Water Heater Replacement

[brian krikorian]

Hi all,

I know this topic has been bandied about before, but I am doing some post-trip maintenance and prioritizing what I need to fix in the interior.

My water heater currently only heats through the "pre-heat" mode. This is great when I first arrive somewhere or even the next morning, but if I'm
anywhere more than a day, I have no hot water. I am replacing my toilet, so I decided to pull out the hatch and check out the condition of the WH.
Photos below (sorry couldn't rotate them back when I uploaded them).

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p63672-2017-09-06-13-21-30.html

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p63672-2017-09-06-13-21-30.html

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p63671-2017-09-06-11-16-15.html

The Model is the American Appliance MFG AMRS6, and I'm sure it's 40 years old +/-. From the outside it looks okay, and maybe it's just a heating
element. But I'm not even sure if I can get a new heating element for this, or if it's even worth it. I was thinking of buying one of the stainless
steel tank models at Applied. http://www.appliedgmc.com/prod.itml/icOid/518

Or would some of you recommend just seeing if I can salvage this one? Any 2 cents is appreciated.

To be candid, I can live without constant hot water and it's just me and my dog. But--it's on my list.
--
Brian K
1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
Bellevue, WA
Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall apart (discovering more as I go along....)

 

[Gene Fisher]

Read here
http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/living

> Hi all,
>
> I know this topic has been bandied about before, but I am doing some
> post-trip maintenance and prioritizing what I need to fix in the interior.
>
> My water heater currently only heats through the "pre-heat" mode. This is
> great when I first arrive somewhere or even the next morning, but if I'm
> anywhere more than a day, I have no hot water. I am replacing my toilet,
> so I decided to pull out the hatch and check out the condition of the WH.
> Photos below (sorry couldn't rotate them back when I uploaded them).
>
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p63672-2017-09-06-13-21-30.html
>
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p63672-2017-09-06-13-21-30.html
>
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p63671-2017-09-06-11-16-15.html
>
>
> The Model is the American Appliance MFG AMRS6, and I'm sure it's 40 years
> old +/-. From the outside it looks okay, and maybe it's just a heating
> element. But I'm not even sure if I can get a new heating element for
> this, or if it's even worth it. I was thinking of buying one of the
> stainless
> steel tank models at Applied.
> http://www.appliedgmc.com/prod.itml/icOid/518
>
> Or would some of you recommend just seeing if I can salvage this one? Any
> 2 cents is appreciated.
>
> To be candid, I can live without constant hot water and it's just me and
> my dog. But--it's on my list.
> --
> Brian K
> 1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
> Bellevue, WA
> Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall
> apart (discovering more as I go along....)
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html

 

[kosier]

Brian,

It's probably your heating element. They can be a bear to change after 40
years. And the tank may start leaking 20 minutes later.
Bite the bullet and get the stainless tank. It'll be good forever and
you'll love it.

Gary Kosier
77PB w/500Cad
Newark, Ohio

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Brian Krikorian"
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2017 6:46 PM
To:
Subject: [GMCnet] Water Heater Replacement

> Hi all,
>
> I know this topic has been bandied about before, but I am doing some
> post-trip maintenance and prioritizing what I need to fix in the interior.
>
> My water heater currently only heats through the "pre-heat" mode. This is
> great when I first arrive somewhere or even the next morning, but if I'm
> anywhere more than a day, I have no hot water. I am replacing my toilet,
> so I decided to pull out the hatch and check out the condition of the WH.
> Photos below (sorry couldn't rotate them back when I uploaded them).
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p63672-2017-09-06-13-21-30.html
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p63672-2017-09-06-13-21-30.html
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p63671-2017-09-06-11-16-15.html
>
>
> The Model is the American Appliance MFG AMRS6, and I'm sure it's 40 years
> old +/-. From the outside it looks okay, and maybe it's just a heating
> element. But I'm not even sure if I can get a new heating element for
> this, or if it's even worth it. I was thinking of buying one of the
> stainless
> steel tank models at Applied.
> http://www.appliedgmc.com/prod.itml/icOid/518
>
> Or would some of you recommend just seeing if I can salvage this one? Any
> 2 cents is appreciated.
>
> To be candid, I can live without constant hot water and it's just me and
> my dog. But--it's on my list.
> --
> Brian K
> 1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
> Bellevue, WA
> Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall
> apart (discovering more as I go along....)
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

 

[RF_Burns]

Its a good idea to put the water heater on a mechanical timer so that it turns OFF power to the heating element when you are not using hot water. We
find it takes less than 15 minutes to get hot water for showering or washing dishes. It will save your element when you forget to shut off the heater
and the water level drops in the heater.

