Feedback on current on-demand hot water heaters

[ToddD]

Spec'ing out a 2018 Jayco 5er. We do a lot of seasonal camping. I like a nice long, non-navy-style shower.

How's performance on these on-demand hot water rv units these days?

[Bumpyroad]

Itching2go wrote:
...and even better than a 10 gallon tank is Atwood's unit that has a 10 gallon tank with a mixer valve on the output side. The water in the tank is heated to a much higher temperature than is safe for direct use, but the mixer valve continuously adds cold water on the output side to keep the water hot, but not any hotter than the output of a normal hot water heater (120 degrees, I believe). The end result is the equivalent of a 16 gallon hot water tank. We have one that is gas/electric, and have yet to run out of hot water. Good product, and I believe is an available option from Jayco.

that is what I do in my S&B, just set the hot water a bit above what is needed and dilute it down with cold. if the RV WH can be adjusted with a higher heat setting, why is something else needed?
bumpy

[Butch50]

I had an Atwood one in our MH for a year and I would never do it again. There is so much water waste as you waiting for the cold water to fire up the tankless before getting hot water. Then you shut it off to soap up and then you go through all this water again waiting to get hot. If you are dry camping there just seems to be a lot of water waste and filling your holding tanks.

Then when you are in a campground you still have to use your porpane instead of using the campground electric. Also if you are at a campground and don't get enough flow they don't want to turn on. There were times we had to turn on our water pump and take water from our on board water tank to get enough pressure to make it work.

I will never have one again.

[Bumpyroad]

ScottG wrote:

I also suggest getting a better shower head.

I suggest taking a joint shower to conserve hot water.
bumpy

[jims1]

Truma is the heater to go with. https://www.truma.com/us/en/products/truma-water-systems/truma-aqua-go-water-heater.html
But you need to find an installer.

[Aridon]

We've used one for years in our Newmar. Thing is, that was a diesel burner version and we had 150 gallons of diesel to burn though.

When it comes to propane on a fifth wheel though, the gas is in much more limited supply. I'd be concerned about fuel usage and how much of a PIA it will be to fill the tanks.

Another thing is the reviews on that Atwood on demand water heater are underwhelming.

https://www.rvupgradestore.com/Atwood-On-Demand-Tankless-Water-Heater-p/72-4112.htm

[Itching2go]

...and even better than a 10 gallon tank is Atwood's unit that has a 10 gallon tank with a mixer valve on the output side. The water in the tank is heated to a much higher temperature than is safe for direct use, but the mixer valve continuously adds cold water on the output side to keep the water hot, but not any hotter than the output of a normal hot water heater (120 degrees, I believe). The end result is the equivalent of a 16 gallon hot water tank. We have one that is gas/electric, and have yet to run out of hot water. Good product, and I believe is an available option from Jayco.

[ScottG]

Having a 10 gallon tank really makes a huge difference. My wife and I can shower one after the other and the second person can even get in a little soak time.
I also suggest getting a better shower head.

[FLY_4_FUN]

Haven't seen much feedback on them at all except a few folks that were underwhelmed by them. I think having an LP/Electric tank in the rig and as big as possible is still a great option. Aren't the tankless only LP? Wont that mean you are going to be burning LP no matter what vs electric on your site? I would think getting tanks refilled more often would be a nuisance. With a 10 gallon tank we can do reasonable back to back showers that are far from "navy" showers on full hook-ups.

[Durb]

Bumpyroad wrote:
a fairly recent thread had a disgruntled user of them in RVs.
bumpy

I recall this post. The run time of cold water was high while waiting for hot water. Not so good if you are drawing off a tank and emptying into a tank. OP suggested it was an option they would not prefer in the future.

[Dick_B]

Did you search this Forum for `tankless'?

[Bumpyroad]

a fairly recent thread had a disgruntled user of them in RVs.
bumpy

[ScottG]

On paper, the newest unit by Atwood looks very good. It has the highest avavilable BTU rating and is the only one I've seen that has a varaible burner - 16K to 50K BTU. That should answer the biggest problems with them which are minimum flow and the ability to heat even the coldest water.
If I were going to take a chance on one, it would the Atwood.