Forum Discussion

cinker's avatar
cinker
Explorer
Oct 16, 2016

Hot Shower

Hi,

The only thing limiting a touring RV lifestyle, sop the Mrs says, is that halfway through a shower, the water runs cold.

We have a 30ft Forest City, Salem Classic and currently looking for a Travel Trailer to tour next year as we are retiring.

Is the hot to cold shower a normal issue with RV's? I can understand as the water heaters are small but are there any tech opportunities to immprove upon the heat versus time factor?
Many Thanks
  • lanerd's avatar
    lanerd
    Explorer II
    Oct 16, 2016
    When looking for you next rv, look for one that has an endless hot water device. No tank, and as long as you have water and propane, you can take as long as you like...especially if you can open your gray tank to the park sewer.

    Ron
  • Trackrig's avatar
    Trackrig
    Explorer II
    Oct 16, 2016
    If she continually takes long hot showers, the next problem you're going to run into is all of the moisture. This could be mold forming anyplace in the RV (like up in the back of the cupboards where it cools off), moisture damage to wall and ceiling surfaces near the bathroom, moisture running down the windows and forming mold in the window sills or damaging the sills themselves, etc, etc, etc.

    Bill
  • cmeade's avatar
    cmeade
    Explorer
    Oct 16, 2016
    Another option would be an on demand hot water system which heats the water as it flows through. You would have unlimited hot water. Kind of pricey and if she takes 45 minute showers you would need to leave the grey water valve open so tank would not back up into the shower!!!!!
  • downtheroad's avatar
    downtheroad
    Explorer
    Oct 16, 2016
    Does the Mrs. have long hair....shampoo, lots of suds to rinse, then conditioner and rinse again?

    6 gal. hot water tank....problem.
  • Boon_Docker's avatar
    Boon_Docker
    Explorer III
    Oct 16, 2016
    Yes, that is normal if you shower longer than 5 mins.
    Best way to do it is a "navy shower". Soak down, turn shower off, laver up, wash hair, turn shower back on and rinse off until water cools down, done.
  • MWJones's avatar
    MWJones
    Explorer
    Oct 16, 2016
    The wife will have to learn to take "NAVY SHOWERS"!!
    A 10gal water heater will help as already posted and using the electric and gas at the same time will help also. One trick would be to turn the gas on a few min. before showering.
  • Dick_B's avatar
    Dick_B
    Explorer
    Oct 16, 2016
    and replace the shower head with an Oxygenics which uses less water but still adequate. Does the term `Navy showers' stick a familiar chord?
    For more info search this forum for `oxygenics'.
  • cinker's avatar
    cinker
    Explorer
    Oct 16, 2016
    Typical shower run time is about 5 minutes. I am in and out in 2 minutes, 3 minutes max.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Oct 16, 2016
    No, that's not normal. How long of a shower does she want?

    My HW gets much hotter on gas than electric. That's the only 'fix' I'm aware of.
  • rk911's avatar
    rk911
    Explorer
    Oct 16, 2016
    cinker wrote:
    Hi,

    The only thing limiting a touring RV lifestyle, sop the Mrs says, is that halfway through a shower, the water runs cold.

    We have a 30ft Forest City, Salem Classic and currently looking for a Travel Trailer to tour next year as we are retiring.

    Is the hot to cold shower a normal issue with RV's? I can understand as the water heaters are small but are there any tech opportunities to immprove upon the heat versus time factor?
    Many Thanks

    you may have a 6-gal hot water tank. on your next TT be sure there is a 10-gal option. we have a 10-gal tank and are able to take long-ish showers allowing for a 15-min recovery time between showers. we can shorten that recovery time buy running the electric and LP water heaters simultaneously.

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