Water Heater....leave on or as needed?

Here is many answers to your question
Water heater thread

Thank you...

How would I know if my heater is electric and gas or just gas?

Thank you...

How would I know if my heater is electric and gas or just gas?

Locate make and model number, normally on the exterior access to it.

I turn on as needed, usually just in the evening to wash the day's dishes and to shower. Then it will remain off until the next evening.

There is the lengthy on/off debate... I lived in my trailer during weekdays for 26mo. My water heater is located under the master bed, so I didn't want it to wake me. I noticed it would cycle much more frequently during the colder months of left on, so it was more cost effective to turn on before use.

If it is elect and the electric is included in your site fee, leave it on.

When camping, or at home (driveway camping), leave on.

I use to run electric only when at campgrounds on my previous trailers, but the current trailer I have is 30 amp, and I have on occasion maxed-out the the 30 amp and popped the main breaker in the camper. Seems, this camper has a littler higher electric AMP draw than my previous ones. But we also have more electronics plugged in also.

So, I started keeping my water heater on gas, so as not to max out the available 30 amp. Since I've started doing that, I've never popped another breaker again. We're talking Summer camping, with the air-conditioner running. In the Spring and Fall when there is no demand for air conditioning, I'll then run on the electric mode.

I have found, it uses very little propane to keep the water heater hot. I've been on one 30 pound tank now since Spring, and the water heater has been on pretty much all the time, except when actually on the road.

I turn mine off at night, just so I don't have to hear it fire up in the middle of the night.

Turns out, I don't really need all that much hot water anyway, so I mostly just run it as needed..

I fire it up when we first get in and then just deal with it as needed..

No shower in my rig, so no need for that.. :) (converted the actual "shower" to storage space... Much better use of the space.. It really sucks as an actual 'shower'..)

We do dishes as needed, but there is only 2 of us, so we don't use that many dishes..

Just depends on your individual needs and use for the most part.

There is no general "rule" on how to use it... Just use it as needed.. ;)

Mitch

blackcows wrote:
Do you leave your hot water heater on when camping or on and off as needed?

Turn it on and leave it on! 1 person can use 4-5 gallons of heat water per shower, so the rest of the family will have to wait for your water heater to heat up the tank again:( The savings by turning off the heater after your shower is minimal but the inconvenience of waiting for hot water is maximum.

blackcows wrote:
Thank you...

How would I know if my heater is electric and gas or just gas?

Look in your manual or call the customer service of the mfg. of your RV. My heater runs on both electric/gas or I can use both electric and propane at the same time.