What you should know about the Atwood Dometic Water Heater 

Thermal fuse went out on mine. Cold water for the rest of that trip. Later learned that I could have temporarily bypassed the fuse by connecting the two wires together, being sure to clean out any debris that may have caused it to burn out. I have a couple of spares on hand now. It’s also a good way to trouble shoot what might be the cause if a heater that won’t fire up. I thought it might have been the board, but this simple test proves it was the fuse.

Great video the fuse blew on mine so easy fix thanks!

Thanks Todd. So I will be sure to have some spare plastic plugs in the unit. This was great even if you were being harassed from behind the camera.

This was helpful, however, it would have been nice to have a closer look at the unit instead of all the wasted space around you. I didnt watch the suburban video because I have a dometic. It would have been helpful to get a more detailed overview of the parts instead of referencing the suburban. Thanks

Thanks. Forgot to drain and cracked my aluminum tank at the heating element weld in the back. It’s about 3” long. Since Dometic doesn’t make these anymore I plan on having it welded. I’ve read people have had this done with no problem.

The pressure relief valve is brass. Why couldn’t you use a brass plug?

Well, I'm glad I have the Atwood model in my toy hauler.

What I wouldn't give to get a resettable heat sensor instead of a one time fuse. I like the safety aspect, but we've been in some windy locations lately and it's gotten blown out with no obstructions in the heating path out multiple times due to wind hitting the back of the rig.

Good tip thank-you. Love the retakes 😅

Love the outtakes! Cracked me up!

We have this in our new Forest River Solera. We have read that to heat with electricity there should be a on off switch inside at the place this is installed. There is nothing like that. We switched it on inside the camper but it did not heat up the water. We are perplexed. We are new RVers and so far having a awful time finding info. Looked all through the 159 page booklet the FR community etc. I think allot has to do with supply issues and FR using other brands then normal. 🤷🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

my cutoff fuse blew and i dont use propane for anything in our rig. I havent had hot water all week on electric because after that piece blew no matter what i do its not getting even warm. There is barely any room in the crawl space in the back of where it is to get to and there is a big septic pvc pipe right in front of it. They dont install these things with consideration that someone will need to access the back of them. For this reason i hate the atwood models.

Thank you for the heat fuse idea!

Great video. Answered several questions I had. THANK YOU. I enjoy your channel.

I wondered why my plug was plastic. Thanks for the tip. If my employer insists on the jab my backup plan is coming to Texas to the school!

I’m pretty sure the Aluminum tank heaters use a plastic plug because they aren’t in need of a sacrificial anode to maintain the tank, which would be zinc. Any other metal introduced to the environment would be targeted for electrolysis and there’s no point in risking sediment build up in the tank at the drain.

I have a Atwood water heater, When the tank is full with it off everything is dry, when the tank is full and I turn on the propane and water gets hot everything is dry. When tank is full and I turn in electric and water gets hot there starts a pretty good drip that appears to becoming from the outlet fittings. What’s happening here, doesn’t make sense

The controller circuit board by Atwood was a free replacement by Domatic for me it failed right away .

Great information! Thank you! Merry Christmas!

A mistake in this video is to focus on the man not the heater. Why is the speaker in the frame while the heater is so far back we cannot see any details. Camera man is doing a poor job. Zoom in on the heater so we can see what he is talking about. Is there any purpose in keeping the speaker in the frame the whole time? Very poor camera work and common sense. You don't need film classes for this. This is the biggest problem with technical help. The explanation is very good. The camera work is very bad, so is the lighting. Get some diffused large light that cost $150 a pair and shine them on the heater so we can see exactly what is going on. Great video, and explanations are very clear. This is so useful, thank you!!! My water heater is tucked deep inside a kitchen cabinet and IMPOSSIBLE to access. Stupid manufacturers! So I am going to destroy the entire kitchen countertop (MDF and Formica heavy junk anyway) and flimsy stapled cabinets, and rebuild it with new appliances and real wood. I will make the water heater area accessible with a hinged countertop section that allows easy access from the top. Now I can service it by lifting hinged section up and bending over or from underneath. Much better! Everything should be modular in an RV and easily replaceable. The kitchen is also where the stove oven sits, and under it is the electrical section with charger and inputs. This area also needs to be made very accessible, so removing the countertop and breaking it into hinged sections makes sense. Replace the oven with a 4 burner stovetop with a quick disconnect valve, and hinged counter. Lift counter, and voila! Access to entire electrical inverter, charger section possible. How nice. There is zero reason why manufacturers cannot build better RVs. Lazy, greedy makers who sell us overpriced junk. By the way, if you can afford it, the Truma AquaGo water heater is the best. It can be hooked up to the engine glycol system and have the glycol recirculate into the water heater transferring engine heat into the water, so you seldom need to turn on the propane switch to get hot water. It is probably cheaper than the Dometic or Suburban and not finicky to clean out. Much better solution overall. The Truma Combi combines air heater and water heater, both heated by glycol as well as propane. Very efficient system. Not sold retail but only at installers.

If Atwood doesn't have a anode rod why does the hot water have a nasty smell?

Love your videos, Todd!!! So that ‘heat sensitive’ fuse that you showed us that will shut everything down if it melts through--then what? Am I just screwed for the rest of a trip, or is it replaceable and how difficult is that to do? Yes, we do have the Dometic gas/electric model. Another question I have is: is there any way to adjust the water temperature, other than blending hot/cold water at the faucet? Thanks for all your work on these videos-for an RVer, these are the most fun and interesting thing on RU-vid!

