Community Forums

John Stott · 07-22-2017, 08:21 PM

Do you leave your water heater on while camping or turn it off while not needed while camping? Which is easier on the WH?

vettenuts · 07-22-2017, 08:26 PM

I leave mine on, but I do shut off the water inlet each time we leave.

vsheetz · 07-22-2017, 08:39 PM

Current coach has tankless, leave it on all the time. Previous coaches were tank heaters, left them off and turned them on a few minutes prior to usage.

biggcrisp · 07-22-2017, 08:48 PM

No, I turn mine on prior to use for a warmup and then shut it off as soon as we are finished with cleanup. Otherwise it gets crazy hot imo and cycles on/off all night wasting propane.

Definitely can't see any reason for heating water while we are away or sleeping.

I will say that the water gets warm in just a few short minutes and the hot water stays hot for a decent amount of time.

Our shower head uses so little water that it is not possible to "run out of hot water" unless we run completely out of water... or propane.

Hgrace56 · 07-22-2017, 10:14 PM

Off until use. Warm water in kitchen in 30 seconds less than a minute in bath

Old-Biscuit · 07-22-2017, 10:22 PM

Have a tank water heater.
It is ON when we set up and gets turned OFF when we break camp

We like HOT water when we want hot water ...not 20 minutes later

Just like the WH in S&B.......ON

If on a FHU site...electric is included in site fee so WH is on electric
Otherwise propane is ON.
Sometimes BOTH for fastest recovery

1 gallon of propane costs $2.50
Takes over 10 TOTAL hrs of burn time to use 1 gallon......roughly 30 hours clock time

I can afford to burn up a gallon of propane for the 'CONVENIENCE' of having HOT water when wanted.

Mr_D · 07-22-2017, 10:23 PM

On all the time when we had a gas/electric water heater. Now I have an Aquahot. Usually leave one electric element on all the time, doing dishes, a shower or washing clothes and on 50 amp shore power I'll turn on the second electric element and the diesel burner.

RayChez1 · 07-22-2017, 10:48 PM

While camping we leave it on all the time. What is the point of turning it off and on every day? You have to shower twice a day or at least once a day, wash clothing, dishes etc etc.

My question is why turn it off and on? Am I missing something here or have I missed something in the last fourteen years?

I have never had any trouble with the water heater.

John Jones · 07-22-2017, 10:52 PM

I turn mine off if I am only hooked up to 30 amp and if I'm using my AC. I also turn off the water to my coach if I will be gone for a while.

mrt_1111 · 07-22-2017, 11:56 PM

While we at with the RV, the water heater is normally on. If we away , the water and water heater are off. Read enough about people coming back from a day trip to a flooded RV to make me paranoid.

marjoa · 07-23-2017, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Stott

Do you leave your water heater on while camping or turn it off while not needed while camping? Which is easier on the WH?

Well I would imagine—like anything else—that leaving it ON all the time would be harder on the HWH using either electric or propane. The electric element would cycle more often and shorten life & with propane the burner area would require cleaning more often. Personally, I think what is more important though to keep a HWH healthy is performing annual PM by proper flushing/cleaning the HWH tank with white vinegar which is often an overlooked procedure. MH's generally have 2 manufacturers of HWH's if you don't have Aqua Hot. Atwood or Suburban. The Suburban HWH also needs to have Anode Rod replaced annually as well.

We have an Atwood HWH and we leave it OFF when not in use and we also turn OFF water supply when we leave the MH for an extended period of time. Even going into town for groceries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL7AtXJYNcc&t=11s

Indy Glenn · 07-23-2017, 03:05 AM

On when camping - off when stored.

Mainly use electric - propane as backup.

g

LETMGROW · 07-23-2017, 04:26 AM

My water heater is propane only. I keep it serviced and it heats water quite quickly. I turn it on when we get up in the morning so we can shower after having coffee etc. After dishes are done I shut the heater off. If we will need hot water during the day I turn the heater on and in just a few minutes we have hot water. The heater stays off at nighttime. I have electronic ignition so I don't have to light the heater each time I will need it.
Leaving the water heater on all day makes about as much sense to me as leaving your grill on all day just because you will need it at lunch or dinner time. A total waste of money IMO.
Lynn

soonerdave · 07-23-2017, 05:06 AM

If your water heater is electric/propane and you are plugged in, switch to electric and leave it on. If you are dry camping run it on propane when needed, turn it off when not, saves propane.