Hot water heater element-cost to replace?

[Catchlight]

I wish I was asking for a friend, but I'm not. A few weeks ago, after a long haul, we got into our campground and I thought I had filled the water tank with a hose. In a hard-of-thinking moment, and without checking if the HW tank was full, I turned on the electric water heating element and of course burned it out.

It's a 2014 Escape 21 with the Suburban electric and propane water heating system. I believe the replacement element's part number is SW6DE.

Could someone who has a friend who has made the same mistake please tell me roughly how much the repair should cost, parts and labour, at a reliable RV shop?

Thanks for any information.

[Jim Bennett]

If you have it done at a shop it would depend on the individual so itself, but it should not be expensive. It is a fairly easy job to do yourself, takes about an hour to do, and the element can be bought at most hardware stores for about $15.

We had one fail on our 19 many years ago.

[padlin]

Taking Jims numbers, if it takes an hour the shop will charge something like $120 labor, and the $15 part will cost $45, $165.

[rubicon327]

This is the part you need.

suburban part # 520789
https://www.amazon.com/Suburban-5207.../dp/B003G9G4X4

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

This is the part you need.

suburban part # 520789
https://www.amazon.com/Suburban-5207.../dp/B003G9G4X4

Home Depot, Lowes, Canadian Tire, and lots of local shops all sell them. They are a very common element for electric water heaters. There is a bit of a variety of wattage, but lots of what one needs.

Oh yeah, time to go shopping at the BORG, add another hour.

The job would take no more than 15 minutes, but you do have to move the gas line out of the way and put it back, an easy job, just takes time.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

We had one fail on our 19 many years ago.

The reason for the fail was the switch on the tank was left on by me when I winterized, and in the spring after I brought the trailer home to prep for the first trip, had not filled it with water before Lisa plugged it in to start the fridge cooling. This was why I added the switch with on light inside on our 19, and then added the switch on the control panel in our 5.0TA to easily turn it on or off and clearly see when it was on.

[Nigel]

Been there done that. Part is less than fifteen dollars Canadian at Home Depot. You also need an inch and a half socket or the tool sold at HD as well. Pretty easy and about 15 minutes of your time.

Nigel

[Catchlight]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

The reason for the fail was the switch on the tank was left on by me when I winterized, and in the spring after I brought the trailer home to prep for the first trip, had not filled it with water before Lisa plugged it in to start the fridge cooling. This was why I added the switch with on light inside on our 19, and then added the switch on the control panel in our 5.0TA to easily turn it on or off and clearly see when it was on.

As always, I appreciate the expertise and generosity that abound on this site.

Great suggestion to wire in an indicator light and switch, Jim.

Brent.

[mfschu]

Does anyone know if this is the same element I would need for a 2021 year Escape? I think I cooked mine. Thanks!

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by mfschu

Does anyone know if this is the same element I would need for a 2021 year Escape? I think I cooked mine. Thanks!

Since Escape still uses the Suburban SW6DE water heater I would say yes it is the correct element.

[mfschu]

Thank You for confirming!