Thanks for these great videos

That heat fuse is a great idea and should be standard on all water heaters. How do you replace it if it's a one time use fuse?

Tanks for the video, really helpful, question, where I can buy a new because my star leaks I don’t know from where

What would cause a Atwood/dometic water heater to stop working on propane when you close the access panel ? Runs fine with the access panel open but as soon as you close it it stops working

Thanks god bless

Awesome video thanks

I have a mind twisting question. At least it twists my mind. I have that exact water heater you use in this video. Each year I do drain and winterize it. Shut it off and flush the RV anti freeze through out the other pipes. I do not fill my heater tank with anti freeze. Last time out using the rig. Every time I turned the hot water on to use. It came out rusty looking. I asked around and folks said my Anode rod was out, gone, missing. I go one and thinking I had the right one, based on the plug size. It would not go in as it was to long. Mind you it has a metal plug. I then found your video here. So if my tank is aluminon how is it I get rust? I have not modified anything on this system so it should all be factory set up?

I know what’s wrong and how to fix it. But I can’t do it until tomorrow. I’d like hot water tonight tho. All I need to know is Is it ok to manually light the pilot when the spark wire is broken??? The terminal or contact broke and it won’t spark. I can fix it myself tomorrow. I just need a shower now. lol.

Or an inch and a 16th socket to get that drain cap off

How do you get the plastic nipples repaired on the inlet and outlet if they are leaking?

Hello, I’m a newbie and would like to know when I turn my switch on for my Atwood hot water tank what color of flame should I see? I’m getting yellow but I thought it should be blue in color.

Thanks everyone for answering my follow-up questions to your video. Can someone answer my last question: Is the 2nd fuse the 2 amp mini fuse or is it actually a a thermal wire type fuse. If wire type, where can I find it on the Domestic unit?

I went to change out my pressure relief valve on my Atwood today (relief valve lever loose, doesn’t release pressure). I can’t get the old one to turn to be able to remove it, any ideas? I’ve remove the tin hovering around the outlet and tried removing with a vise grip). Any ideas??? Thanks

where is the rv hot water heating element for ATWOOD G6A-8E it is not on the backside in your demo...

This may not pertain to this, but can I ask you a question I have an Atwood 6 gallon put new circuitboard on it and T-Stat everything‘s good but lights up Burns for about six seconds and the red wire at the circuitboard turn the power off to the solenoid for the gas. I don’t understand what’s going on do I have a defective circuit board

Great video Todd. We got this water heater and had to change the check valve in the back. Now from what you said I guessing I wasn’t supposed to use the brass check valve?

traveling w/propane on does NOT have anything to do with/hinder use of the water heater UNLESS the propane switch is in the ON position???

Do you know of a 12V water heater element to replace the 120V heating element?

Todd, great video! Can you confirm that the electric side of the water heater will also not work when the heat fuse goes bad. Thanks!

Thanks great job god bless

2023 domestic heater. Recently after freezing nights, a leak developed when I engage my water pump. No pump, no drip.. I haven't located where the drops are coming from or why. ???

Awesome informative video..thanks for sharing... My question is where I can find one with 6 gallons tank, any ideas..?

how often should the heating element on a dometic rv water heater be replaced

Would the thermal fuse make the water heater not fire? Fuse in rv is good, will not light in fact no power. The battery is good. Or is it the circuit board

Are you planning on doing a video on the Furrion tankless water heaters?

Question: Which unit is better, Steel tank or Aluminum tank?

Todd, can you tell us why we can’t use a brass plug in place of the plastic one when the water relief valve is brass. I’m curious. Thanks

Hello, my rv has this heater but the electrical isn't working - only the propane. How can I fix that?

Do the aluminum water heaters still scale up and should they be cleaned with vinegar?

Which digits are the year and which digits are the month on the Atwood Dometic water heaters’ serial# to determine it's age?

My Atwood water heater was singing, if it doesn't have a anarod then what could the singing be ?

Now I know why plastic and not brass.

....hmmm, the T&P valve is brass. Is this not a dissimilar metal conflict? Is the boss stainless steel where the T&P screws in?

Thanks for this video. I currently have an issue that after troubleshooting for a constantly running water pump, i have found that if i put the water system in bypass mode, the pump builds pressure and the turns off. thus the issue is with the water heater. Have you ever seen this situation ??? Thank you,

Hola! No sé como poner en funcionamientoel calentador de agua dometic en mi rv , podrían ayudarme con instrucciones en español? Gracias

Todd.. we have this water heater in our Grand Design 30 RBS Transcend Travel trailer. Question: now that I know we're the heating element is, how long does the element last and how hard is it to replace? We get clicking sounds sometimes. So we flush the water heater tank out about every 3 to 6 months, is this good thing?

How hard is it to just replace the tank?

can you use 1/2" inch threads Atwood heaters Magnesium Anode Rod For RV, Camper and Trailer Water Heaters? will it -Extends the life of your water heater by preventing corrosion? fits Atwood water heaters?

Is this unit electric as well?

I bought a brass petcock drain valve for the Atwood water heater. Will the brass petcock drain valve work if it is wrapped in plumbers tape and not 'freeze' together or will it still react with the brass? Trying to decide if I should put it in or just stay with the plastic plugs.

My Attwood won't give me hot water. It ignites but no hot water. What should I be looking for? Thankyou

Isn't the TPR brass?

Is Toddd loosing it?

Thanks Todd. We recently had our hot water heater and black and gray tanks cleaned and the person recommended a type of anode rod for aluminum hwh. Is that safe?

What about the brass safety valve? Would it freez in place?