DIY Network

Airstream: Remove Electric Water Heater and Choose RV Water Heater From "Classic Rides" episode DCLR-202

Neal Stultz, a RV technician, joins host Kevin Tetz to install a new water heater and furnace--and bring those systems up to code in the project 1970 Airstream. Neal also demonstrates what to look for when choosing a water heater for a vintage coach.

The old water heater is an electrical "residential" type unit that must go!

The new RV-friendly model is a gas-electric six-gallon water heater.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

Removing the Old Water Heater

Note: The hot-water heater supplies water to the bathroom since and shower as well as the kitchen sink; however, before removing any electrical appliance it's important to turn the main AC 110 power off. The switch in an Airstream is located in the breaker panel in the bathroom.

1. From the exterior access to the water heater on the outside of the Airstream, remove the main hold-down straps and turn the main water inlet off on the water heater. Disconnect the water-supply line and uses a PVC pipe cutter (figure A) to cut the inlet pipe.

   
   

2. Now you can disconnect the hot-water output pipe. It may take some maneuvering to get to the water heater's electrical panel.

   
   

3. Adjust the pipes and unit as necessary.

   
   

4. Remove the electrical panel door and insulation.

   
   

5. Disconnect the power wires and the ground wire (figure B).

   
   

6. Loosen the wire clamp on the housing and pull the main power wire out of the water-heater unit. It's always a good idea to put wire nuts back on the exposed wires.

   
   

7. Once you tuck the wires out of the way it's time to remove the water heater. On the project Airstream the previous owner had installed a residential water heater, which was done by removing the access door and part of the outside of the trailer, but Kevin decided to remove the closet door (figure C) instead for ease of access.

   
   

8. Unscrew the old tie-down straps from the floor and remove.

   
   

9. The unit should come out easily (figure D) now.

Choosing a New Water-Heater Unit

Note: The new gas-electric model water heater is glass lined, which means it has a sacrificial anode rod to protect the lining of the tank by absorbing the chemicals that can make it deteriorate. You should keep the rod changed out once a year.

The maintenance involves draining the tank, flushing the tank and changing the anode rod.

• This particular model comes with an electronic ignition brain center (figure E) with a three-tri ignition system. It operates the spark and the gas at the same time, and it also monitors the flame.

• This is a water heater that you won't have to light the pilot light for the gas. It's automatic. Simply flip the switch to the "on" position (figure F) and watch the light come on, which means it's in ignition mode and ready to go.

Figure E

Figure F

In the next segment Kevin and his guest take a look at some modern plumbing materials for today's RVs and then install the new gas-electric water heater.

RESOURCES :

Water Heater/Furnace
Suburban Manufacturing
PO Box 399
676 Broadway St.
Dayton, TN 37321
Phone: 423-775-2131
Fax: 423-775-7015

Zurn Plumbing Products
Website: www.zurn.com

Water Pump
SHURflo Pump Manufacturing
Website: www.shurflo.com

GUESTS :

Mark Huggett
Zurn Plumbing Products
Highway 11 East
Commerce, TX 75428
Phone: 903-886-2580
Fax: 903-886-2583
Website: www.zurn.com

Neal Stultz
Suburban Manufacturing
230 Blackburn St.
Dayton, TN 37321
Phone: 423-775-0437

Jeff Grigg
Master Plumber
4621 Ellistown Rd.
Phone: 865-689-3999
Knoxville, TN 37924