How to find the right RV Water Heater Thermostats, Elements & Parts AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in RV Water Heater Thermostats, Elements & Parts
- Exact OEM match
- Order elements, thermostats, ECO/thermal cutoffs and control boards by the heater's model and series number. Atwood/Dometic and Suburban parts are not interchangeable, and parts can also change between series of the same brand.
- Element voltage and wattage
- Use the same voltage and wattage as the original element. Higher wattage can overload the RV's AC circuit, and lower wattage heats too slowly.
- Anode material
- Magnesium anodes give the most protection. Aluminum/zinc anodes are better with hard or sulfur-smelly water. The anode corrodes in place of the tank, so it is a consumable part. Check it each season and replace it when it is heavily eaten away.
- Safety cutoffs
- Replace an ECO or thermal cutoff with the same part, and look for the cause of the trip. These devices trip because the tank overheated. Bypassing one or using a different temperature rating is a scald and fire hazard.
Brands that matter
- Suburban: OEM elements, thermostats, boards and anodes for Suburban heaters.
- Dometic: OEM parts for Atwood and Dometic heaters.
- Camco: Aftermarket anodes, elements, drain plugs and tank rinse wands.
What to avoid
- Turning on the electric element when the tank is empty, which burns it out almost immediately.
- Jumpering past a tripped ECO or thermal cutoff.
- Using a metal drain plug in an Atwood/Dometic tank where the original was nylon.
Questions
Why does my heater work on gas but not electric?
The usual causes, in order, are a switch or breaker that is off, a burned-out element, and a tripped ECO or thermostat. Test the element with a meter before buying a board.