Hot water heater confusion

[huntr70]

Hi all. This is my first trailer and I'm finding this to be super confusing. The manuals (GD and Airxcel) both say to check that the water heater is "filled with water," suggesting that there is a gauge somewhere to do that, but there isn't. And neither manual tells you the rest of the story here.

The logic I'm missing is that, if I turn on the hot water to fill the tank, I'm depleting the hot water tank. How does one "check" that it's "full"? Thanks in advance.


____________________________
Jeff
2021 30G Toy Hauler
2021 RAM 2500 6.7L HD

You can also open the pressure relief valve on the water heater itself. When water comes out, it is full.

[315RLTSinPA]

If you have a steady flow of water with no air the tank is full


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

This is not totally true. If the valves are set to bypass, you will get a steady flow from the faucet but no water will go into the water heater.

[NB Canada]

This is not totally true. If the valves are set to bypass, you will get a steady flow from the faucet but no water will go into the water heater.

Well of course but why would a person have their water heater on bypass and be expecting to use it


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

[Jerryr]

Reflections with Atwood water heaters don’t have anode rods like the Suburban water heaters.

The Atwood WH has an aluminum tank with a plastic drain plug.

[JHinAZ]

I get it. Run the hot water tap to fill the tank, which you should only have to do if/when the tank has been emptied. It would/should only be empty if the entire unit runs out of water, or the tank was intentionally emptied.

I realized that part of my confusion came from the fact that the sales guy suggested I take a shower at the campground because "the hot water tank only holds 6 gallons of water." The manual says "make sure the hot water tank is full." The sales guy meant it only holds six gallons of hot water.

I'm an overly-analytical person. This is how my brain works.

Thanks for the anode rod info, that's helpful.

[NB Canada]

I realized that part of my confusion came from the fact that the sales guy suggested I take a shower at the campground because "the hot water tank only holds 6 gallons of water." .

HUH?

Why do salesmen speak?

We can take showers back to back to back and never run out of hot water
The heater is constantly creating hot water and the “6gallons” in the tank is very very hot water which can’t be used by itself. It is mixed with cold

What else did this silly salesmen tell you?


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

[MattShan]

Welcome to the forum! If you open up a hot water faucet inside the RV, water will fill the water heater.

Assuming, of course, the heater isn’t bypassed.

[RustyCas]

We bought a 2600RB partly because hot showers are a non-negotiable for me and I wanted a bigger shower. I take fairly long, hot showers and I never run out of hot water. As some said above, the water is very hot - be careful you don’t scald yourself. I assume you can adjust the maximum temperature, but with no children around, I’m not inclined to.

[Malco1]

This is not totally true. If the valves are set to bypass, you will get a steady flow from the faucet but no water will go into the water heater.

If the op has his Nautilus set to city water or dry camping his water heater will not be bypassed.

[akiyak]

[iQUOTE=RVneautral;374333]I am new to all this. I have a 2021 Momentum Toy Hauler. Question: When I hook up city water to the water supply, does the hot water heater automatically receive water? I can’t find a valve for on / off.[/QUOTE]