Hot water heater freeze.

time2roll wrote:

richclover wrote:
Keep in mind, we boondock high and cold and I like options ;)

I will reiterate that I recommend circulating hot water if you will do this often.

My pump pulls about 1 amp at 12 volts and cycles on with the furnace so you do not hear it. The colder the conditions the more it runs. Saves water too as the hot(warm?) water is at the faucet immediately.

Recirculate hot water-completed-pictures added

Several others have done something similar with success.

JaxDad wrote:
Except you don’t buy “propane” for an RV, you buy “LPG” and there is quite a difference between the two.

LPG consists of a blend, yes, it is normally mainly propane, but also propylene, butane, and butylene in various mixtures depending on the region and season. In warm areas they tend to decrease the amount of propane because it’s the most expensive component.

propane 101 wrote:
HD5 grade propane is "consumer grade" propane and is the most widely sold and distributed grade of propane in the U.S. market. HD5 is the highest grade propane available to consumers in the United States and is what propane companies ordinarily sell to their customers... HD5 spec propane consists of:

Minimum of 90% propane
Maximum of 5% propylene...
Other gases constitute the remainder (iso-butane, butane, methane, etc.)...

dougrainer wrote:

JaxDad wrote:

richclover wrote:
We put a cold weather test on the new rig last month. 3 nights in a row with temperatures in single digits.

Second night, 2AM, I was awake and heard the water heater igniter clicking. No light off and no fault light. Frozen in the morning.

So... After the sun, and warmer temperatures, thawed out the system, every time I went by the hot water heater switch I cycled it and got a light. Did it twice during the third cold night. Hot and cold water available on the third morning.

It seems like the heater isn’t liking cold weather and won’t reliably light with just the thermostat. Perhaps altitude is an issue? We camp at 7-8000’ above sea level.

The rig was purchased new last spring.

Any ideas?

If the tanks are full of butane, or a butane / propane blend you likely won’t have enough vapour to feed a water heater for very long.

Straight butane has a boiling point of about 30 deg. F. whereas straight propane will boil down to about -40 deg. F.

Especially during the summer it’s common to get lots of butane, mostly because it’s a lot cheaper so profits are higher.

Try a different tank of known straight propane and see if your results change.

In the USA, there are no BUTANE distributors left for RV filling. I believe you have to go to Mexico to find Butane. Years ago, it was common practice for LP stations to have Butane for warm times and Propane for colder times. Not any more. If his Furnace would light and his inside range would light, then cold vaporization was/is not a factor. His altitude was a factor. Doug

richclover wrote:
Keep in mind, we boondock high and cold and I like options ;)

agesilaus wrote:
A covered belly means nothing, they all have covered bellies.

richclover wrote:

agesilaus wrote:
A covered belly means nothing, they all have covered bellies.

No, they don’t. My last toy hauler was advertised as “4 Season” with 12V heaters on all the tanks. Which were not insulated and completely exposed. Took some innovation, materials and labor to make it work at temps down to single digits ;)

agesilaus wrote:
A covered belly means nothing, they all have covered bellies.

bpounds wrote:

richclover wrote:
Also in the works is an upgrade to the dual propane/electric option. The Hottrod Electric Conversion came to my attention. Looks good when boondocking with the generator running.

I'm not following your logic on that. I can't imagine you will run the generator enough when boondocking to have much impact on propane use. We boondock, mostly. And we have the electric/propane WH model. I have the electric side locked/pinned in the off position. I'll never need it, not even on shore power.

richclover wrote:
Also in the works is an upgrade to the dual propane/electric option. The Hottrod Electric Conversion came to my attention. Looks good when boondocking with the generator running.