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water heater element [message #60685] Mon, 19 October 2009 13:23 Go to next message
pzerkel is currently offline  pzerkel   United States
Messages: 212
Registered: September 2007
Location: Salisbury, IL
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Well circumstances conspired to prevent me from attending Elkhart, but it did give a chance to work on the plumbing in the coach.

For the first time since I have owned the coach, I have a working water pump, toilet, and tanks & pipes that don't leak.

But no hot water. I suspect the element is shot. For testing I had the WH switch on for about 25 minutes and felt absolutely no hot or even warm water. Was 25 minutes long enough?

I suspect that the element is shot. I have read some of the past messages about replacing with a 240v 4000 watt unit, and will probably do that. Can the element be replaced with the WH in place under the bathroom sink?

I also suppose it would be prudent to remove the old element first to be sure whether it has been adapted to the screw in vs four bolt arrangement. I looked in the photo site but could not find any albums documenting this repair. If one does exist I would appreciate a link.

Thanks,


Paul Zerkel
'78 Eleganza II
Salisbury IL (near Springfield)
Re: water heater element [message #60700 is a reply to message #60685] Mon, 19 October 2009 16:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
RF_Burns is currently offline  RF_Burns   Canada
Messages: 2277
Registered: June 2008
Location: S. Ontario, Canada
Karma: 3
Senior Member
I replaced mine last year with a 240/4kw element. It was a 4 bolt unit and I was able to replace it without removing the WH, just removed the TP holder, sliding door assembly.

I get to find out how well the 4kw unit holds up as I started to drain the water from the WH tank, not thinking to check the WH switch first. I maybe replacing it again now!

I must remember to replace that switch with a timer!!


Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
Re: [GMCnet] water heater element [message #60702 is a reply to message #60685] Mon, 19 October 2009 16:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
emerystora is currently offline  emerystora   United States
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
Senior Member

On Oct 19, 2009, at 12:23 PM, Paul Zerkel wrote:

>
>
> Well circumstances conspired to prevent me from attending Elkhart,
> but it did give a chance to work on the plumbing in the coach.
>
> For the first time since I have owned the coach, I have a working
> water pump, toilet, and tanks & pipes that don't leak.
>
> But no hot water. I suspect the element is shot. For testing I had
> the WH switch on for about 25 minutes and felt absolutely no hot or
> even warm water. Was 25 minutes long enough?
>
> I suspect that the element is shot. I have read some of the past
> messages about replacing with a 240v 4000 watt unit, and will
> probably do that. Can the element be replaced with the WH in place
> under the bathroom sink?
>
> I also suppose it would be prudent to remove the old element first
> to be sure whether it has been adapted to the screw in vs four bolt
> arrangement. I looked in the photo site but could not find any
> albums documenting this repair. If one does exist I would appreciate
> a link.
>
> Thanks,
>
> --
> Paul Zerkel
> '78 Eleganza II
> Salisbury IL (near Springfield)


You should be able to find a 240 v. 4000 watt or a 240 v. 4500 watt at
about any Home Depot, Lowes or Ace Hardware.
The 4000 will give 1000 watts which should heat your water to the max
in about 15 minutes.

The 4500 will give 1125 watts.

To replace it just pull out the cabinet under the sink and remove the
two wires from the element and screw it out.

While in the you might want to modify the cabinet to put in a small
door for easy access and a small ball valve for better draining.
.
Here is how I did it:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=4119

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM


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Re: [GMCnet] water heater element [message #60710 is a reply to message #60685] Mon, 19 October 2009 17:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Marcel Bourgon is currently offline  Marcel Bourgon   United States
Messages: 37
Registered: December 2005
Karma: 0
Member
Mine also was burned out. After trying to remove the element witha set of
channel locks I went to home depot to purchase the element. In the same
area they sell a stamped socket made for removing the element. I wish I had
seen it would have made pulling it out a lot easier. Not very expensive
about 6-8 bucks. Makes life a lot easier
Marcel in El Paso
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Zerkel" <gmc@zerkelhome.com>
To: <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 12:23 PM
Subject: [GMCnet] water heater element


>
>
> Well circumstances conspired to prevent me from attending Elkhart, but it
> did give a chance to work on the plumbing in the coach.
>
> For the first time since I have owned the coach, I have a working water
> pump, toilet, and tanks & pipes that don't leak.
>
> But no hot water. I suspect the element is shot. For testing I had the WH
> switch on for about 25 minutes and felt absolutely no hot or even warm
> water. Was 25 minutes long enough?
>
> I suspect that the element is shot. I have read some of the past messages
> about replacing with a 240v 4000 watt unit, and will probably do that. Can
> the element be replaced with the WH in place under the bathroom sink?
>
> I also suppose it would be prudent to remove the old element first to be
> sure whether it has been adapted to the screw in vs four bolt arrangement.
> I looked in the photo site but could not find any albums documenting this
> repair. If one does exist I would appreciate a link.
>
> Thanks,
>
> --
> Paul Zerkel
> '78 Eleganza II
> Salisbury IL (near Springfield)
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

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Re: water heater element [message #60788 is a reply to message #60685] Tue, 20 October 2009 09:15 Go to previous message
stkhlm is currently offline  stkhlm   United States
Messages: 58
Registered: February 2004
Location: Xenia, OH
Karma: 0
Member

Paul I sent you a PM.

thanks


Bob & Terry Stockholm
Xenia, OH
1976 PB
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