When to turn on your H2O heater

[Tha_Rooster]

I turn electric on after water hook up and it stays on enter time. I will turn gas on during showers for faster recovery no problem running out of hot water.

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by Rockyroad

Thank you all for ur input. I should of been more clear that I will be boondoggling. it is just the wife and I. We would like hot h20 in the am just for cleaning up dishes but in the PM for showers and the like. From the advise here I think I will run h20 heater in AM and then again in the PM. I think that will be the most efficient use for us. Thanks again for ur thoughts.

Just remember that if you turn it completely off during the day it will take quite a while for the water to heat when you get ready to shower.

[Rich-n-Linda]

Turn it on when we start a trip.

Turn it off when we get home.

I have always thought of our motor home a just that...a HOME on wheels. I don't turn the hot water tank on and off in the sticks & bricks home, so I don't do it in the mobile home either. Hot water available 100% of the time with no waiting...just like home.

[jesilvas]

This thread is a good example of the type of camping having an impact on how you use your resources. If they are unlimited, burn it 24/7. If not, plan accordingly. It's like a game when boondocking.

[MartySQ]

Depending on the size of your heater, when boondocking, with DH, I have only turned it on in the AM for his shower, my spit bath, and doing the dishes, and yes, I let the dishes sit until AM after a rinse with cold water and use paper plates ... it's the pots and pans that need soaking... cold or hot does fine with a drop of soap.... yup it's a game ... how much comfort vs. how little resources can i use and still have a grand time! If I have a fire outside... I'll heat the dishwater in the cooking pot on the cooking fire and do the dishes out of the cooking pot.

[mel s]

Because our water heater, if left on when traveling, "blows out", attempts to restart and then "locks out", we always turn the water heater OFF before traveling and turn it ON again when we stop for the night or set up camp.

However, when boondocking, (and when "overnighting"), we continually run our "propane only" 10 gal Suburban water heater and the Norcold refrigerator on propane, (and we use the LP cook top as needed)...
20 lbs, (4.7 gal), of propane lasts 3-4 months, if we don't need/use either the propane furnace or our LP Onan.

BTW, we always run the Norcold refrigerator on LP, (and when necessary, the Suburban furnace and/or the LP Onan), while traveling.

Mel
'96 Safari, 132k miles