Installation Recommendations For When Your New Water Heater Is Smaller

Updated 07/25/2023 | Published 07/24/2023

Products Featured in This Question

Dometic RV Water Heater - Gas/Electric - Automatic Pilot - 120V - 10,000 Btu - 6 Gallon Tank

(134)

$632.68

LaSalle Bristol XTRM Universal Non-Sag Sealant for RVs - White - 10.1 oz - Qty 1

(76)

$29.89

Alpha Systems Butyl Tape for RV Weatherproofing - 20' x 1" x 3/16"

(224)

$25.41

Question:

Your recommendation for gch6aa-10e is a square this water heater is a rectangle. The hole is much larger than your replacement option. Any thoughts.

asked by: Jimmy D

Expert Reply:

As technology advances the size of things, including RV water heaters, have all shrunk so you'll have to do some framing to mount a new unit like the Dometic RV Water Heater # DMC74FR in place. You can use some 2 x 2's to connect to the frame of the trailer and then frame in a hole for the new unit to mount to. From there you can cover the gaps with some stained or painted plywood and then get a larger access door that will cover the original cutout hole.

You'll want to use some butyl tape # AL28FJ on the mounting flanges as well as some non-sag sealant # 344270341437-1 around the outside edge of the door for a watertight seal.

expert reply by: Kevin C