water heater

[njtony]

WE full time and want to know should we leave the water heater on all the time or just when we need it ? This would be in cold temps.

[rdturn]

NEVER leave LP on when moving. If stationary I see no reason not to leave it on unless you are not using it 'full time'

[Wishbone51]

I turn it off at night and turn it back on in the morning. When we leave the trailer to see the sights, I turn it off, and back on when I get back.

[Ron3rd]

We leave our water heater on all the time when camping. If we're leaving for an extended period we will turn it off if we remember too.

[doxiemom11]

We leave ours on all the time - usually on electric. We have a 10 gallon and turning it on and off all the time to heat water actually uses more gas if using the gas mode - maybe electric too. Maintaining temperatures usually uses less energy that letting it get cold (especially when really cold out) and constantly reheating it when you want hot water. If very cold, it also helps protect the tank from freezing. Of course some of this will also depend on the insulation you have to retain heat in that area. Ours stays warm for a long time without the water heater having to kick on and run.

[Robert78121]

I live full-time and only turn it on when I need it. You don't need to leave it one for a full cycle either when turning it on. I turn it on only long enough to insure that I get a warm shower. Get to know your water heater and how it acts in different temps to learn the best method. I usually get 8 to 9 months on my 80 pound LP tank while doing it this way. Leaving it on 24/7 I'm sure it wouldn't last half that long.

[Old-Biscuit]

Hey it's your water heater.......use it like you want to.
Leave it on......turn it on when you want hot water (well at least 15 mins before you want hot water)

There is no only one right way to use it.

We have ours on always.......LP when no electric or on electric when we have power.

I hate cold showers......and when I want to take a shower I don't want to wait for the water to get hot.

The RV is our home...so I use everything in it just like I did in a S&B house.

Fridge is on, water heater is on, A/C-furnace set to come on as needed, water is on....and I use toilet paper that I like

[Mike_LeClair]

We full time - heater is on all the time regardless of propane or electric. If you are asking out of a concern for the nickles and dimes than ?????????

I want hot water when I want hot water, not half an hour after the fact. I dunno - just saying. As always, YMMV.

Cheers!

Mike

[jjwms]

We full timed for 10 years and always left the water heater turned on except when on the road. We ran it on electric if that was included in the rent for the site. Otherwise we multiplied the electric rate times 22 and if that was less than the price of propane we ran the water heater on electric. If the result of the multiplication was more than the price of propane we ran the heater on propane. But like one of the other posters said if we needed quicker recovery of hot water we used both electric and propane to heat the water in the tank.

[njtony]

Sorry all left out the word "heater" in my question. Thank you all.

[Bill_Satellite]

I very rarely turn off the coach water pumps if that's what you are asking. We sometimes come upon an RV park that has reasonable water pressure and flow (you need both) and we will turn off our water pumps while doing laundry but I want the extra pressure during a shower so I always turn them back on at those times to ensure the best flow.

[Veebyes]

Dakzuki wrote:
If on LP I only have it on when needed. If plugged in and running on electric I have it on all the time.

Thats about it. If on LP turn the heater on for no more than a half hour before needing hot water then turn it off before actually using the water. No point in heating water as it is used if it will not be needed right away.

[Dakzuki]

If on LP I only have it on when needed. If plugged in and running on electric I have it on all the time.

[Bob___Ann]

If you are full timing leave it on all of the time. It will always be hot for you and you will not have to worry about the tank freezing. If yours operates on both gas and electric choose one or the other. Only use both gas and electric if you have a lot of people showering and need a lot of hot water fast. After everyone has showered leave it on electric or gas, your choice.

[gajd33]

If you are living in your RV full time then you should be just fine to leave it on all the time. Assuming you are using it on a regular basis. If you are new to maintaining water heaters you may want to read through this Water Heater Basics Article