener we haven't had any more problems.
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04-22-2007, 05:44 AM
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#5
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Home on the hill in Georgia
Posts: 296
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Thanks for the tip Ed. Tried it yesterday but it didn't work. Guess I'll have to change it. Looks like the heater will have to be pulled but I don't think it will be too hard a job. I'll have to get one ordered tomorrow. I found one on the web already. Wish me luck.
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Jerry & Patsy Potter, Taz & Jake Jr.
2000 Winnebago Journey
2006 Ford Explorer 4X4
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04-22-2007, 06:21 AM
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#6
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 304
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Wizard,
Sorry about that.... Ours is still working after I did that, knock on wood.
On our Adventurer you can reach the valve from the water pump door, it is a touch and feel type job... Are you sure you have to pull the HWHeater out to fix it? That's a big job depending on the motor aid, gas line, water line hook-ups!
Good Luck!
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04-22-2007, 03:39 PM
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#7
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 221
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This is a great site. I was going to ask that very question. I would term my noise a moan that started two months ago and is getting steadily louder but only occurs when the hot water is used. Thanks for the up-to-the-minute info.
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Chuck & Carol
08 Horizon 40TD
04 Honda CR-V
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04-23-2007, 04:55 AM
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#8
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: North East Indiana
Posts: 762
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Sounds like check valves are going South. Had same problem finally no hot water at all. Replaced valves with out removing HWH. Real bear of a job, because of working room. I had dealer do the check valve replacement, I am bigger than the access opening. He did the job in short time. He also replaced some lines which he said were poor quality and replaced all the plasitc fittings.
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04-23-2007, 05:36 AM
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#9
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Trinidad Colorado
Posts: 50
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Oooooh! Don't even think about trying to remove the water heater - you'll destroy it in the process. Yea, the check valves can be a real PIA to get to. There are 2 types of RV'ers: Ones that have had check valve failure and those who will. I pulled both of mine and with great ceremony I threw the guts into the sea of Cortez and then reinstalled them. One was under the access panel in the bottom back of the heater. The other was behind the water service panel on the other side of the coach. I had to cut a weld to get that panel off. I feel more secure knowing they will never fail again because they are gone. OK so I can't use potable antifreeze for winterizing now, but I don't use it anyway - I blow out the lines with compressed air. Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Larry
__________________
2004 Journey 36G
Cat C-7 DP -- 2 slides -- computer table dinet -- full body paint -- Satellite Dish: Winegard Movin' View Dome -- Toad: 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD -- Aux Brake: none -- Tow Bar: Sterling All Terrain -- GPS: Garmin Street Pi
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04-23-2007, 03:03 PM
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#10
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Home on the hill in Georgia
Posts: 296
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I've got a nephew that thinks he can reach it. I'll let him try when it comes in. I'm way to big for the pump opening. Too old too.
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Jerry & Patsy Potter, Taz & Jake Jr.
2000 Winnebago Journey
2006 Ford Explorer 4X4
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04-23-2007, 04:49 PM
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#11
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 221
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KE0M, am I to understand that the only reason there is a check valve is because of the winterizing system? If that is so I would also remove mine as I never have to winterize and if I ever do I also use compressed air.
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Chuck & Carol
08 Horizon 40TD
04 Honda CR-V
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04-26-2007, 11:38 AM
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#12
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Home on the hill in Georgia
Posts: 296
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Problem solved, just to let other people know, in case they have the same problem. It took about 4 hours and a lot of help from a verry good nephew, to remove all the things to get to the back of the water heater and change the check valve on the bottom heater connection. Still had the same problem. We removed the new check valve and took the guts out. Put it back in, still the same problem.
After much head scratching and a little cursing, we went in for lunch. I decided to look at the piping diagrams again and found that there is a check valve on the inlet and outlet of the water heater. Guess which one was bad. Yup, the other one.
After changing the lower check valve 3 times, we put the guts back in, and the upper one once everything is fine. Now another hour to put everything else back together.
Final problem was found to be the rubber o-ring missing in the upper check valve, the outlet. Now I wonder where the o-ring is lodged in the system. What a scarey thought.
__________________
Jerry & Patsy Potter, Taz & Jake Jr.
2000 Winnebago Journey
2006 Ford Explorer 4X4
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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04-26-2007, 12:28 PM
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#13
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: North East Indiana
Posts: 762
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Aaahhh the saga of those pesky check valves. Will it never end. At least next year you will know right where to go. I have replaced one of mine twice this year already. At least they could have put an access panel in the in bottom so you could access them. Unless you are small and extremely agile it is a PIA.
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