Since 1977
There’s nothing more frustrating than getting set up at the campsite only to discover one of your appliances isn’t working.
A small blockage caused a big inconvenience
RV water heaters and other appliances can sit unused for weeks or months at a time. During that time, insects can make their way in and build nests.
In our case, the nest was blocking the burner tube and preventing the water heater from operating properly. It was also a fire hazard since it was creating a flame outside the burner area.
Once we found the problem, we were able to remove the burner assembly, clear the obstruction, and get the water heater working again.
But doing this at the campground made one thing pretty obvious: we should have caught it before we left. Working in the RV service industry, I should know better.
Add your water heater to your pre-trip check
At least once a year, have your RV appliances inspected and serviced by a qualified RV technician. And before heading out, take a few minutes to make sure everything is operating properly.
This could avoid a ruined weekend.
One important safety note
Your RV water heater is a propane appliance. If it isn’t operating properly and the problem isn't an obvious obstruction or something you’re comfortable dealing with, have it inspected by a qualified RV technician.
The takeaway
Sometimes preventative maintenance really is this simple.
A two-minute inspection before leaving could have caught this nest and saved us from taking the burner assembly apart at the campground.
Before your next trip, give your RV appliances a quick check. Your first hot shower of the weekend might depend on it.
