6 gal electric hot water heater upgrade
Have a 18 ft Jayco and hot water heater went out. Wanting to see if anyone has ever replaced the original with a smaller electric one. Don’t really like the use of propane for anything inside.
Forum Discussion
- Why are you scared to use propane?
Water heater does not vent into or use inside air for combustion, therefore is rather safe to use.
Your stove would be the greatest danger but simply cracking one or two windows and running the range hood vent fan (provided it is vented to the outside) can make cooking inside rather safe to do so.
Running your furnace is pretty much the same as you water heater, the air used for combustion is drawn from outside and is sent right back outside because the combustion chamber is sealed from the inside air and the combustion byproducts are not going to directly enter your RV.
Your idea of electric only is a fools paradise, a typical RVs electrical system is 120V at 30A which is 3600W of power.
3600W is roughly 12,283 BTU/hr.
Your RV gas water heater burner can supply 40,000 BTU/hr
Pretty much will take 4 times longer AND you will not have a quick recovery time (would take hours before you have hot water again.
Not to mention that would take ALL of your electric available and would have to shut off everything in your RV.
Now, if you are considering "instant" electric water heaters, most small point of use 120V ones will not deliver much in results and you will be disappointed. Instant tankless electric water heaters have a small temperature rise and that gets smaller the faster you run water through it.
Replace your RV tank gas water heater with the same model and brand and don't bother going down the electric only bunny trail..
