Keeping water heater on continuously

[RFisher]

Wondering if there's an issue with keeping the water heater on all the time when parked. Thinking of this for winter to help prevent freezing.

To this point, I've been turning the water heater on when I need it. Typically this is first thing in the morning to shower and wash dishes (I keep the prior day lunch/dinner dishes till the next morning). Then I turn it off when finished.

Our household water heaters stay on all the time. Of course, those are pretty robust units. Doing it in a trailer would, of course, use propane (or electric if hooked up) but I'm not concerned about the propane use. My main concern is whether it would be more likely to burn out if it's not overly robust.

The model is a Suburban SW6DEL. I'm going to contact the manufacturer as well, I'm also looking for actual user experience (not necessarily with the same model of heater).

Thanks

[Kurtsara]

I wouldn’t think it would hurt it, I’m sure there are full timers that leave them on all the time, but what about the water pipes? Are they going to freeze?

[HJLowell]

Your water heater works on a thermostat.

I have NEVER TURNED MINE OFF.

winter nor summer.

[sbleiweiss]

We have Atwood but leave it on electric 24/7 except when driving.

[charliez]

if your not using it, drain it. If there is no water it can't freeze. It can help it too. There needs to be an air pocket trapped inside. That's just part of how it works. It can be absorbed into the water. Draining it helps replenish that plus you can get some nasty water from some parks. Draining it out is just good maintenance

[camper8251]

The Heater is thermostatically controlled. So it will not stay on all the time just when it needs to get to temp...

Dont forget, the water heater is well insulated to keep the water hot. This works both ways...

[tuffr2]

When I was a snowbird we left the water heater on for 6 months while in Florida. If you are in freezing weather leaving it on will only help keeping that water from freezing.

[Old-Biscuit]

Difference between your Suburban and a residential water heater.........SIZE

Both thermostatic controlled heating cycles
Both have cold inlet/hot outlets with dip tubes
Both are steel tank that are glass-lined
Both use an anode rod for 'protection' of that steel tank

Both can be turned on and left on PROVIDED they have WATER in them


I like HOT water when I want hot water........so water heater is ON all the time that the RV is set up for use.



**FYI----
Your 'DEL' model uses 12VDC to control BOTH the electric & propane functions
A DC Relay closes to allow AC to element.
DC Relay is in the DC Junction Box on side of WH Tank (from backside)


Wiring diagram for the DEL series

[Cumminsfan]

When we're camping we leave it on 24/7 when hooked to elec sites. When dry camping we only turn it on when needed. We may leave it on most the day as needs arise. At night we shut it off. I get up earliest so I turn it on in the morning for the wife.
When parked at home it's off.
Why run it and cause wear and tear if you don't need it? When dry camping why run it when not needed and waste propane?
There's not much to wear out but IMO why use it if you don't need it?

[wildtoad]

Suburban says to drain it if you’re not going to use it. So if freezing is a concern drain it, set the valves to bypass, winterize. If you’re worried about freezing while not in use, seems to
Me you may run out of propane at the least favorable time.

[Itchytoe]

The odds of it failing due to burning up are extremely low. I've never even heard of such a thing happening. I have had insects make nests in the propane lines which made them fail before. I've heard of mice chewing up wires which also leads to failures. Certain parts can also fail, but that's just bad luck IMO. The computer or phone you're using now to check the forums are far more complicated than any water heater.
I don't see any problem with leaving it on. My tankless stays on all the time. Back when I had tanked water heaters, the only times I'd turn them off is when I was traveling and when I was away from them for extended periods of time. (Think the water heater at the hunting camp when we leave the camp.)

[RFisher]

Thanks for the feedback & insights.

To reiterate, I'm not talking about leaving water in it over the winter when the unit will not be used at all. I'll be using mine in the winter basically daily for showering and washing dishes.

As far as other water freezing, the fresh tank has a heating pad on it. The furnace also has a line that routes to the underbelly so when the furnace is running, that area is being heated and it should be enough to prevent freezing. There's also a decent amount of insulation around the tanks and lines.

With respect to propane, I've got 2, 30lb tanks on the trailer and am carrying 2, 20lb tanks as backup in the truck. If I run out of propane it's because I'm stupid and didn't fill up when I had the chance, not because the hot water heater is left on all the time (except when driving).

[cavie]

Originally Posted by RFisher

Thanks for the feedback & insights.

To reiterate, I'm not talking about leaving water in it over the winter when the unit will not be used at all. I'll be using mine in the winter basically daily for showering and washing dishes.

As far as other water freezing, the fresh tank has a heating pad on it. The furnace also has a line that routes to the underbelly so when the furnace is running, that area is being heated and it should be enough to prevent freezing. There's also a decent amount of insulation around the tanks and lines.

With respect to propane, I've got 2, 30lb tanks on the trailer and am carrying 2, 20lb tanks as backup in the truck. If I run out of propane it's because I'm stupid and didn't fill up when I had the chance, not because the hot water heater is left on all the time (except when driving).

Your location in the country will determine if you will be showering and doing dishes during the winter.

[Kurtsara]

Originally Posted by RFisher

Thanks for the feedback & insights.

To reiterate, I'm not talking about leaving water in it over the winter when the unit will not be used at all. I'll be using mine in the winter basically daily for showering and washing dishes.

As far as other water freezing, the fresh tank has a heating pad on it. The furnace also has a line that routes to the underbelly so when the furnace is running, that area is being heated and it should be enough to prevent freezing. There's also a decent amount of insulation around the tanks and lines.

With respect to propane, I've got 2, 30lb tanks on the trailer and am carrying 2, 20lb tanks as backup in the truck. If I run out of propane it's because I'm stupid and didn't fill up when I had the chance, not because the hot water heater is left on all the time (except when driving).

Don’t you leave the LP on when you’re driving?