Water heater not working

Status
Not open for further replies.
rortega46

rortega46

.
Dec 23, 2009
43
Catalina 34 New Orleans Marina
After running the engine in my H28 for a while plenty of hot running water is available. However, while plugged into shore power and with the AC water heater switch on for a long time there is no hot water. I've heard the heating element may need to be cleaned but don't know what is involved. Does anyone have experience or advice on how to clean the heating element, change the heating element, or jusy fix the water heater? If i need to replace the heating element where would I find one?

Randy
SV YAT
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

.
Nov 6, 2006
10,104
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Randy, there is a reset switch that should be tried first. I don't know how electrically inclined you are.. but be sure to disconnect the shore power plug before doing this :
RESET INSTRUCTIONS: The heater is equipped with a high limit switch which can be
manually reset. If the limit switch activates, proceed as follows:
• Turn power off at main power panel or remote switch
• Remove wiring access cover
• Depress red button on high temperature limit switch
• Replace cover and turn power on
• If temperature limit switch reactivates, contact a Seaward Products
Authorized service center.

Look at the connections when you have the cover off , then before you put the cover back on plug in the shore power and turn on the breaker at the panel and measure volts at the heater with a voltmeter.. to make sure you have some. Pull the plug again and check across the element leads for continuity with the meter.. If you have some ohms, the element is probably good.. replace the cover and plug back into shore power and turn on the water pump. Run the hot water until no bubbles come out of the faucet.. turn the breaker back on and .. should work .. An element will burn out if operated with low water in the heater tank.

Good luck with it.
 
B

Benny17441

.
May 24, 2004
7,175
CC 30 South Florida
Claude is on the money. In addition a corroded or damaged element will usually trip the breaker and require a replacement.
 
Tally Ho

Tally Ho

.
Jan 7, 2011
5,667
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
rortega46 said:
After running the engine in my H28 for a while plenty of hot running water is available. However, while plugged into shore power and with the AC water heater switch on for a long time there is no hot water. I've heard the heating element may need to be cleaned but don't know what is involved. Does anyone have experience or advice on how to clean the heating element, change the heating element, or jusy fix the water heater? If i need to replace the heating element where would I find one?

Randy
SV YAT
Click to expand
I have a Seaward 6 gallon heater on my H280. Had the same "symptoms".

I turned off the a/c power and removed the cover over the wiring, reset switch and element.

I used an ohm meter to check for continuity on the heating element first. It checked out OK, so I moved on to step 2.

Then I turned on the a/c power and VERY CAREFULLY tested for Electric current at the reset switch. I had power there. I checked at the 2 terminals on the heating element...no power there.

Turns out there is a fixed temp thermostat between the high limit reset switch and the heating element. I replaced the thermostat and had hot water after that.

There are some photos on this page that may help.....but I don't know what model water heater you have.

http://marineengineparts.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page200.html


As others have said, be very careful with a/c power.

Greg
 
Tally Ho

Tally Ho

.
Jan 7, 2011
5,667
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
Tanqueray said:
I have a Seaward 6 gallon heater on my H280. Had the same "symptoms".

I turned off the a/c power and removed the cover over the wiring, reset switch and element.

I used an ohm meter to check for continuity on the heating element first. It checked out OK, so I moved on to step 2.

Then I turned on the a/c power and VERY CAREFULLY tested for Electric current at the reset switch. I had power there. I checked at the 2 terminals on the heating element...no power there.

Turns out there is a fixed temp thermostat between the high limit reset switch and the heating element. I replaced the thermostat and had hot water after that.

There are some photos on this page that may help.....but I don't know what model water heater you have.

http://marineengineparts.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page200.html

As others have said, be very careful with a/c power.

Greg
Click to expand
I should add that I first tried the reset button, but it did seem to be tripped. Also I turned the power off when changing out the thermostat.

Greg
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

.
Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
also, the engine hot water temp may be causing the over-temp reset to trip. if the problem repeats after using the engine you might want to consider setting the reset to a higher set point (don't even know if that is possible though) or you could throttle the coolant lines and use some copper/SS tube to lower the coolant water temp going to the heater.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom