10 Common Suburban SW6D Water Heater Problems Troubleshooting

Suburban SW6D is one of the most popular gas water heaters that offer 12,000 BTU per hour. It’s designed with a porcelain steel tank, drain with a larger diameter, and foam insulation to ensure a consistent supply of warm water.

This water heater can be installed on any RV as the frame and access doors are easier to install. It’s a great choice for people who are traveling to colder areas in their RVs.

However, this water heater is susceptible to some errors, which we are sharing in this article along with the solutions!

Common Troubleshooting Steps For The Suburban SW6D Water Heater

1. Water Heater Is Not Powering Up

When the water heater doesn’t power up, the first step is to check the wires and make sure they are tightly connected. If the wires are securely connected, you must check the power outlet to ensure it’s giving stable voltage.

You can use the voltmeter to check the voltage, and if they are fluctuating, you have to hire an electrician or a mechanic to fix the battery-related issues.

Usually, the voltage fluctuations are caused by faulty batteries, which is why we recommend checking the water level in the battery. If the water level is low, you can fill up the battery.

In addition to this, make sure that the battery terminals aren’t blocked. If there is an oxide layer on the terminals, you can use warm water to clean them.

2. Water Leaks

Leaking water can be a serious issue as the majority of RVs are designed with wooden planks on the floor and wall and moisture can damage these planks.

There are multiple reasons behind a water leak, including a damaged temperature and pressure relief valve, insufficient water pressure, stuck valves, overheating, and leaks from the plumbing connection.

To begin with, you have to look for loose plumbing connections as tightening these connections will reduce the water leakage. If this doesn’t work, you have to tighten the loose heating element bolts.

However, if tightening the bolts and plumbing connections doesn’t work, you have to replace the gasket but you must hire a professional to ensure secure installation.

Thirdly, you must look for leaks around and on the storage tank. This is because the storage tanks are susceptible to internal corrosion, which can damage the tank and lead to leakage. In that case, you’ve to replace the tank to stop the leakage.

The fourth solution is to check for damaged or loose in-live valves – it’s the handle that’s located on the top of the water tank and is responsible to deactivate or activate the water flow.

To resolve this issue, you must secure the nut that holds the in-line valve or ball valve in place. In case the leak becomes severe when the nut is tightened, you have to install a new in-line valve.

The fifth solution is to check for the faulty pressure relief valve. These valves are designed to discharge pressure from a water tank when it’s too high. If the valve starts leaking, you’ve to purchase and install a new valve.

3. Propane Gas Is Left But Water Heater Is Still Not Working

Suburban SW6D is a gas water heater, which means a stable gas supply is essential for the water heater to work. In case the water heater is connected to the gas tank but the water heater is still not working, it’s likely that the propane gas levels are lower than what the heater needs.

For this reason, we recommend that you change the gas tank to a new one that has sufficient gas in it.

4. Water Temperature Issues

The water temperature issues are quite common with this water heater, such as water being too hot or not heating up enough. Usually, the solution is simple as you’ve to adjust the thermostat on the water tank.

However, if adjusting the thermostat doesn’t work, it’s likely that the thermostat is damaged and the only solution is to replace the faulty thermostat.

Some other reasons behind water temperature issues include a leak in a water tank, damaged burner assembly or gas control, mineral deposits, and damaged temperature-pressure valve.

The damaged temperature-pressure valve can be easily replaced. However, if the water tank is damaged, you must get it replaced with a new one.

Last but not least, the mineral deposits in the water heater can also result in temperature issues, which is why you must hire a professional to clean the mineral deposits.

However, you can also try cleaning the mineral deposits with the help of vinegar and warm water solution but you’ve to be cautious.

5. Discolored Water

The discolored water is caused by the higher mineral levels in the heater. Usually, the high copper and iron levels cause discoloration because these two minerals cause rusting in the pipe, leading to discolored water.

The common solution is to invest in a portable water softener as it keeps the mineral levels to a minimum and prevents the blockage of water flow in the pipes.

6. Odors In Water

If you turn on the water heater’s tap and it has a bad odor. The sewage-like or rotten egg smell is caused by bacterial growth in the water tank. To clear the bacterial growth, you’ve to flush your water tank.

However, if flushing the tank doesn’t work, you need to replace the anode rod because a corroded anode rod can also result in a bad smell.

On the other hand, if the water has a garlic smell, it indicates an issue with the gas line. It’s better that you call the mechanic to check the gas lines to fix the issues.

7. Noise

A noisy heater can be annoying and the most common reason is mineral and sediment buildup. It’s common if you fill the water tank with hard water. It’s recommended that you flush out the water heater regularly.

However, the buildup can happen when the sediments are being burned by the heating element or if the heating element is damaged.

When the heating element starts deteriorating, it will start burning the mineral and sediment buildup, which leads to weird noises. So, whenever the water heater makes noise, you need to turn off the water heater immediately and call the professional.

8. Damaged Burner Assembly Or Gas Control

A damaged burner assembly or gas control can lead to functionality issues in the water heater. This is because the water heater won’t be able to work properly if the burner is non-functional or dirty, resulting in heating issues.

The simplest solution is to replace the burner assembly and gas control (it’s called the thermocouple). To replace the thermocouple, you must switch off the gas and water connection to prevent further damage.

9. Cold Water

The cold water is caused by a damaged thermostat or a heating element but lack of power can also cause this issue. First of all, you should check the power cords and power switches to ensure they are turned on.

However, if the power cords and switches are working properly, you must hire an electrician to get the thermostat and heating element repaired or replaced, depending on the problem.

A cracked or damaged dip tube is the second most common reason behind cold water. The dip tube is known to push cold water to the water tank’s base for heating.

When a crack starts forming in the dip tube, the incoming cold water supply will be released in the middle or top of the water tank, which means cold water will come out of the faucets. The solution is to replace the dip tube.

10. Slow Water Supply

In case the water supply is slow, it’s likely that there is sediment buildup in the water tank. This is because when the heater reaches the middle of the cycle, the minerals like calcium and magnesium start collecting on the water tank’s base.

As a result, there will be less room for the water tank to store the water, hence a slow water supply. The solution is to flush the heater to eliminate the mineral buildup.