Also, install a 220 volt 4,000 watt heater element rather than the OEM 120V 1000 watt element. The 4Kw element is more rugged and when powered from
120 volts it will deliver 1Kw, same power as OEM.

JWID

--
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
Hubler 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

 

[Ken B]

> Its a good idea to put the water heater on a mechanical timer so that it turns OFF power to the heating element when you are not using hot water.
> We find it takes less than 15 minutes to get hot water for showering or washing dishes. It will save your element when you forget to shut off the
> heater and the water level drops in the heater.
>
> Also, install a 220 volt 4,000 watt heater element rather than the OEM 120V 1000 watt element. The 4Kw element is more rugged and when powered
> from 120 volts it will deliver 1Kw, same power as OEM.
>
> JWID

I agree totally with Bruce. Heating elements are available at Home Depot and other plumbing supply stores. Thee are two types. A bolt in and a
screw in. I believe they only have the screw in type in most stores. If you need one they also stock an adapter for a few dollars to go from screw
in to the bolt in type heaters. These are very common items.

This is also a very common failure item. I keep a spare in my heater compartment. Soak the threads in the heater with Kroil for a few days before
removing the heater element. If you do not have Kroil, PB Blaster will also work but it is not quiet as good as Kroil.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

 

[bdub1]

Hi Brian
Look through these photos. Lots of good tips here.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/search.php?searchid=330245

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g3082-water-heater.html

Some info in the FAQ at http://bdub.net/gmc-faq.html

Also, plan for a better drain valve before installation along with a bypass
valve and plumbing for winterization.

bdub

-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces] On Behalf Of Brian
Krikorian
Sent: Wednesday, September 6, 2017 5:47 PM
To: gmclist
Subject: [GMCnet] Water Heater Replacement

Hi all,

I know this topic has been bandied about before, but I am doing some
post-trip maintenance and prioritizing what I need to fix in the interior.

My water heater currently only heats through the "pre-heat" mode. This is
great when I first arrive somewhere or even the next morning, but if I'm
anywhere more than a day, I have no hot water. I am replacing my toilet, so
I decided to pull out the hatch and check out the condition of the WH.
Photos below (sorry couldn't rotate them back when I uploaded them).

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p63672-2017-09-06-13-21-3
0.html

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p63672-2017-09-06-13-21-3
0.html

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p63671-2017-09-06-11-16-1
5.html

The Model is the American Appliance MFG AMRS6, and I'm sure it's 40 years
old +/-. From the outside it looks okay, and maybe it's just a heating
element. But I'm not even sure if I can get a new heating element for this,
or if it's even worth it. I was thinking of buying one of the stainless
steel tank models at Applied.
http://www.appliedgmc.com/prod.itml/icOid/518

Or would some of you recommend just seeing if I can salvage this one? Any 2
cents is appreciated.

To be candid, I can live without constant hot water and it's just me and my
dog. But--it's on my list.
--
Brian K
1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
Bellevue, WA
Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall
apart (discovering more as I go along....)

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

 

[johnny]

I took the element out of mine - flat plate with 4 bolts and a gasket to attach - down to a house trailer parts place. The guy walked to a piece of
pegboard with a bunch of different elements on it and browsed till he got a match. Less than fifteen dollars.

--johnny
--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased

 

[brian krikorian]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

Sounds like the first thing to do is pull it out of there (not looking forward to that!), and see what my options are, and if I can salvage the
existing set up before spending the bucks.

Brian
--
Brian K
1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
Bellevue, WA
Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall apart (discovering more as I go along....)

 

[johnny]

I got the element out through the hatch without too much trouble. My coach has been modified to a full bed in back, so removal of the water heater
will require tearing the bedroom apart. In lieu of that, should I need to replace it, I'll simply hook the gozinta to the gozouta and place the
replacement someplace more accessible.

--johnny
--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased

 

[RF_Burns]

I got my tank out of my '77 Palm Beach by just removing the little cabinet that holds the sliding doors with the toilet paper. There is a nut at the
back and somewhere on the photo site is a drawing to find a location to drill an access hole to it. Then only the tank comes out and the bracket
stays in place.

The new stainless tank fits nicely into a piece of insulated duct tubing for insulation.
--
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
Hubler 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

 

[Ken B]

> I took the element out of mine - flat plate with 4 bolts and a gasket to attach - down to a house trailer parts place. The guy walked to a piece
> of pegboard with a bunch of different elements on it and browsed till he got a match. Less than fifteen dollars.
>
> --johnny

Get the 240 volt 4000 watt element. There is a much less chance of burning it out in the future running it on 120 volts. Do not let the selling
place talk you out of it. At 120 volts it produces the same amount of heat and uses the same power.

--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana