Tips on replacing water heater tank only

noralee · 12-29-2019, 12:50 PM

Well I have to go ahead and replace the water heater tank on my 6gal Atwood unit.

Anyone have any advice or tips on detaching and installing a new tank? I'm assuming there is no welding involved, as that would be something I couldn't do. But the pics I've seen seem straightforward, except I can't see how to detach the existing tank from the exterior face and connect the new tank to the old face.

Any tips before I put in this urgent order are appreciated!

**JohnB** · 12-29-2019, 10:26 PM

A heads up, Atwood makes many different 6 gallon tanks for the different options and vintages they made. Point being, you have to back into what is the exact tank part number for the heater you have before ordering. All 6 gallon tanks will not necessarily interchange with one another as there are ports and electrical connections that are different.

I do not recall seeing pics of the front and rear of your heater or the full model number to try to help look up the right tank for you.

For taking the front black exterior face off the tank, there are pressed on rings around the heater tubes that sticks out of the tank holding the black face on. Those pressed on rings may be the biggest issues you will have to deal with.

The video helps show this.

noralee · 12-29-2019, 11:44 PM

Reposting this reply here too:

John, I went ahead and ordered the item below. I actually found a used-in new condition from Amazon warehouse for 85$. It is supposed to only have damaged packaging but product unused. We'll see. It is an inner tank only replacement with fittings. I watched a video, the same one you posted! and it seemed doable and I have a great helper for this so I'm feeling ok about it. Seems like the biggest challenge is getting the coils/rings back on.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004A2YH1M#Ask

Edit to add that I read through many product q&A's and it does appear to be the right fit for my 6gal propane, even though I'm not sure that the item number replacement is accurately listed. I couldn't find that info so went with the descriptions buyers/sellers gave in the answer section, particularly with the holes explained.

noralee · 12-30-2019, 09:26 AM

I woke up and researched more. It looks like my original order was incorrect and I have cancelled it. The one that I think is correct is this

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0007WU0HY/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=A2L77EE7U53NWQ&psc=1

It is the same model number from rv shops for the same product. 6 gal lp replacement inner tank. Apparently Amazon and also some rv shops use stock pics for replacement tanks. Still seems worth the effort to replace the tank only. This was a new tank about 6yrs ago so the face is in fine condition.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

A heads up, Atwood makes many different 6 gallon tanks for the different options and vintages they made.
PS. Compare the cost of a totally new water heater with all new controls and valves compared to just the tank. Yes a whole new heater costs more, but it is then a drop install and you get all new controls etc.

**JohnB** · 12-31-2019, 02:39 PM

If you need help backing into what Atwood part number your tank kit is, let us know the model number of the water heater. I can try and look it up for you. Atwood has several inner tank kits for the various options that came over the years on the 6 gallon water heater. They do not all interchange.

noralee · 12-31-2019, 05:12 PM

It is a g6a-7. Thanks. The tank may come with a kit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

If you need help backing into what Atwood part number your tank kit is, let us know the model number of the water heater. I can try and look it up for you. Atwood has several inner tank kits for the various options that came over the years on the 6 gallon water heater. They do not all interchange.

**JohnB** · 12-31-2019, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noralee

It is a g6a-7. Thanks. The tank may come with a kit.

Looking up a service tank kit for a G6A-7, I come up with Atwood part number 91412. This appears to align with the last one you ordered. Good job!

This comes from PDF page 51, Atwood document page 40, on this service manual. Sunline Coach Owner's Club - Sunline Owner's Files - Atwood 2007 Service and Training Manual

Looks like you are on the right track.

John

noralee · 01-02-2020, 12:22 PM

I got the right tank, it appears, and have a kit.

I have ended up with an extra tank. The details are below and it's for sale without a fittings kit. To the best of my knowledge, it's an inner tank replacement for model G6A-7E, among others. Pictures available on request.

Atwood model 91641 Water Heater Replacement Inner Tank Kit

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

Looking up a service tank kit for a G6A-7, I come up with Atwood part number 91412. This appears to align with the last one you ordered. Good job!

Looks like you are on the right track.

John

marilynf95 · 01-09-2020, 05:34 PM

Did you check the thermocouple first? I have an 89 sunline with the original 6 gallon Atwood water heater and it was just a thermocouple we replaced it and it's working just fine it's a whole lot easier than replacing the whole thing

noralee · 01-16-2020, 08:52 PM

We replaced the leaky tank and so far so good. Attached is a picture of the piece we came up with to fit the new rings around the 2 pipes that give people so many issues. It worked so well, though I have no idea what it is. Perhaps some kind of weapon?

**JohnB** · 01-16-2020, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noralee

It worked so well, though I have no idea what it is. Perhaps some kind of weapon?

Glad it worked, good idea! That is what they call a,

Schedule 40 (the pipe thickness),
Galvanized, (the silver coating)
Pipe (the threads)
Coupling. (the type of fitting.)

It looks like about an 1 1/2" pipe size.