Info: Hot Water Heater

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OldWest

2004 T1N Westfalia
There's a lot of information about our hot water heaters in the USA, so won't go into too much detail.

1. Models:

The early Westies had a three (3) gallon, manual light (matchstick) Suburban hot water heater.

Later Westies apparently had a four (4) gallon Suburban hot water heater. Not clear whether these all had electronic ignition, with the control near the generator switch control (near closet).

If anyone has the four gallon heater with control, it'd be nice to have photos.

There was a poster who replaced their three gallon heater with a four gallon heater and control.

NOTE: The typical Suburban 6 gallon water heater may not fit. Also, the doors of the various Suburbans may have different dimensions--so double-check dimensions if replacing door.

2. James Cook:

The James Cook does not have a Suburban hot water heater with the big ugly door. Instead, the James Cook has a small propane Truma water boiler mounted behind the bathroom mirror in the fiberglass top area, with the exhaust going through the rear part of fiberglass top.

3. Suburban Maintenance:

The sacrificial anode rod should be replaced annually or as required.

https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=390&highlight=Hot+water

WARNING: Besides turning off propane, make sure to release water pressure BEFORE unscrewing anode rod--if not, the water pressure will launch anode rod like a missle.

WARNING: The water pressure valve should also be checked periodically for safety and replaced as necessary.

https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showpost.php?p=344725&postcount=10

QUIRK: The drain valve (underneath water heater, next to Kerstner black plastic box) may also act as a relief valve and drip.

https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60319&highlight=shower

Camco Water Heater Tank Rinser is handy to flush sediment out as water hose won't fit into tank, or can make your own.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Camco+11691

4. Hot Water to Outdoor Shower:

Several Westy owners have modified water lines so the outside shower has hot water.

https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49280&highlight=Carr

https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35535&highlight=shower

https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41531&highlight=Hot+water

Several posters found a source for the attachment to the outside shower at McMaster Carr, Amazon, etc.. Thread below has document showing how to make complete shower hose.

Airstream used to sell the outside shower hose and showerhead as an accessory, but apparently no longer available.

https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95&highlight=shower

https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48505&highlight=shower

https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35535&highlight=shower
 
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O

OldWest

2004 T1N Westfalia
6. On-Demand Hot Water:

Discus replaced Suburban with an on-demand instant hot water heater. Does require higher water pressure to activate tank. Discus has an external Shurflo water pump instead of the submersible pump

https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49075&highlight=Hot+water

7. Mini-Hot Water Heaters:

To eliminate propane, need to get rid of cooktop, hot water heater, and generator.

Diesel hot water heaters are expensive.

If have an inverter, a small.electric hot water heater might be sufficient. There are also 12v tanks.

https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43355&highlight=Hot+water
 
K

Kiltym

Active member
Just as a point of reference, we have a 4 gallon, with manual light pilot. We are # 182.

Model SW4P
 
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CaptnALinTiverton

CaptnALinTiverton

xT1N Westfalia
OldWest said:
For the replacement part for the drain valve under the hot water heater, see this thread:

https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60319

Truma part 70141-02
Click to expand...
I replaced the drain valve equivalent to the one that was there (OEM I guess) and the new one leaked too. I ended up making a tee with barbs front and back with a brass pipe down and a 1/4 lever shutoff below (ends up atop of wheel well). No more leaks problem anymore.

AL
 
F

Fredb

Member
Resurrecting this thread...

Has anyone tried replacing the 4 gallon Suburban with a 6 gallon... does it work?

Does anyone know if the door spec'd for the 6 gallon heater fits our 4 gallon?

Does anyone otherwise know a good place to get parts that might have any familiarity with the 4 gallon unit?

Getting ready to dive in and do some overdue maintenance and managed to lose the screen my door (in addition to denting the door) and so am looking for replacement parts.
 
autocamp

autocamp

un-Airstream'ed & un-Dodged NAFTA JC
One best update for our motorhome is to install the DSI version of the same water heater. Once you've done that you wonder why you lived with the match lit one for so long. Whether the capacity is 3 or 4 gallon I am sure they have the same tank over the years. Just a specmanship tolerance +/- 25%. When I first acquire my JC I thought 3 gallon hot water tank is too small, but having living with it for so long I am very glad it is not any bigger. With only circa 20 gallons (if memory serves) of fresh water carrying capacity I would not want it any bigger. Also propane is precious when you are down to the last couple of gallons. With DSI I can turn off and on at will and it take so little fuel and time to bring up the temperature. My DSI one has been 100% reliable. I bet the counterpart in the European JC cannot even come close.



