Hot Water, Propane or Electric?

[Woodenhead]

I live in my 5er. I have a 10 gal hot water heater and like most I can run it on either electric or propane. I was running it on electric and it seemed the 10 gal was plenty of hot water for a shower. Now that it's getting cooler out and the water going into the heater is cooler it takes longer to heat it and I run out of hot water sooner (make sense?). What I'm wondering is if I start heating the water with propane will it heat faster? I realise it'll cost more to heat water with propane than it will with electricity but that's not really an issue.



Anyone have any comments?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[DavidC]

Yes the propane will heat faster. When available I use both the propane and electric at the same time. Every little bit helps.



Dave

 

[Woodenhead]

I didn't know I could do that. I thought it just switched over to propane when you shut of the power at the heater. I'll have to see if I can figure it out.



Thanks for the info.

Mike

 

[rweis]

I run mine on BOTH propane AND electric when showering. BOTH heaters will put out a whole lot of hot water. More that I can use in a long shower.



After the shower I either turn them both off, or if only kitchen requirements then electric only.



Bob Weis

 

[Todd T]

the way mine works is if you have the heater button turned on inside the propane will also burn when calling for heat. i've noticed when i first set up camp i can turn on the electric and propane buttons and the propane lights first to get the initial heat in it. it may be using both and i just cant hear the electric sizzling. i know for sure the propane always fires when its stone cold water in it even when hooked to electric.



Once to temp it seems to use the electric to keep up. I havent run out of hot water so i dont know what it does when calling for way more heat once up to temp. My guess is it'll fire both.



something you can try and let us know.

 

[jwduke]

Both works the best, I switch to electric only to save propane after the heater is hot.

 

[Woodenhead]

the way mine works is if you have the heater button turned on inside the propane will also burn when calling for heat. i've noticed when i first set up camp i can turn on the electric and propane buttons and the propane lights first to get the initial heat in it. it may be using both and i just cant hear the electric sizzling. i know for sure the propane always fires when its stone cold water in it even when hooked to electric.



Once to temp it seems to use the electric to keep up. I havent run out of hot water so i dont know what it does when calling for way more heat once up to temp. My guess is it'll fire both.



something you can try and let us know.

I'll try turning on the HTR button in the trailer. When I do that I'm pretty sure it turns on the tank heaters as well. I guess the tank heaters are on thermostats anyway so when it's warm enough they should stay off.

 

[Woodenhead]

We'll I just showered with both electric and propane burning. Took a long shower and had plenty of hot water. Let the water continue to run and waited for it to run out just to see how much longer it would last. Got tired of waiting and finally shut'er down with plenty of hot water still coming out. I think I'll do like some have mentioned and just turn on the propane when showering. Thanks for the info guys, the wifes gonna be happy with the extra shower time.



Taker easy,

Mike

 

[CCBrady]

Woodenhead, I haven't worked on a Cedar Creek, But you should have two different switchs for your waterheater elect. and your tank heaters. Unless Cedar Creek engineers are trying to help with parts sales, you don't want your tank heaters on everytime you ture on your waterheater elect. . They not only draw alot of power, but if left on in a warm climate, or with little or no water in your tanks, they can burn out or damage the tank.

 

[TowPro]

Both works the best, I switch to electric only to save propane after the heater is hot.

You can turn down the propane thermostat (on the outside of the heater) a little, then run both. This way the electric will keep it hot, but if the water temp starts to drop the propane will kick on.



My New Atwood has a mixer valve on the output. It lets them run the temps higher in the hotwater heaters but the mixer prevents scolding. They say my 10 gallon has the hot water of a 16 gallon heater.



Will R

 

[Woodenhead]

Woodenhead, I haven't worked on a Cedar Creek, But you should have two different switchs for your waterheater elect. and your tank heaters. Unless Cedar Creek engineers are trying to help with parts sales, you don't want your tank heaters on everytime you ture on your waterheater elect. . They not only draw alot of power, but if left on in a warm climate, or with little or no water in your tanks, they can burn out or damage the tank.

Time to get out the book again and see if I can figure it out. Originally I thought that's what the switch was for was for the tank heaters. I was told the tank heaters are on thermostats so they only come on when the tank gets cold enough. Maybe I'll give the dealer a call.



Thanks,

Mike

 

[JStraw]

I live out of my 5'ver 5 days per week due to my work location. For the past three years I've run on propane only. The water stays hot and I'm only filling up 1- 40lb bottle every 4 months. Seeing how it cost $20 to refill, thats only $5 monthly. One McDonalds value meal will cost ya that much.

 

[litespeed]

Rule of thumb for RVers if you are moving around a bunch or a full timer.....



If you are paying for electric (ac power), use gas hot water.....



If the electric is free, use the electric hot water to conserve your propane... ...



If you need a bunch of hot water quickly, the gas is always better. IE: having company over, parties, etc.....



AJ

 

[Woodenhead]

I've got it made where I'm at. I get free electic at the park, included with the $350/month rent. The propane comes from work anyway so it's all the same. I used only one 30 lb bottle of propane from June to Mid Oct, then it cooled down to 50s during the day and 30s at night. Burned up the second tank with the furnace in around a week. Now I keep a 60 or 100lb tank hooked up for the winter.

 

[jwduke]

You can turn down the propane thermostat (on the outside of the heater) a little, then run both. This way the electric will keep it hot, but if the water temp starts to drop the propane will kick on.



My New Atwood has a mixer valve on the output. It lets them run the temps higher in the hotwater heaters but the mixer prevents scolding. They say my 10 gallon has the hot water of a 16 gallon heater.



Will R

Thats a good idea, Will! I'll have to check my hot water heater to see if I can do that.



Only problem of running straight electric, if you have a/c on, it can be quite a draw on 30 amp service.

 

[jimnance]

When I'm on hook ups with electric included I turn the electric on first. Then, just before I shower I turn on the propane. Plenty of hot water. Just as soon as I dry off I turn the propane back off. Let the electric bring the heater back up to full operating temperature. This preserves a little propane.

 

[CCBrady]

Will R,

Tell me more about this mixer valve on you Atwood. I haven't seen this set up yet.

Chris

 

[hammersley]

OK - the real way to go is with a tankless system....

I'm sure there are others but this is what I'd recommend... ... ... .



http://www.houseneeds.com/shop/HeatingProducts/WaterHeating/rv/rv500waterheatermainpage.htm

 

[SHobbs]

Summer time I run off propane and in the winter I use electricity. I found it saves alot of gas in the winter to use for heat in the coach.

 

[GerryDrake]

Ditto

When I'm on hook ups with electric included I turn the electric on first. Then, just before I shower I turn on the propane. Plenty of hot water. Just as soon as I dry off I turn the propane back off. Let the electric bring the heater back up to full operating temperature. This preserves a little propane.

Very close to what we do. When on shore power, electric alwasys on. Gas when the first of us gets up, then gas off when second one is in the shower. Saves propane, but provides all the hot water we can use when heating with both.