Do I wait for the hot water? August 12, 2019, 03:06:44 pm When you turn on the hot water heater, how long does it take for the water to get hot?
Re: Do I wait for the hot water? Reply #1 – August 12, 2019, 03:22:42 pm I think it depends on the starting temperature. I'm in AZ right now and the water does not get cold at all. It stays lukewarm to warm. If I need hot water for a shower, it takes about 15 mins to get hot enough for me (I check the faucet at the kitchen sink to confirm temp).
Re: Do I wait for the hot water? Reply #2 – August 12, 2019, 03:25:55 pm That depends upon the ambient temperature, the water heater's thermostat, and of course how hot you want it. (And then of course there's the separate question of how long hot water takes to get to the faucet, which depends upon the distance from the water heater.) But broadly speaking, I've found that about ten to twenty minutes will get water warm enough to shower comfortably--ten minutes in summer, twenty in winter. If you want it really hot (about 135°-140° F is where the standard 6-gallon Atwoods typically top out), add ten minutes or so.You may find the water-saving and propane-saving tips on this page helpful when showering. In particular, adding an inexpensive aquarium thermometer will let you shut off the water heater when it hits your preferred temperature, thus saving propane and eliminating the need to fiddle with the mixing faucets; and running water into a jug until it's hot will eliminate wasted water. 2 Likes
Re: Do I wait for the hot water? Reply #4 – August 13, 2019, 12:03:38 pm Atwood makes an adjustable thermostat that can be set as low as 105 degrees, eliminating having to mix cold water, with the hot, for a comfortable shower.Amazon.com: Atwood 93105 Adjustable Electronic Thermostat: GatewayLarry As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Do I wait for the hot water? Reply #5 – August 14, 2019, 02:56:32 am It does take time for flowing water to get the the hot water from the tank to the faucet/shower head, so it can be hot and that first bit comes out cold/luke warm (depending on the ambient temperature). Water on full blast takes roughly 5-10 seconds of flow to get the hot water out (I am guesstimating here).Jane
Re: Do I wait for the hot water? Reply #6 – August 14, 2019, 11:39:22 am Our practice is to capture the cooler water in a container while waiting for the hotter water to make its way to the faucet, then using the captured water for other purposes.
Re: Do I wait for the hot water? Reply #7 – August 14, 2019, 12:10:13 pm "Atwood makes an adjustable thermostat that can be set as low as 105 degrees"I tried one of those a few years back, but even when I set it to its lowest temperature, the water was still too hot for me--a lot hotter than 105° F, which is actually my preferred temperature for showering. Maybe I just got a bad unit, I dunno. It's a fairly crude mechanical device (as is the standard thermostat).
Re: Do I wait for the hot water? Reply #8 – August 14, 2019, 12:20:36 pm We had the same experience as Andy although I don't know the actual lowest temp. It was also highly influenced by whether or not direct sunlight was hitting the water heater side of the LD. While we prefer it to the original it has its quirks that you have to adjust for.Jim
Re: Do I wait for the hot water? Reply #9 – August 14, 2019, 12:22:04 pm "But broadly speaking, I've found that about ten to twenty minutes will get water warm enough to shower comfortably--ten minutes in summer, twenty in winter."---This procedure of using only the "hot" faucet/line (with small timing adjustments for ambient temperatures) has been SOP for me for almost 16 years of rig showers. I'm kind of surprised that the cold line in the washbowl/shower hasn't seized up!
Re: Do I wait for the hot water? Reply #10 – August 14, 2019, 12:30:43 pm "Our practice is to capture the cooler water in a container while waiting for the hotter water to make its way to the faucet, then using the captured water for other purposes."After doing this in spades during the 80's droughts in California, it has become a way of life! We just kept a two-gallon bucket by each shower for subsequent flushing purposes. While I'm probably not quite so assiduous these days, the pull is always there to do things in the order that will use the least amount of water. An easy transition to a camping situation!To wit: I've recently discovered the foaming soap dispensers for sitting on one's sink. This allows soaping up without having turned on the water at all. Instead there is just the rinse cycle. Virtual hugs, Judie 3 Likes
Re: Do I wait for the hot water? Reply #11 – August 14, 2019, 01:35:09 pm "I've recently discovered the foaming soap dispensers... This allows soaping up without having turned on the water at all."Yes, that's a big advantage. I use one of those on my sink, and I also carry one in the rear door pocket of my car, along with a small water bottle with sprinkler cap and a small microfiber towel. Flu season has been especially bad in Arizona for the past couple years, so when I leave a public place (post office, food store, etc.), the first thing I do is shoot some foam onto my hands, lather up, and then rinse with the sprinkler bottle. Yes, I get my flu shot every year, but this hand-cleaning routine can't hurt.
Re: Do I wait for the hot water? Reply #12 – August 16, 2019, 06:08:25 pm Quote from: Andy Baird - August 14, 2019, 12:10:13 pm"Atwood makes an adjustable thermostat that can be set as low as 105 degrees"I tried one of those a few years back, but even when I set it to its lowest temperature, the water was still too hot for me--a lot hotter than 105° F, which is actually my preferred temperature for showering.We got lucky, the lowest setting produces 105 degrees, my wife wanted it a bit higher, now it's set at at 107.The lowest temp varies between thermostats, I have heard from several that the low setting is too hot and from others with good reports. It's the luck of the draw.Our water heater's temp is monitored by a digital thermometer with the temperature sensor glued to the tank.Larry
Re: Do I wait for the hot water? Reply #13 – August 16, 2019, 07:01:52 pm I installed an adjustable stat and I'm seeing Larry's results. It's very hard to make good contact with the stat face and the tank surface. Sure is nice to get away from those 140 degree temps though.Jon
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