full time rving and running the water heater

Our electric water heater gets turned off when we leave (when we remember).

At a CoE in FL there was a sign requesting that people turn off their electric water heaters unless they were using them.

We have an AquaHot system (that burns diesel instead of propane) for heating water. We leave that off unless we are going to need hot water for showers.

If i had ONLY gas I might try to save and turn it off when I'm gone for the day but I have elec so I leave it unless gone for days at a time.

2gypsies wrote:
As full-timers if we were dry camping we turned it on for showers then turned it off. We paid for that propane. It doesn't hurt to wash your hands during the day with cold or lukewarm water. The water stays warm a long time - even enough for dish time.

If you use RV parks and electric is included, then leave it on.

When you lived in a house did you turn it off? I assume you paid for the fuel then also?

No right/wrong way........just your way. What works/fits your need.

I like HOT water when I turn faucet on to hot side. I did not want to have to plan when to have hot water.

We FTd for 7 yrs. Prior to that camped for 40 yrs.
Hot water heater was turned ON when it was filled with water. Turned back off when done using RV.

Cost.......never was part of equation as it was about my convenience and ability to have hot water when I turned faucet/shower ON.

When AC power was available.......I used electric element
When AC power wasn't available or had to be 'managed' I used propane
And if I needed more hot water availability I used electric/propane at same time for faster recovery time

RV water heaters (Suburban or Atwood) will last for many many years with just routine maintenance.


Use yours as you want....and don't worry about warranties etc.
IF/when something breaks....fix it.

With 50 amp service, I would just leave it on electric all the time. I mainly dry camp and turn off the propane water heater before I go to bed and turn it back on when making morning coffee, leaving it on all day. Don't like falling asleep with the propane water heater on as its right by my door. Don't want a nocturnal critter mess it up and start a fire. I know, not likely. But I sleep better.

Hi,

Run it until it cycles and then have a shower. Turn it off and there will be water that is warm enough to do the supper dishes.

If you can run it for no additional electrical charge, just leave it on. Otherwise turn it off.

Turn on the hot water, the fridge, the air conditioner, and the lights.. but wait.. are you on a meter.. turn off the fridge, the air conditioner, the hot water and the lights..

Either way will only adjust your camping night by a few scant dollars.

Thank you all for your speedy responses. I am on a 50 amp service, full hookup. I didn't buy the 5 year extended warranty. Was that a bad decision?

If you are dry camping and trying to conserve propane, you should only turn it on right before it's needed. When doing dishes, you'll use less propane if you heat one gallon of water in a pan on the stove vs. the 6 gallons in the water heater. If you really want to conserve propane, you can purchase a solar hot water heater.

If we are at a site with 50AMP electric, we leave it on electric; 30AMP electric, we turn it(electric) on when needed. If we have no electric and are running on propane, we turn it on propane as needed.