I just moved into a travel Trailer while I'm going to school full time and working full time. For those that live full time in your trailer, do you leave the hot water heater on like a house or do you kick it on just when you need it? Is it safe to leave it on constantly? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

It is cheaper to only use it when you need it. A tank full will pretty much stay warm enough for most of your needs. If I am not on a meter I leave mine on electric pretty much all the time. I would not leave and leave it on propane. It is probably safe but there is something about that propane cycling on a pilot light.

I fulltime. I think there are a few things to know first. Are you by yourself ? Do you take showers in the RV or in the CG ? Do you pay for electricity separately ?Many people who rent by the month and pay separately for electric will turn off the water heater to save money, cycling it on when needed. Especially in winter. I just got to Southern California and have seen several signs advertising propane for $1.59/gallon which is much cheaper then I paid over the winter in Phoenix. So it might be cost effective to flip the switch on your water heater from heating with electricity to propane.In general, I like to leave mine 'on'. One word of advice - if you have a Suburban water heater, check the anode every 6 months. They are easy and cheap to replace. You can get them from Amazon at a good price.* The new ones don't have a pilot light.Tim

First one up in the morning turns on the propane heater. After the showers are over, turn it off.We have a 12 gallon water heater. Turned it on around 7a. Wife showered this morning and turned off heater around 8:15a. Did the dishes after breakfast and I just showered about 2:30p. Didn't run out of hot water. Would have to turn it on again if we needed more, but still plenty warm to wash hands, etc.

WE full timed for 7 yrs. moving locations weekly/bi-monthly.When we set up, water heater went ON and stayed on until we got ready to move again.Water heater panel is in kitchen and when I turn on a hot faucet I want hot water NOW, not 20 mins later.The cost to run water heater was minimal vs MY convenience.If it wasn't safe to leave ON I wouldn't ever turn it ON.It has normal t-stat to control operation, if that should fail it has a high temp t-stat to shut it down and should that fail it has a T&P Relief Valve that will blow......just like your house water heater only in smaller version. IIs the one in house safe??

Unless we're boondocking, we very rarely ever turn ours on. We use campground showers and heat water for dishes on the stove. Even boondocking, a 20 minute burn is all we need for 2 hot showers. Been working for us for 14 years fulltiming.

water heater always on | Good Sam Community

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
May 12, 2015
BarbaraOK wrote:
drz400dude wrote:
I'm pretty sure it's propane only. I have an 06 Fleetwood pioneer. I don't see any way to use electric heating on it.

By '06 most were dual source for heating water. Take the cover off and get the model number & check.

Standard water heater for 2006 Fleetwood Pioneer Models was a 6 gallon PROPANE WH

Option:
6 gallon propane/electric WH

IF no upgrade than OPs WH is propane only

Appears that they used an Atwood WH........so On/OFF panel would have 2 switches and RED light if combo. Otherwise just one ON/OFF & RED Light for Propane
BarbaraOK
Explorer
May 11, 2015
drz400dude wrote:
I'm pretty sure it's propane only. I have an 06 Fleetwood pioneer. I don't see any way to use electric heating on it.

By '06 most were dual source for heating water. Take the cover off and get the model number & check.
MTPockets1
Explorer
May 10, 2015
We run ours on Electric and leave it on all the time. When traveling, it is off, but stays hot until we get to next destination and plug back in. We paid electric separate last winter in Tucson, and average cost was about $70/mo for everything: TV, lights, furnace, A/C. I don't really think leaving it on electric full time would cost over $10/Mo.
drz400dude
Explorer
May 10, 2015
BarbaraOK wrote:
Old-Biscuit wrote:
GoPackGo wrote:
If you are running off propane, then the water heater will not affect your electric bill.

But the question is - are you paying a separate electric bill ?

If you have full hookups and the price you pay includes all electric, then it will be cheaper for you to run your water heater on electric because there is no additional cost. If the price does not include electric, then it might be cheaper to run on propane.

Tim

Unless OPs is propane only.............hummmmmmmmmmm

If the OP doesn't have electric heating possible, they need to look at an optional electrical heating element (such as this) because if one is already paying for electrical as part of the site cost it doesn't make any sense to use propane.

Barb

Unless propane is cheaper than electricity.
drz400dude
Explorer
May 10, 2015
I'm pretty sure it's propane only. I have an 06 Fleetwood pioneer. I don't see any way to use electric heating on it.
BarbaraOK
Explorer
May 10, 2015
Old-Biscuit wrote:
GoPackGo wrote:
If you are running off propane, then the water heater will not affect your electric bill.

But the question is - are you paying a separate electric bill ?

If you have full hookups and the price you pay includes all electric, then it will be cheaper for you to run your water heater on electric because there is no additional cost. If the price does not include electric, then it might be cheaper to run on propane.

Tim

Unless OPs is propane only.............hummmmmmmmmmm

If the OP doesn't have electric heating possible, they need to look at an optional electrical heating element (such as this) because if one is already paying for electrical as part of the site cost it doesn't make any sense to use propane.

Barb
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
May 10, 2015
GoPackGo wrote:
If you are running off propane, then the water heater will not affect your electric bill.

But the question is - are you paying a separate electric bill ?

If you have full hookups and the price you pay includes all electric, then it will be cheaper for you to run your water heater on electric because there is no additional cost. If the price does not include electric, then it might be cheaper to run on propane.

Tim

Unless OPs is propane only.............hummmmmmmmmmm
GoPackGo
Explorer
May 10, 2015
If you are running off propane, then the water heater will not affect your electric bill.

But the question is - are you paying a separate electric bill ?

If you have full hookups and the price you pay includes all electric, then it will be cheaper for you to run your water heater on electric because there is no additional cost. If the price does not include electric, then it might be cheaper to run on propane.

Tim
BarbaraOK
Explorer
May 10, 2015
drz400dude wrote:
it seems there is mixed reviews. A few questions. If mine runs off propane then why would I worry about my electric bill? I'm not at a campground so there are no facilities but I do have full hook up. It seems like if I use my shower every day it would be more effecient to leave it on and have it cycle on a few times a day for a few minutes to maintain heat than 20 minutes from cold every time. If I'm going to be gone more than a day I'll turn it off. But for now I'll try leaving it on and see how often it kicks on in a day.

Water heaters are notoriously inefficient on propane, so depending upon costs, it might be cheaper to use electricity. Plus no hassle of getting propane. Ours is always on electric, have used it less tha 2 days a year on propane because we don't boondock.
drz400dude
Explorer
May 10, 2015
it seems there is mixed reviews. A few questions. If mine runs off propane then why would I worry about my electric bill? I'm not at a campground so there are no facilities but I do have full hook up. It seems like if I use my shower every day it would be more effecient to leave it on and have it cycle on a few times a day for a few minutes to maintain heat than 20 minutes from cold every time. If I'm going to be gone more than a day I'll turn it off. But for now I'll try leaving it on and see how often it kicks on in a day.

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