Showering with 10 gallon water heater

[rblake39]

We are buying a fifth wheel to full time in. My GF just asked me to time her shower at our house to see how long it took her. 8 minutes. She's concerned she wont get a fully hot shower in the RV for a full 8 minutes. Is 10 gallons enough? I noticed she really doesn't care if I have enough hot water after her though...lol. I just explained to her she may have to turn it off then lather up, then wet her hair and turn it off etc.

[Allworth]

Why would you assume that Florida Gray Water rules are less strict than Montana?

[rblake39]

Thanks all. Never plan on boondocking so always full hookups. Guess I'll have to shower after all. But then again, I take my ipod in with me. I have a small radio with an ipod dock. I'm always done showering before the Jimmy Buffett song I'm listening to is over. So 3.5 minutes tops. Luckily I don't have a lot of hair.

[jmaotto]

With a 6 gallon gas and electric water heater, we never run out of water. We just turn on both the gas and the electric and use the shower the same as at home. With both heaters running, the water seems to heat as fast as it is used.
We only do this with full hookups.

[mowermech]

I note that the OP is in Florida. Perhaps emptying the gray water tank won't be a problem there.
It is worthy of note though, that if they should happen to come West, and set up in a Forest Service campground, there probably will not be a dump station, nor will they be allowed to trickle the waste water onto the ground or in the brush, nor can it be dumped into the vault toilets. When the tank gets full, the only option is to go to town and dump it. That could be a five mile trip (one way), or it could be 50 miles, depending on where they were camping. The fee to use a dump site can range from free to ten dollars!
Needless to say, water conservation is an absolute necessity, and soon becomes a way of life.
Good luck.

[DutchmenSport]

Once you start doing Navy Showers in the camper, you'll find yourself using a LOT less water at home too!

My wife and I can take back-to-back showers in the camper (6 gallon water heater), and we don't run out of water. We are very skimpy on water though.

Also.... another thought about taking the longer showers, you need to consider how much water your gray tank will hold too! They fill up faster than you want .... always!

[Old-Biscuit]

Guess you & your GF don't boondock much if any

She is a water hog.

Constantly running water is a waste, unnecessary and a practice that should be avoided.

Full Timing is a Lifestyle
One that comes with some changes.
Hopefully your GF can adapt

[old_guy]

I am a hot water hog. my wife can take a shower with a cup of water. I have a ten gallon heater and use it on electric only and have never run out of hot water yet. Lucky huh?

[Clay_L]

As an aside - after taking navy showers for 12 years it actually took a little time to get used not doing that when we left the road and bought a house.

[kalynzoo]

In all previous MHs and the present one, the water heater gets hotter than the setting on the house water heater. Therefore you mix more cold water with the hot to get a comfortable setting. Our previous 6 gal water heaters offered more than enough water for two leisurely showers. Naturally my wife showered first, just in case we ran out of hot water, it would be my problem.:) The issue is not the amount of water, you will find the volume (pressure) to be greatly diminished from home pressure (unless you live in a water restricted area).

[ktmrfs]

DW and I along with Daughter, SIL, and two grandkids can take consecutive showers with our 6 gallon tank and not run out of water.

Just need to learn how to shower with minimal water. Use an oxygenetics head, on high to get wet and to rinse, on trickle while soaping up. I'd say we each spend about 5 minutes in the shower except with the Gal's are also washing their hair, in which case it's about 10 minutes.

[bukhrn]

the bear II wrote:
Your GF needs to learn to take Navy type showers when in the RV. Otherwise you'll run out of holding tank and fresh water quickly when boondocking.

X-2, if you're camped without sewer hookup, your grey water holding tank capacity can be a major factor.

[2oldman]

pianotuna wrote:
At 4 gallons per minute an 8 minute shower is going to consume 32 gallons of water. .

Wow.. that seems high. I'll get out a bucket and check mine!

[pianotuna]

Hi,

At 4 gallons per minute an 8 minute shower is going to consume 32 gallons of water.

The issue is not whether the heater can keep up, but rather how much water is being consumed. I have 66 gallons available and the waste tank holds 40 gallons.

You would need to be an an rv park with water and sewer connections to take an 8 minute shower.

Either that, or you will need to dump and acquire more water nearly every day.

[We_Cant_Wait]

You'll definitely want to learn to take a NAVY shower as BOBBO described for 2 reasons 1) to save on hot water, and 2) cut down on the water going into your Grey Tank so that when you're at a site without full hook ups you'll be able to cut water usage.

[bob213]

BB_TX wrote:
I also turn on both electric and propane for the water heater. Have never run out of hot water. I have never timed myself to see how long it takes, but I don't hurry either.

An Oxygenics shower head helps also.

X2 on Oxygenics shower head

4 of us can shower with a 6 gallon WH and have no problems. GF needs to realize you are not and home and try to adapt. Good luck!