Hot Water for only a few seconds

[Msaslp]

Well it was a fun weekend for sure. Our first trip out with the new camper. Everything went very smoothly except the hot water would only last for a few seconds. It would get hot but only last for a few seconds. I did notice the whole time I was at the campground it seemed to still be purging air each time it ws turned on. Was there just a tremendous amount of air in the system? As it did seem to finally get hot and stay that way this morning. Thanks for any suggestions.
2013 Sunset trail 30rk

[mark5w]

When you connect at the campground and fill the water system, burp the hot water heater by opening the safety valve on the water heater. Close it then open your hot and cold water valves inside to expel the rest of the air. After the air is out, then you could turn on the hot water heater. This should be done whenever you hook up.
Other place to check is to make sure your winterizing valves on the heater are in the correct position.

[harley]

Also ,when you hook up the hose to a tap ,make sure you fill the hoe with water before you hook it to your camper,that way no air in the line ,thus no air in the system. and check your outside shower to see if it is shut off at taps.

[Rhizoo]

We had the same (almost) problem our first trip out before we learned much about its operation. Ours was hot for a few brief seconds and then cold. Same thing next time we turned it on...and the next. The difference was that ours did not purge air. Turns out that I still had the winterizing valves in the water heater bypass mode. I had opened the one to let water into the heater but not the one to let it out. I guess a little seeped out each time to get into the main line and we got a few seconds worth each time. If it turns out that purging the air is not the problem, you could double check your valve system.

[OhioMark]

x3 on the air pockets. If your running the water heater, remember that purged air and water is going to really hot, so be prepared.

[Tim D]

x5...This has got to be the most common problem/question. They just don't seem to cover it when doing the PDI.

[Swmiddle]

We just bought a 2015 Sunset Trail and had the identical problem our first trip out. Purging air may help but our problem was solved by getting the water heater bypass valves in the correct position. Having thought the camper came to us winterized and bypassed, I opened the bypass valve when in fact it was closed and should have remained closed. When I opened it, it just allowed hot water to circulate local to the heater, with some residual hot water maybe making it to the faucet for about 20-30 seconds. Once I closed the bypass valve, problem solved - nice long runs of hot water. Good luck!