I would like to confirm that the Girard GSWH-1M is wonderful and works GREAT. We recently purchased a new Keystone Sprinter Travel Trailer which came with a 6 Gallon hot water heater in it. when we went camping it just seemed that the water heater did not keep up with the flow of water it ran out very quickly so we did a lot of research and decided to purchase a Girard GSWH-1M. We had it professional installed were we purchased our trailer. After using it for the first time there were a few minor issues so I called and talked with Kyle at Girard who was probably the best company with there customer service. He spent hours on the phone with me and we tested everything and discovered that the water heater was not having a continuous flow and therefore was not maintaining a constant temperature. He sent us out a new flow switch at no cost to us and we had it installed. The water heater works fantastic it is like taking a shower at home for as long as you want to with a constant hot water flow water that is coming in at 50 degrees rises to almost 130 degrees. They are a wonderful company and stand behind there product 100%. We would recommend it to every one that wants hot water all the time. Thank You Girard for a wonderful product and support.

That's really good to hear since the first ones were useless and were often removed under warranty and replaced with a standard tank. Now I wish I had one so I could soak in there for a few minutes.

Report back AFTER you have had it a while.Still sounds like issues......you've already had to have a new flow switch and hours of phone time.Call me "unimpressed" at this time.Course I haven't run out of hot water with my traditional rv water heater so I'm not a candidate for one. Just out of curiosity if you wouldn't mind.......What did the new unit plus installation cost?

The cost with installation was around $550.00 but it was well worth the cost and the phone time no matter what the skeptics think it is wonderful to take a shower with hot water just like at home and do dishes and never run out of hot water. And Girard stands behind there product. I purchased a new trailer and it had some warranty issues also so what is the big deal!!!

The problem with tankless water heaters is they are only practical when you have full hook ups. If you don't have sewer and water then you cannot take "endless" showers etc., as your freshwater tank will empty and the gray will fill in short order. :C

We actual went camping at a state park in Maryland this summer and we had no hook ups granted you can only take a short shower like any other water heater or situation when you do not have hook ups but the hot water is Hot no matter what.

Girard Tankless Water Heater GSWH-1M | Good Sam Community

DaHose
Explorer
Nov 03, 2014
If I dry camp, I MUST run as little water as possible. I find that tankless is no good for low flow.

Can you run a light trickle of water and still get hot water?

Jose
Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Nov 03, 2014
I was checking the specs for the Girard GSWH-1M. What I see is the BTU rating is only 18,000 to 38,000. The L5 water heater that I have is only rated at 5 liters per minute, and 37,000 Btu's gas supply. So I can not get more than about 95 F water out of my 37,000 Btu heater at only about 1.5 gallons per minute flow.

I am filling a 100 gallon tank, aiming for 80 - 90F water, so I really don't care if flow is less than 2 GPM. However IF I was taking a shower, I don't think I would like water that is only warmed from 45 to 90F at 2 GPM, and know I will not like a 1 GPM or less shower.

So it will be interesting to hear how well it all works out. Perhaps you can fill the fresh water tank with some hot water, then use it to take a long and warm shower.

Good luck!

Fred.
Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Oct 25, 2014
I can only wonder how many gallons per minute you can get out of the water heater when it is 45F outside and the incoming water is really cold.

I had no problems taking a shower in Mesa AZ in the summertime, when it was 105F out, even without the water heater on. But now in Portland OR, with 45F outside temps, then the water heater does not last very long. So I used a $110 tankless L5 water heater to slowly fill my fresh water tank with 100 gallons of 85F water, and take really long showers.

Good luck, and enjoy the long showers!

Fred.
paulaleslie
Explorer
Oct 25, 2014
It does not empty the fresh tank and fill the gray any quicker than any other source. Makes no sense perhaps a tankless is just not for some people. It also does save on propane as it only fires when hot water is needed.
Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Oct 25, 2014
pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

So far the tankless units for RV's are propane fired. No need for full hook ups.

You missed the point completely. If you take long showers with your tankless heater without full hook ups (sewer and water), you empty the fresh tank and fill the gray very quickly. It has nothing to due with the fuel source.

:C
pianotuna
Nomad III
Oct 25, 2014
Hi,

So far the tankless units for RV's are propane fired. No need for full hook ups.
Lantley
Nomad
Oct 25, 2014
My experience has been tank less water heaters have a bit of delay in actually getting hot water to the faucet vs. a standard heater. That delay amount to wasted water which is not a good thing in a RV.
I have a 12 gallon tank and we do not run out of hot water. The 12 gallon capacity always keeps up with our usage.
I'm not sure what the point of a tankless heater is in an RV. In a stick home the ultimate advantage is to save energy cost. However in an RV you are only dealing with a 12 gallon tank there is zero/negligible energy savings vs. a house where there is ample savings.
A tankless heater for an RV is a solution looking for a problem.
In my mind there is no problem with standard heaters,a 12 gallon DSI heater easily keeps up with our usage.
paulaleslie
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
We actual went camping at a state park in Maryland this summer and we had no hook ups granted you can only take a short shower like any other water heater or situation when you do not have hook ups but the hot water is Hot no matter what.
Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Oct 24, 2014
The problem with tankless water heaters is they are only practical when you have full hook ups. If you don't have sewer and water then you cannot take "endless" showers etc., as your freshwater tank will empty and the gray will fill in short order.

:C
paulaleslie
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014
The cost with installation was around $550.00 but it was well worth the cost and the phone time no matter what the skeptics think it is wonderful to take a shower with hot water just like at home and do dishes and never run out of hot water. And Girard stands behind there product. I purchased a new trailer and it had some warranty issues also so what is the big deal!!!