No hot water

[Likes to tow]

Our 2017 27RL Reflection 5th wheel has the Nautilus p1 water distribution system. Once last year and then again a few days ago after filling the fresh water tank we had absolutely no hot water. For clarity I will say the water in the tank is very hot and our problem is we have no flow. This problem starts out with a slow flow and then progresses to absolutely no flow at all fixtures including the outside shower nozzle. So I know the water is hot. This problem occurs when we are on a city water connection or on the fresh water onboard tank. I bought this RV new and have filled and winterized the plumbing several years so feel confident I'm not doing something wrong when filling up and preparing for a trip.

The only way I can get the hot water tank to provide water is to shut off the pump or city water valve, release pressure on the system by opening a faucet, drain the hot water tank by removing the drain plug outside. Then refill the tank. As the tank is refilling I have a hot water valve open somewhere to release the air as the tank fills. When a steady stream of water is observed I then shut off that valve and consider the hot water tank properly filled and ready for use.

It seems things are fine until next time we prepare for a trip and I experience no flow again from the hot water tank! In troubleshooting today I have suddenly realized that if I turn the RED HANDLE sideways (allowing water to go to hot water fixtures without going to the tank first) I have a flow.....not hot of course....but a flow. Then when I turn the handle back to UP I notice a gurgle sound then I have water flow from the tank!! In looking on the Internet I have found some information about the Nautilus system and something about a Vacuum breaker/ check valve somewhere but I can't seem to locate it or determine exactly what it does. I can see the check valve on the output port of the tank and it's not hard to remove.

Now my thinking is that a check valve on the hot water tank output connection is hanging up and not allowing flow. Does this make sense??? Appreciate any help or advice to solve this problem. Leaving for a 3 week trip!! Wife expects hot showers while we are on the road.

 

[WhittleBurner]

Sounds perplexing, is it the same at all outlets? The way it stops and starts sounds like a blockage , is there a screen to catch debris on the outlet of the heater?

Another thought is have you cleaned the deposits out of the heater recently

 

[geotex1]

Yeah, sounds like the check valve needs to be swapped out.

 

[Likes to tow]

Sounds perplexing, is it the same at all outlets? The way it stops and starts sounds like a blockage , is there a screen to catch debris on the outlet of the heater?

Another thought is have you cleaned the deposits out of the heater recently

Yes all outlets have no flow from hot water tank. When it stops it does not start again until I drain the hot water tank and refill

 

[Gold Country Livin']

Our 2017 27RL Reflection 5th wheel has the Nautilus p1 water distribution system. Once last year and then again a few days ago after filling the fresh water tank we had absolutely no hot water. For clarity I will say the water in the tank is very hot and our problem is we have no flow. This problem starts out with a slow flow and then progresses to absolutely no flow at all fixtures including the outside shower nozzle. So I know the water is hot. This problem occurs when we are on a city water connection or on the fresh water onboard tank. I bought this RV new and have filled and winterized the plumbing several years so feel confident I'm not doing something wrong when filling up and preparing for a trip.

The only way I can get the hot water tank to provide water is to shut off the pump or city water valve, release pressure on the system by opening a faucet, drain the hot water tank by removing the drain plug outside. Then refill the tank. As the tank is refilling I have a hot water valve open somewhere to release the air as the tank fills. When a steady stream of water is observed I then shut off that valve and consider the hot water tank properly filled and ready for use.

It seems things are fine until next time we prepare for a trip and I experience no flow again from the hot water tank! In troubleshooting today I have suddenly realized that if I turn the RED HANDLE sideways (allowing water to go to hot water fixtures without going to the tank first) I have a flow.....not hot of course....but a flow. Then when I turn the handle back to UP I notice a gurgle sound then I have water flow from the tank!! In looking on the Internet I have found some information about the Nautilus system and something about a Vacuum breaker/ check valve somewhere but I can't seem to locate it or determine exactly what it does. I can see the check valve on the output port of the tank and it's not hard to remove.

Now my thinking is that a check valve on the hot water tank output connection is hanging up and not allowing flow. Does this make sense??? Appreciate any help or advice to solve this problem. Leaving for a 3 week trip!! Wife expects hot showers while we are on the road.

It sounds like the check valve located on the back of the hot water tank. Mine is behind the hutch. Removed the drawers to access. It is the output one, red, which is the upper one, not lower. I just replaced mine and it is also a 2017 model. Simple fix, the check valve broke inside which has a spring retainer. About $10-$20. Mine had exactly the same indicators as yours. It worked, then stopped. Then a dribble etc.

 

[Likes to tow]

Thank you for your reply. You have confirmed my theory and I have ordered a new check valve. It's easy to get to on my unit.

