Tankless Hot Water System

Nvr lost
We had our motor home built for us. It came with the standard HW tank but we had the option of ordering the hot water on demand system. We have enjoyed it as it puts out a continuous flow of hot water. However for it to work well you have to have close to 55 pounds pressure for it to operate properly. If you are in a campground with low pressure we fill our fresh water tank and run the pump. We find that it uses very little propane as it only heats when you draw hot water. The only draw back is it is a little more difficult traveling in very cold winter weather. It is important that you drain it when traveling in freezing weather as it causes major damage if your copper coils burst. You are fine if you are set up in even zero degree weather. We have used it at six degrees. You cannot travel with the gas on to the unit as when it runs while moving the flame can fan out and burn its wiring.

There is no option for a regular propane water heater in the TT the OP is looking at buying.

Search this Forum for `tankless' and read on. IMHO it's a bad idea for an RV.

Well, it would certainly help save space in a 19 ft long - 7 ft wide TT.

I had a tankless propane hot water heater and absolutely loved it - in 1982 in Japan.

I'd like to get to the point I could get one in an RV. Saw a propane one from the factory in a Class A/B/C unit from Britain in December (Our rig catagories really don't match theirs). Fellow brought it over about a year ago - and the rig was four or five years old.

What brand is it? Some are better than others.

It is on the new Winnebago Micro Minnie, from the factory. I think it is electric, but I am not really sure.

To the best of my knowledge there are no RV mfgrs who install tankless hot water tanks. They are all an aftermarket add on. I wish I could remember all the cons that were told to me about these systems in RV usage by my RV mechanic, but my poor memory precludes that. There were enough that my DW & I opted to replace out hot water heater with another tank model. Basically it boiled down to that they are still so new that there are still many problems with them. As for people who have them, the consensus is a definitely a love them or hate them. Do a search and you will find lots of reading on the topic.

Electric or propane?
- Electric needs a lot of juice or if lower wattage you have the choice of low flow or hot water.
- Propane can put out lots of hot water but venting safely can be tricky (is it aftermarket or original equipement?)