Hot Water Heater Operation?

bensmiata

Active member
Joined
Nov 1, 2017
Messages
44
Fluid Motion Model
C-28
Good morning.

Just took our 2019 29CB out for the first time for the season. Everything working fine except depth finder (will add antifreeze, is likely low and therefore needs to be filled) and hot water heater. Fresh water tank is filled, either engine on or genset on to run hot water heater, air seems to be pushed out of the lines, but no hot water yet, breaker is on, what is the procedure to get this system running? Cold water running fine.

Thank you
 
Not sure if your model is different but on mine there is a reset button on the hot water heater. It is not mentioned in the manual. Located underneath the end cover that is secured with a couple screws. The reset button is about the size of a pencil head. Push to reset. Worked for me with similar fact pattern.
 
Using electric or engine to heat water? Engine has shutoff valves going to HW and heater. If drained will need more coolant. If open and you think you have coolant try cabin heater, same coolant circuit. We rarely use electric, engine heat lasts a couple of days. Good luck
 
Thank you both for the responses. This is using the electric heater, not engine heat for the hot water. I don't see a reset (we've looked). My hope is to have the ranger factory answer and see if they have any ideas! Thank you.
 
Good afternoon. We have tried the reset, and bleeding the air out of the tank to no avail. Does the factory have further guidance? The cold water side works just fine. Cannot get the hot water to work either on engine heat or element.

Thank you!
 
First question, Did you have the boats water system winterized last winter? Did you have hot water last season ? If Yes
Did you check to see if the hot water tank was by-passed during winterizing? If yes was the plumbing re-plumbed properly to the hot water heater after winterizing? If yes, Does the hot water tank produce hot water from the engines close cooling system ? If yes Then your water system is plumbed properly but the electric function is not working. 120 V at panel, hot water breaker is on, the reset button reset ? My next check would be to confirm you have 120V at the hot water heater connections. This can be easily tested with a VOA meter set on ACV. with the breaker on check for voltage at the electrical connectors ( if you are not comfortable with this have a service technician check this) If there is power at the connections the heat element is bad and requires replacement. ( What causes the heat element too fail? ) Most of the time on newer units the element was tuned on with no water in the tank and it over heated and failed.
 
Just to be clear, is water coming out the faucets but just not hot, or is no water coming out? If it's the latter, check to make sure the intake valve at the water heater is open. Also try opening a faucet and opening the pressure relief valve on the water heater. That should release any air in the system that may be causing an air lock. Do this with a cold engine and with the water heater breaker off for safety.
 
Also a possibility is a 'dry fire'. The elements in the heater are immersion-type elements, meaning they are physically in the water in the tank. If, for any reason (and by anyone), the electricity was turned on to the heater before the tank was full, the element may have burned out. This is called a "dry fire".

Most common cause of dry fire is due to lack of bleeding the air out of the tank before turning the electricity on. The pump will charge the water system, and pressurize and shut off - but there is still much air in the heater until the hot spigot is turned on and all the air is expelled.

Preaching to the choir, I'm sure :mrgreen:

However, if you have the engine-heat option (I do not, with the outboard) and that's not working... like others have mentioned, it's possible the water connections at the tank are hooked up incorrectly - and/or the tank is bypassed.

Good luck! Hope you find a solution!
 
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