 

[lineman1234]

I just got the NO hot water this morning, on all 3 locations inside. All was fine last use before bed, an nope, this morning. After some reading and a few pic's. Being i have a 5ver 2020 reflections 273mk, tank is behind the pass through side wall, 8 screws and there it was.

I did drain the tank and flush with my flush wand first, but it did nothing so, it was shut the water off and drain the hot tank, and remove the check valve on the top.
The only part of the check valve, a plastic one, was the plunger in there blocking the water comming out. The rest of the parts are missing, and still are. I blew some low psi air to try to flush out any parts and nothing.
Pulled the plunger out, or it fell out, reinstalled and will order a new brass one. As i fulltime the goal is not to have to winterize but ill have the valve if needed to install later.

All works just fine now. Its nice to be able to look through past posts to gain information on a rig. My last camper a TT didnt have the same hot water tank or the nautilus 1 system.
So, i learned something new today, and all turned out well. Thats always a good day/thing.

 

[lineman1234]

OK,,, so i just removed the aerator/traps on the sinks and shower head. The only parts i found were some rubber/plastic in the bathroom sink, kitchen and shower were clean. So im still missing the spring and the rest of the parts of the plastic check valve. The pex connector that connects the out line to the top of the hot water tank, isnt that big. So, other than the degrading O ring, it doesnt seem possible that the other plastic part or the spring could go through to the line.

The bathroom sink does flow better now thought.

The only thing that seems to make sense. Is the parts fell in the tank and just flushed out when the other owner took the bottom plug out to drain it, as i flushed the tank with my tank flusher wand, and it was pretty clean, also sticking my little finger in there to check for stuff.
Strange how just the plunger was able to work and not block the flow till this morning, so it must have just been a little out of wack allowing water to flow.

 

[Likes to tow]

A new check valve from Amazon fixed my problem. My old plastic check valve was exactly like yours.......a plunger and no spring or other parts.

 

[Lostinspace]

Yeah, sounds like the check valve needs to be swapped out.

That would be my thought also,just had that happen to me, no water pressure on the hot side.

 

[mrsbreelee]

Do you have to have a check valve? We just replaced our leaking one ( hot pipe on back of water heater) with all we could find locally which was just a fitting (not check valve) and now we have no water from hot side.

 

[Likes to tow]

No idea why this caused you to have no hot water, looks like there should be plenty coming out of tank with no check valve. I would try replacing with a proper check valve. It was working before wasn't it?

 

[SGT ROC]

Thank you for your reply. You have confirmed my theory and I have ordered a new check valve. It's easy to get to on my unit.

What did you order for a new one. Mine started with the same issues on our last trip, Oct 5th. We found a small bit of what appeared to be silicone in the line as my nephew was poking around. Solved the issuse for the reset of the trip, but I want to get a new one.

 

[NowaRAMguy]

Our 2017 27RL Reflection 5th wheel has the Nautilus p1 water distribution system. Once last year and then again a few days ago after filling the fresh water tank we had absolutely no hot water. For clarity I will say the water in the tank is very hot and our problem is we have no flow. This problem starts out with a slow flow and then progresses to absolutely no flow at all fixtures including the outside shower nozzle. So I know the water is hot. This problem occurs when we are on a city water connection or on the fresh water onboard tank. I bought this RV new and have filled and winterized the plumbing several years so feel confident I'm not doing something wrong when filling up and preparing for a trip.

The only way I can get the hot water tank to provide water is to shut off the pump or city water valve, release pressure on the system by opening a faucet, drain the hot water tank by removing the drain plug outside. Then refill the tank. As the tank is refilling I have a hot water valve open somewhere to release the air as the tank fills. When a steady stream of water is observed I then shut off that valve and consider the hot water tank properly filled and ready for use.

It seems things are fine until next time we prepare for a trip and I experience no flow again from the hot water tank! In troubleshooting today I have suddenly realized that if I turn the RED HANDLE sideways (allowing water to go to hot water fixtures without going to the tank first) I have a flow.....not hot of course....but a flow. Then when I turn the handle back to UP I notice a gurgle sound then I have water flow from the tank!! In looking on the Internet I have found some information about the Nautilus system and something about a Vacuum breaker/ check valve somewhere but I can't seem to locate it or determine exactly what it does. I can see the check valve on the output port of the tank and it's not hard to remove.

Now my thinking is that a check valve on the hot water tank output connection is hanging up and not allowing flow. Does this make sense??? Appreciate any help or advice to solve this problem. Leaving for a 3 week trip!! Wife expects hot showers while we are on the road.

The red valve is related to the hot water tank bypass. That would explain the flow issue from the tank. I don't know what's going on with the other valve settings. I continually have one valve in the wrong position when I don't get any flow. Good luck.