How to Replace Atwood Water Heater with Furrion Tankless: Complete RV

Tools & Parts Needed

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What's Going On

If you're reading this, you've probably noticed something's not right. Replacing your Atwood 10-gallon water heater with a Furrion tankless unit is possible but involves significant modifications. The correct tankless unit for your model (verify with dealer) may provide unlimited hot water while saving space. However, this is a complex project requiring electrical upgrades, gas line modifications, and venting changes that most RV owners should have professionally installed.

Critical Safety Warning

WARNING: Before beginning any work, you MUST:

• Turn OFF the main electrical breaker to the water heater
• Shut OFF the propane supply at the tank and any inline shutoff valves
• Allow the water heater to cool completely (minimum 2 hours)
• Drain the water heater tank completely
• Have a certified gas leak detector available
• Never attempt electrical or gas work without proper certification - these modifications typically require permits and professional installation

Root Causes

There are several reasons this might be happening, and understanding them helps you fix it right the first time. The complexity of tankless water heater retrofits stems from multiple compatibility requirements: tankless units typically require different electrical connections (often 12V DC control circuits), modified or completely new venting systems (usually larger diameter), upgraded gas supply lines to handle higher BTU demands, sufficient electrical capacity to handle the unit's power requirements, different mounting configurations that may not align with existing cutouts, and water flow requirements that may exceed your RV's pump capacity.

Getting Ready

Before diving in, first verify your existing gas line size and pressure can handle the increased BTU demand of the tankless unit, then gather these items:

• Correct tankless unit for your model (verify with dealer)
• New venting kit (verify diameter requirements with manufacturer)
• Gas line fittings and flex connectors (verify BTU requirements with manufacturer - tankless units typically have higher BTU demands than tank heaters at 12,000-16,000 BTU/hr)
• Water line connections and shutoff valves
• 12V DC wiring and connectors (verify electrical requirements including power capacity)
• Pipe thread sealant
• Basic hand tools (wrenches, screwdrivers)
• Gas leak detection solution

Red Flags That Need a Pro

Given your mention of being handicapped, this project is strongly recommended for professional installation. You should definitely call a certified RV technician if:

• You're not comfortable working with gas lines
• The installation requires cutting into your RV's structure
• You need to upgrade electrical systems
• You lack experience with RV plumbing systems
• Your physical limitations make the work challenging

Gas line work especially requires proper testing and certification to ensure safety and maintain insurance coverage.