Oct 24th 2026
Suburban Water Heater Electric Not Working: Element, Thermostat, ECO and Switch
TROUBLESHOOTING · ELECTRIC
Suburban Water Heater Electric Not Working: Element, Thermostat, ECO and Switch
Hot water on propane but not on electric? On a Suburban DE or DEL, it’s one of four things: power, the switch, the thermostat/ECO or the element.
The short version
- Suburban’s element is 1440 W, 120V, about 12 A and should read about 10 ohms.
- DE models: the electric switch is behind the outside door, lower left of the control housing. DEL models switch from inside (and some also have an outside switch that must be on).
- The 120V thermostat/ECO has a reset button. Let the water cool below 110°F before pressing it.
- Never run the element dry. Suburban: even brief operation without water burns it out.
Covers these models
Suburban models with “E” in the name have a 120V electric element.
Step-by-step
STEP 1
Make sure the tank is full
Open a hot faucet until water flows steadily with no air. Running the element in an empty tank destroys it.
STEP 2
Check the switches and power
DE: the electric switch is behind the outside door. DEL: turn on ELECTRIC on the inside panel; some DEL units also have an outside 110V switch that must be on. Check the breaker and that 120V reaches the heater.
STEP 3
Press the ECO reset
Under the thermostat cover, the 120V thermostat/ECO trips above 180°F. Let the water cool below 110°F, then press the button.
Still no heat on electric?
Watch for repeat trips
An ECO that trips again and again points to a bad thermostat.
STEP 4
Test the element
Turn off the 120V breaker. Remove the element cover, disconnect one element wire and measure across the two terminals: about 10 ohms is good (1440 W at 120V). Open (OL) means a burned-out element. Then check from each terminal to the metal flange: any reading means it’s shorted. These meter steps are general electrical practice; the 10-ohm spec is Suburban’s.
Element reads about 10 ohms?
Replace the element
Drain the tank, unscrew the element and fit a new one with a new gasket. Full steps: how to replace an RV water heater element.
Check the thermostat/ECO and switch
With power present and a good element, test the 120V thermostat/ECO for continuity (power off) and check the element switch. Suburban lists the 120V thermostat/hi-limit as 525002 and the element switch as 525001.
Electric recovery
On electric alone, a Suburban recovers about 6.1 gallons per hour; on gas about 10.1; with both on, about 16.2. If you run out of hot water fast on electric, that may be normal. Run gas and electric together for the fastest recovery.
Parts for this repair
Suburban 520900 AC Heating Element (SW models)View part →
Suburban 070805 Electric Element GasketView part →
Suburban 525002 120V Thermostat / Hi-Limit (SW series)View part →
Suburban 525001 Electric Element Switch with GasketView part →
Suburban 525022 Thermostat / Hi-Limit CoverView part →Shop by category: Suburban parts, Suburban part finder.
FAQ
How many ohms should a Suburban water heater element read?
About 10 ohms (1440 W at 120V), per Suburban’s service manual.
Where is the electric switch on a Suburban water heater?
On DE models it’s behind the outside door, lower left of the control housing. DEL models use an inside switch, and some also have an outside switch.
Why does my Suburban work on gas but not electric?
Check the switch and breaker, press the 120V ECO reset, then test the element (about 10 ohms) and the thermostat/ECO.
Not sure which part fits? Contact us with your model and serial number from the data plate and we’ll confirm it before you order.
From Suburban (Airxcel) service and training, installation and operating manuals and the current Suburban RV parts manual. Meter procedure is general practice.