Water heater problems.

We just got back from our first trip in our 2015 179, all in all had a great one week holiday in the eastern Kootenays, our 2002 Grand Cherokee towed well and we didn't push it too hard on the steeper climbs. Didn't experience any sway even in some strong cross winds due I think to the Blue ox wdh.  Problems ..    couldn't get the water to flow properly, we followed all the instructions for the initial start up with no joy. Went the weekend without water and then phoned Rangeland rv Balzac on Monday, they informed us that they had probably left one of the valves shut under the bed, so I took the mattress out and unscrewed the wood panels to reveal that the one valve was indeed closed. Opened it up and the water flowed. We are now experiencing problems with the water heater, it worked on and off but now seems to have packed up altogether. The instructions say to ensure that the  hot water tank is full before turning it on, how do you do that?   I hope that my trying to start the water pump with the valve closed hasn't damaged it. I hope also that the hot water heater hasn't been damaged.  I will be phoning the dealer tomorrow. We had a free membership with Coachnet but found that they were only available weekdays and Rangeland weren't any help until Monday.  When we got home we couldn't get the fridge to switch off, I eventually took the control panel out and it then switched off.  Just a few problems to mar an otherwise great first trip but never the less we were told that the pod was ready to go camping with and the problems did waste some of our time. Unfortunately we didn't have a computer with us to contact you guys while we were away, would appreciate any assistance or ideas. Derek and Alison.

OK, you had hot water, and then didn't? Or you had some hot water, then didn't, then did.. etc?

Lets address that first. If you had hot water at all.. the water heater has water in it. To check, trip the manual pressure relief valve near the top of the WH, outside in the compartment.

If you had fluctuating water temps, or some hot water, then none right away. then next time, same thing.. (and since it's a first time out) your winterization valves are set wrong. Lift the mattress and open the panel above the WH. You will need to remove some screws to do this. On the back of the water heater, there is plumbing, going and coming from the WH. There are 3 valves on that plumbing. The top and bottom ones need to be open, and the center one closed.

To run on propane, open propane bottle, go inside the pod, turn on the water heater switch. If you get a DSI fault light, turn off the switch wait 10 seconds, turn it back on. It may need to purge some air in the lines.

To run on electric, hookup to shore power, go to the outside water heater compartment, hidden, down in the lower left corner is a switch, turn it on.

Originally posted by hammockmadness Through the years, I've gotten into the habit of shutting off the electrical switch for the hot water heater everytime I leave a campsite.  Is this necessary since the only way to drain the water heater is to pull the anode?

I do the same. I mostly do it because at home we have full hookups.. but I am not going to need an emergency shower, so don't want to heat water between trips needlessly..

Thanks everyone, because of your help we now have everything working.