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Topic: Tankless water heater - anyone considered this? (Read 217 times) previous topic - next topic
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Tankless water heater - anyone considered this?
Yahoo Message Number: 160386
One of the improvements I wondered about is using a tankless water heater instead of a standard one.
They have RV ones, from people like Atwood, that use propane. I wonder if they would have a two way or three way one (dc, ac, and propane).

I can think of the pros (not heating water unless using it so hopefully using less propane/dc/ac, getting some extra storage room, etc.

But what about any cons?

Thanks, Jane
Jane & Scott
Currently have a 1989 TK  LD we did a lot of upgrades on.
Bigfoot 25RQ Twin on order with early summer 2024 ETA

Our smartphone autocorrects into very poor English.
 We disclaim the illusion of ignorance this creates as we have enough ignorance we rightly claim.
Re: Tankless water heater - anyone considered this?
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 160388
PS, I should say we are planning on doing a lot of boondocking/dry camping if that makes a difference.
Jane
Jane & Scott
Currently have a 1989 TK  LD we did a lot of upgrades on.
Bigfoot 25RQ Twin on order with early summer 2024 ETA

Our smartphone autocorrects into very poor English.
 We disclaim the illusion of ignorance this creates as we have enough ignorance we rightly claim.
Re: Tankless water heater - anyone considered this?
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 160390
Well, one downside for boondocking tankless is that you lose the tank so can store less water- 6 gallons of water is two camping showers.

They run 2-3 times what a standard heater run, but you are probably aware of that.
Re: [LD] Tankless water heater - anyone considered this?
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 160391

We have a tankless water heater in our RV and I hate it. Although we've learned to live with it, I don't like the fact that the water will never stay the same temperature throughout a shower or washing dishes, particularly if you turn the water off during the shower/dish washing.

We almost exclusively boondock and, while a tankless water heater saves on propane because you're not heating 6 or more gallons of water, I would never have another one in any RV. I've even considered replacing ours with a tank water heater, but I don't know if that's possible, or what the cost would be if it is possible.

YMMV.

Linda Hylton

But what about any cons?
Linda Hylton
Re: Tankless water heater - anyone considered this?
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 160393
Truth is, if you don't run your water heater all day, it doesn't really use much propane. I find that ten to twenty minutes a per day (depending upon outside temperature) are enough to get the water to showering temperature, and after that I shut off the water heater for the rest of the day. You can find details and some tips on saving water in this article. For me at least, there's not much incentive to get a tankless water heater.

Andy Baird
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Tankless water heater - anyone considered this?
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 160397
"I find that ten to twenty minutes a per day (depending upon outside temperature) are enough to get the water to showering temperature, and after that I shut off the water heater for the rest of the day." -----

Like Andy, I have done the same routine for many years for showering and doing dishes in the motorhome: fire up the water heater for the number of minutes indicated by the outside temperature, open the hot water faucet only for a shower (no faucet fiddling or mixing), take a "Navy shower" (get wet, turn off water, soap up, turn on water to rinse), then do the dishes with remaining hot water. If there are more dishes than hot/warm water, I fill the water kettle, usually with a couple of quarts or less, and heat it on the stove. Kettle I use:

Amazon.com: Lindy's 47444 Stainless Steel Water Kettle, 7-Quart, Silver:...

Scraping food residue off the dishes and pots and pans with a rubber spatula and/or wiping them with a paper towel makes for more efficient dishwashing.

Hey, the Navy shower is an "uptown" experience compared to some other ways I've bathed over the years! ;-)

Joan
As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Tankless water heater - anyone considered this?
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 160398
I even take Navy showers when we're at home in our sticks & bricks! I can't see wasting a precious resource like water letting the shower run when it's not actively being needed!

Linda Hylton
Linda Hylton
Re: Tankless water heater - anyone considered this?
Reply #7 –
My fifthwheel came with a tankless water heater as standard equipment, since it was the first time offered Forest River said if we didn't like it the manufacturer of the tankless heater would replace it.  We tried it for about 6 weeks full time and it was awful.  Could not regulate the temp ether cold or scalding.  Dealer tried new shower head, adjustable pressure regulator, finally had it replaced.  Only problem in replacement for us is they would only replace it with gas as there wasn't a electric line in the water heater compartment.  On tankless system if the water is to hot you increase the flow so the water will move thru the tubes faster and absorb less heat, most rv parks don't have enough pressure to make this work, second is the temp of the water coming into the tankless system if its already hot then you have problems regulating it and in the summer it is getting hot water from your hose that has been laying in the sun.  I personally would not recommend one for a RV because of the above plus to me they waste water.  I noted the newer fifthwheels in my model now have the tankless heater as a option.

Bill
Re: Tankless water heater - anyone considered this?
Reply #8 –
I had a Truma instant hot water heater in my last RV and it worked perfectly.  We only ran out of hot water when we ran out of propane.  Had no issues with water flow and temp either.  If I buy a LD, good chance I will put one in again.
Chesapeake, VA
 
Re: Tankless water heater - anyone considered this?
Reply #9 –
Jane, I considered one briefly when I was having trouble with the hot water heater on a travel trailer. It would have fit in the same space as the Atwood. Instead I fixed the problem (repeatedly). In the meantime, our analysis of how we use hot water showed that tankless, which we use at home, would be OK, but not worth investing in.  We too heat one tank every other day, unless it is cold weather, when we go to every day. From the 6 gallons we two shower, wash pots, etc.  if we need more hot water for dishes, laundry, or cleaning we use a kettle and dishpan.

I camp with some people who use a lot do water, including a clothes washer. They are considering installing one, but the old Atwood keeps working.
Paul
'92 Mid Bath