Community Forums

JAFORV2012 · 09-23-2012, 09:43 AM

Has anyone replaced their water heater with a tankless water heater?

Clay L · 09-23-2012, 10:58 AM

I have met several that have.
The two that got the one made by Girard were not happy with them.
You turn the cold water off at the faucet and regulate the temperature by adjusting the flow rate of the hot water tap. In places with low water pressure they didn't get much of a shower.

The three that bought the one made by Precision were happy with them. They regulate the temp by a thermostat that adjusts the flame.

Cat320 · 09-23-2012, 02:16 PM

Are you referring to the Aqua Hot, used in RVs (Aqua-Hot Heating Systems for RV, UTV, RTV) or something that is used in stick houses?

LadyFitz... · 09-23-2012, 04:18 PM

No. Both the Girard and the RV500 were designed specifically for RVs.

There have been a lot of problems with the Girard because of its dependence on good water flow. Many RV manufacturers have been just slapping them in without making sure the plumbing will flow enough water.

The only serious complaint I've seen for the RV500 was from a guy who bought from an RV repairman who claimed it was new but had been removed from an RV because the sound of it firing up scared the old lady who owned the RV (I wondered if she only drove it to Church on Sundays).

Lault · 09-24-2012, 06:59 AM

The RV500 is a great unit and worked well in the 11 Phaeton I owned.

LadyFitz... · 09-24-2012, 07:48 AM

For several months, the release of Atwood's two new tankless water heaters (developed in conjunction with Precision Temp, makers of the RV 500) had been delayed supposedly due to a parts acquisition issue. Vendors were taking preorders. I just did a quick check and apparently the Atwoods have been released because the vendors I checked are no longer listing them as a preorder. Prices ranged from PPL being the lowest and Camping World the highest (big surprise). There is only around a $40-$45 price difference between the 45k BTU and the 50k BTU units plus the bigger one also has freeze protection so it would make more sense to get the bigger one.

The Atwoods are less expensive than the RV500 and will fit in a space designed to hold a six gallon tank type water heater. The RV500 is advertised as needing the space taken up by a ten gallon tank type water heater although it is possible that a bit of surgery might allow one to shoe horn it into a smaller space.