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06-03-2025, 03:17 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Solo Rvers Club
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Fulltime Traveler
Posts: 1,234
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How to use hot water when you are out of cold water
Is there a way to use the water in your Suburban hot water tank when you are out of cold water in your fresh water tank  ?
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06-03-2025, 03:23 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Northern Colorado
Posts: 282
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Without any water in the fresh water tank, the pump won't be able to push water out, so you will have to rely on gravity. First, turn off the hot water heater if you have not already. You should have a low point drain for both cold and hot water. I would start with those. Put a container under them and open them up. It will depend on your system how much comes out. For the hot water heater, there will be a drain. After it has cooled, will most likely take several hours, open the drain, with a container under it. You will get several gallons, so be ready. If you don't let it cool, it could be under pressure, and will be extremely hot.
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Kevin
2005 Monaco Diplomat - 400 HP ISL, no TOAD yet.
2001 Excel 5th Wheel - sold to friend, 1998 National SeaBreeze - Still miss it.
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06-03-2025, 03:43 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Solo Rvers Club
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Fulltime Traveler
Posts: 1,234
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3pedal
Without any water in the fresh water tank, the pump won't be able to push water out, so you will have to rely on gravity. First, turn off the hot water heater if you have not already. You should have a low point drain for both cold and hot water. I would start with those. Put a container under them and open them up. It will depend on your system how much comes out. For the hot water heater, there will be a drain. After it has cooled, will most likely take several hours, open the drain, with a container under it. You will get several gallons, so be ready. If you don't let it cool, it could be under pressure, and will be extremely hot.
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So not for showering I guess.
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06-03-2025, 03:49 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
KZ RV Club
Join Date: Mar 2023
Posts: 336
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RV Vagabond
So not for showering I guess.
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No, you need a pressurized water source to push hot and cold water through the system, including the hot water tank. Without that, everything just sits in the lines.
Navy shower time... deodorant!
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06-03-2025, 05:52 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Solo Rvers Club
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Fulltime Traveler
Posts: 1,234
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I wish those Suburban water heaters had thier own water pumps but apparently that is just not a thing. Several times I have wanted to take a shower but my cold fresh water tank was so empty it just slurps, while the Surburban has 10 gallons of water I can't use.
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06-03-2025, 06:39 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,768
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RV Vagabond
I wish those Suburban water heaters had thier own water pumps but apparently that is just not a thing. Several times I have wanted to take a shower but my cold fresh water tank was so empty it just slurps, while the Surburban has 10 gallons of water I can't use. |
Not much different than your home water heater. You need the cold water to push out the hot water.
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2018 KZ 270thle 2015 Silverado.
2012 GL1800
Western PA
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06-03-2025, 06:59 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 28,837
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RV Vagabond
I wish those Suburban water heaters had thier own water pumps but apparently that is just not a thing. Several times I have wanted to take a shower but my cold fresh water tank was so empty it just slurps, while the Surburban has 10 gallons of water I can't use. |
Gotta have COLD before you can get HOT
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Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
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06-03-2025, 07:03 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: May 2025
Posts: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RV Vagabond
I wish those Suburban water heaters had thier own water pumps but apparently that is just not a thing. Several times I have wanted to take a shower but my cold fresh water tank was so empty it just slurps, while the Surburban has 10 gallons of water I can't use. |
So you want to take a shower with just HOT water? OUCH!
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2019 Tiffin Allergo Bus 45OPP
2020 GMC 1500 Sierra.
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06-03-2025, 07:57 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Solo Rvers Club
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Fulltime Traveler
Posts: 1,234
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary45OPP
So you want to take a shower with just HOT water? OUCH!
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I turn my water heater on for 15 to 20 minutes and that gets the water warm not hot so I shower with water from the water heater only. 
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06-03-2025, 09:01 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 546
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RV Vagabond
I turn my water heater on for 15 to 20 minutes and that gets the water warm not hot so I shower with water from the water heater only. |
15-20 minutes in my RV and you'll burn your hide. It doesn't take long for my water heater to heat water.
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2022 Sun Lite Classic 18RD TT
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06-03-2025, 09:47 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,373
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Remove your water heaters drain plug and catch the water in a bucket. Sponge bath time
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2017 Fleetwood Bounder 36Y
2024 Chevy Equinox RS AWD
Roadmaster tow gear
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06-04-2025, 06:37 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: WI Driftlesser
Posts: 3,770
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Even if the hot water had it's own pump, the hot water outlet is off the top of the tank so you'd have to alter that also, or switch back and forth between the top and bottom outlet, too much hassle. I've pondered way too many possibilities to use a non pressurized hot water tank. One way that could work, is to hook up regulated 10-30PSI air to the hot line and backfeed the cold lines with the water out of the water heater, but only if there's no check valve.
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06-04-2025, 06:54 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,768
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SafariBen
Even if the hot water had it's own pump, the hot water outlet is off the top of the tank so you'd have to alter that also, or switch back and forth between the top and bottom outlet, too much hassle. I've pondered way too many possibilities to use a non pressurized hot water tank. One way that could work, is to hook up regulated 10-30PSI air to the hot line and backfeed the cold lines with the water out of the water heater, but only if there's no check valve.
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Or move the water heater to the roof and gravity will take over.
What the OP is asking is just not feasible.
__________________
2018 KZ 270thle 2015 Silverado.
2012 GL1800
Western PA
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06-04-2025, 10:20 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 28,837
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RV Vagabond
I turn my water heater on for 15 to 20 minutes and that gets the water warm not hot so I shower with water from the water heater only. |
Your Suburban 10 gallon water heater uses a 1440W AC Element and a 12,000btu propane burner
15-20 minutes on either should produce HOT water (130*F)
Still have to have COLD in order to get that HOT from the WH Tank...........
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I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
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