In frigid ambient, it will take that much more propane and time to bring up to temp a 6 gallon tank. I rarely leave the water heater on all day/night. I only switch it on before I want to have hot water, and it takes a mere ~10 minutes to have hot water.
 
CaptnALinTiverton

CaptnALinTiverton

xT1N Westfalia
There are many other posts/threads on this subject. I've stayed with the match light for two reasons, One was a RV specialist told me that the electric igniters have a higher fire risk. Second is that the original stays hot just on the pilot alone (unless a lot is used at once).

AL
 
F

Fredb

Member
AutoCamp... thanks for your post. The DSI version is a 'very' intriguing upgrade. I looked through your very detailed explanation (as always) and had a couple of quick questions.
  • The unit you purchased is 3 gallon vs. 4 gallon and in the picture of the units side by side, the newer one appears to be smaller, but maybe that's an artifact of the angle of the picture. Is it in fact smaller and did it present any issues with installation?
  • Also, the newer one seems to lack the frame that surrounds the front of the original. Did you swap out the old one or did a new one come with the new unit, OR did you find it unnecessary?
  • You describe/show the effort you went to re-bend the gas line and am wondering whether you'd considered a flexible gas house (vis-a-vis https://www.flexfithose.com/) as a replacement and if not, why not?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
 
autocamp

autocamp

un-Airstream'ed & un-Dodged NAFTA JC
Fredb said:
AutoCamp... thanks for your post. The DSI version is a 'very' intriguing upgrade. I looked through your very detailed explanation (as always) and had a couple of quick questions.
  • The unit you purchased is 3 gallon vs. 4 gallon and in the picture of the units side by side, the newer one appears to be smaller, but maybe that's an artifact of the angle of the picture. Is it in fact smaller and did it present any issues with installation?
  • Also, the newer one seems to lack the frame that surrounds the front of the original. Did you swap out the old one or did a new one come with the new unit, OR did you find it unnecessary?
  • You describe/show the effort you went to re-bend the gas line and am wondering whether you'd considered a flexible gas house (vis-a-vis https://www.flexfithose.com/) as a replacement and if not, why not?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
Click to expand...
I compared the two side by side and measured the foam covered tank and they are identical. These US heaters do not come with the front cover nor gasket. The rubber gasket is specific to the NAFTA James Cook so all are reused. As to why not use a flexible gas hose, I prefer the original German SS gas line and see no reason not to reuse it. Additionally, I am sure the fittings on both end are metric. If memory serves there is a metric to Merican :biggrin: adapter on the water heater side.

Reshaping the SS gas line is the challenge but with some patience it can be done professionally.

BTW, I looked into the Propex before finding the Suburban DSI version. The Propex installation involve butchering the Sprinter body panel and that is DOA for me as a choice. The Suburban has no moving part so its a no brainer choice.
 
F

Fredb

Member
AutoCamp,

Thanks for the reply. Good to hear that the exterior dimensions are identical.

"German SS" gas line... yikes!!! :). If it comes to it suspect I'll go with the flexible hose and work out the adapters at either end.

FWIW, for those that may be interested, I discovered that Suburban continues to make the 4 Gallon option like the original. Part number SW4P (5067A). Can be found both here https://www.adventurerv.net/suburban-gallon-water-heater-pilot-sw4p-p-1170.html or here https://www.rvupgradestore.com/Suburban-Pilot-Ignition-Gas-Water-Heater-3-Gal-p/80-1362.htm.

Also managed to identify the recommended 'repair' part for the stock unit... if you are suffering long (5+ minutes) pilot lighting times (like I am). It is the Pilot Burner Assembly - part #161156 ($25-30 with shipping from the rvupgradestore.com). The next step would be the Themostat Gas Control Unit - part #16111 and it is considerably more expensive - like around $300. Won't have the results of replacing the Pilot Burner Assembly until the spring as I'm about to mothball my Westy for the winter, but there you have it.
 
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Fredb

Member
On a separate, but related note, if one wants to drain the water from the water heater, does one need to drain the main water tank first... begs the question of how the hot water tank gets filled... seems like a lot for the little water pump. On the other hand, seems to sit at or above the level of the main water tank. Am sure one of the 'masters' out there know the answer... :)
 
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