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Topic: Water Heater when Away from Coach  (Read 545 times) previous topic - next topic

Water Heater when Away from Coach

We typically turn water off (pump or city) when we leave the coach for the day. Any risk to leaving water heater (propane and/or electric) on with water source turned off? 
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Water Heater when Away from Coach

Reply #1 –
We usually turn the LP or electric on about 15 minutes before we need hot water for showers cleanup etc. Then we turn it off.

Bob
Winter: Texas Rio Grande Valley or Foley, AL
Summer: The Gardens RV Community of Crossville, TN
2000 40 FT U270, Xtreme FBP
2017 C-Max Towed

Re: Water Heater when Away from Coach

Reply #2 –
Quote from: floridarandy –
Any risk to leaving water heater (propane and/or electric) on with water source turned off?
Is there ANY risk?  I suppose there is always some tiny risk...like if the water heater tank sprung a leak while you were gone and all the water drained out.  Then the electric element might burn out.  I don't know what the propane side would do...probably at worst waste some propane trying to heat the dry tank?

We have an electric element in our water heater.  I like to have hot water available in the coach anytime I want to use it for whatever.  Our electric heater element is turned ON all the time.  It is only powered when we are plugged in or generator is running (IE it is not powered by our inverter).  We've never had a problem.

As always, since it's your coach, you should DWMYH.


1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Water Heater when Away from Coach

Reply #3 –
Quote from: BobW –
We usually turn the LP or electric on about 15 minutes before we need hot water for showers cleanup etc. Then we turn it off.
Bob
Exactly, plus we also shut off the water pump.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Water Heater when Away from Coach

Reply #4 –
When we leave our coach in storage in Brunswick Ga during the winter months,
I will leave the electric on for the water heater just in case it gets cold. It really never stays cold long enough in Brunswick but you never know. No water hookup. I do visit the coach every 4-8 weeks to check on it,  take it for a spin and run all systems.
Frank & Daisy
NO LONGER  "looking for the perfect Foretravel
36' or less non slide preferred."  She has been found and is ours.
2003 U320 36' non slide  Unit 6103
Cummins ISM 450
Allison 4000MH

Re: Water Heater when Away from Coach

Reply #5 –
Before replacing the water heater, I would leave either on if away for short periods and turn off when gone a full  24hrs or longer.  Switching to a propane based on-demand water heater solved this and a host of other problems. 

Bill
95 36' U295  CAI, build #4757
—>formerly homed in the midwest, now mobile again,
      mid-atlantic for the present.

Re: Water Heater when Away from Coach

Reply #6 –
Our way:  Water pump off (extra add-on pump switch / LED at panel near door) when leaving coach to prevent possible catastrophic damages. Never use city water for faucet pressure.

Turn off propane hot water switch at kitchen sink area that turns off gas & electric heating.

Turn heater on before shower. Have run separate 12v wires to kitchen that light LED lamps when gas valve & electric heating element are powered, with assumption that when they turn off, heater is fully hot.

Current Atwood propane hot water heater uses an upgraded circuit board to separately control gas valve & electric heating element 12v relay. Both heat sources use the original style button temperature sensor on front of tank for control.

Re: Water Heater when Away from Coach

Reply #7 –
I've pondered that exact question lately. I turn off water pump but usually leave water heater on unless gone for more than a day. I like having hot water when I want it. Don't really worry about the extra propane. I do turn it off while running down the road because motor aid does a great job of delivering hot water along the road.
1998 36 foot U270 Build No. 5328 WTFE, 900 watts solar, Victron controller, B2B, bat monitor, 600 AMPH lithium with 2018 Chevy Colorado toad, SKP #110239, Motorcade #17781, 2021 Escape 17B for when Coach is broken down and campsites are too small, retired and full-timer since Dec. 2020. Part of RV family since 1963.

Re: Water Heater when Away from Coach

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Realmccoy –
I've pondered that exact question lately. I turn off water pump but usually leave water heater on unless gone for more than a day. I like having hot water when I want it. Don't really worry about the extra propane. I do turn it off while running down the road because motor aid does a great job of delivering hot water along the road.
We turn our water heater off because of the possibility of fire and also for the noise the water heater makes outside. Agree that the motor aid hot coolant is nice while driving down the road. 15 minutes of water heater is plenty of time to heat water for a shower.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Water Heater when Away from Coach

Reply #9 –
I never leave it on for times not needed. They heat up quickly and saves on gas or electric.
1996 U295-36, Cummins 300hp, 8.3. Build number 4864. Vin number 1F97D536XTNO54271. Purchased October 31, 2019.

Re: Water Heater when Away from Coach

Reply #10 –
Having only a propane fired H2o water heater I added a 110 volt heating element. For the few times a year we are hooked up to a pole we have hot water when we turn the faucet on. We also run off the on board water tank at all times and turn pump off when we remember. Seems I paid about half the price for this but of course inflation strikes again.

Hot Water Hybrid Heat - 10 Gal (11773) – The RV Parts House
Doug W.
96 36' U270 CSGI #4946
04 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
PNW

Re: Water Heater when Away from Coach

Reply #11 –
I always turn my aquahot off unless I need it for heating. I'm thinking why worry about it just shut it off. Especially if I leave my dog in the coach while I do something else. If the coach burns down while I'm gone and he's with me I'm insured for that, no replacing him though.
But if you leave it on chances are it won't matter.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired