Tankless water heaters

[Ozz]

I remember a Forum member that had one installed, I wonder how he likes it? Can't remember his name, but I remember his picture.
Has anyone had experience with one IN THEIR RV?
I would think the initial price and install-related costs would negate any savings on operating costs, and hey, we are all supposed to be retired, so waiting a time between showers should be no biggie.
My thought is that it can be hard enough to find a competent Rv service person for even the easiest task, let alone the high service charge, troubleshooting and then the repair parts needed can be a major problem.
Just axing..

[K0LCB]

I have one in my S & B. It works good, I think I a RV they use a lot of LP.

[Tom S.]

The topic was talked about during the plant tour last year at the fall rally. Besides the amount of propane used, it was also said that if you camped in colder weather, getting hot water could be a problem. Ground water in Michigan, even during the winter averages 54 degrees but water running though an outside hose or from your water tank can be a lot colder and unless you have a large tankless heater, it won't get very hot. They also stated that electric heat would not work, the system would have to rely on gas.

Having said this, was this coming from a manufacturer who didn't want to switch over due to costs and possible warranty issues, or based on real issues. I got the feeling they were sincere on the issues.

[Ozz]

Who was the gent that had it put in, like maybe 2 years ago? Nice looking guy, glasses, dark hair white shirt in sig..
CRS, can't recall.. Mallory, Mike.. something..

[DQDick]

About a month ago I was doing a program at an upscale RV park and just before it started a couple of guys in the second row were discussing one of them removing theirs from their new class A. The other two gentlemen wanted the name of the person he had do it so they could also have theirs removed. I didn't hear the reason they were unhappy with them and didn't get to talk to them afterwards, but it's not the incoming water temps. Here in Yuma that's not much of an issue.

[WaltBennett]

I heard that same answer at the rally, but couldn't quite believe it all. True that water coming through a hose will be colder at first than ground water, but once the first part is through, it'll be the same temp. Thing is, the tankless heaters that work well are gas and not electric. Since we leave the gas off except when taking showers when hooked to shore power, that means no hot water unless using gas all the time. I tend to think that means it's pretty much a wash between the two kinds.

I looked into tankless for our S&B a while back, and everything looked good until it got to cost - we're all electric and would have had to get a big propane tank & plumbing as well as the heater(s). Break even point would have been about ten years out and we're not expecting to be here much more than five more years.

[kdeiss]

While we are talking Hot Water Tanks I have a Atwood GE16 Ext unit in our SOB destination trailer. It is a 10 gal unit that supplies an equivalent of 16 Gals. It heats water to a higher temp when their is a demand a mixer valve allows cold water to blend and reduce temp to normal. This is not a cost savings but supplies additional Hot water volume. With the combination of the tank and Oxygenic Shower head we never run out of water

[Ozz]

quote:Originally posted by kdeiss

While we are talking Hot Water Tanks I have a Atwood GE16 Ext unit in our SOB destination trailer. It is a 10 gal unit that supplies an equivalent of 16 Gals. It heats water to a higher temp when their is a demand a mixer valve allows cold water to blend and reduce temp to normal. This is not a cost savings but supplies additional Hot water volume. With the combination of the tank and Oxygenic Shower head we never run out of water

That is a unique feature, have heard of it in residential units, didn't know RV's had it. I would want a switch, or controller so it would not stay on hi heat all the time, but I do like the option.

[kdeiss]

Ozz will fit in the same space as a normal Atwood. Tech tells me mixer valve is expensive to replace.

[TLightning]

I'm certainly no expert, but have a friend with one in a diesel Class A. I helped him do some routine maintenance...here's what I recall:

- It not only provides hot water, but heat as well...there is no water heater and no furnace. I guess you could get one for water only.
- His hardware takes up one entire storage bay.
- This one has an electric element and a diesel burner...that uses diesel fuel, not propane.
- The electric element is okay for all hot water functions up to showers. One shower is okay, but for more, the diesel burner must be turned on.
- Each heat vent inside requires two water lines and two small fans...don't know how they work.
- It works like a Rinnai, and does provide continuous hot water...with the diesel burner on.
- It is supposed to be serviced each year...fuel filter, diesel nozzle and burner can.
- His came on his coach, he did not order it. His guess as to a retail price is $10k.

[Ozz]

Wow Tom, I can't imagine the skillset it would require to do all the work to a rig like that. I imagine this system would really be prone to have 'issues' from time to time. I guess even if you have the funds to own a rig like that, the PITA of keeping all systems functional would be tiresome.
Thanks for the input on their system.

[Tom S.]

quote:Originally posted by WaltBennett

I heard that same answer at the rally, but couldn't quite believe it all. True that water coming through a hose will be colder at first than ground water, but once the first part is through, it'll be the same temp. Thing is, the tankless heaters that work well are gas and not electric. Since we leave the gas off except when taking showers when hooked to shore power, that means no hot water unless using gas all the time. I tend to think that means it's pretty much a wash between the two kinds.

I looked into tankless for our S&B a while back, and everything looked good until it got to cost - we're all electric and would have had to get a big propane tank & plumbing as well as the heater(s). Break even point would have been about ten years out and we're not expecting to be here much more than five more years.

I think that depends on a lot of variables, such as how much hose you have outside and ambient air temp. If you have a 50 foot coil of hose and the outside temp is 40 degrees, the hose is going to act something like a radiator, at least until the water brings the hose up to ground water temps. But even then, the on demand system has to take the water from ground temp to shower temps, where as a tank heater has a buffer, since you are adding the ground water temp to water that is already heated.

Again, I've no experience with them personally, I can only repeat what the factory guy told us.

[Geostef]

any new comments on this thread? Many years have passed

[JandC]

TLightning described the "other" system that is available for RVs. It is generally referred to under two different names, Oasis or Aqua. But they are similar systems and are in most larger DP rigs.

My SOB is all electric, no propane. My Oasis system can best be described as being similar to an old fashion hot water boiler. For the furnace it has pipes running to 6 different locations. Each location has an electric fan behind a grate where the heating element is. In addition heat is supplied to the underneath storage areas. Plumbing running through the Oasis also supplies "on demand" hot water.

There are three settings depending on how cold of an area you are in. High 30's and above you can keep it on electric #1 and #2. If the temps are consistently mid 30's and way below that you set it on diesel burn. Currently we have experienced evening temps in the low 40's and both of us can take long showers back to back while the washing machine is going and there has not been an issue, all with it set on #1 electric.

So Geostef, IMHO as the years pass I think more and more RVs are going to go to all electric. With this type of Oasis or Aqua system you replace a furnace and hot water heater. Install a induction stove top and a decent convection/microwave and no more propane needed.

[bshgto]

way way cheaper, easier, and fool proof. Just ad a stand alone 10 gal. electric hot water heater in any available space and feed it into the propane hot water heater you`ll have more than you can use with both. You could even run it off a heavy duty extension cord to the pedestal and plug it into the 110 volt outlet if your worried about your 50 amp limit.

[dieselguy]

Talked to a Forest River rep at the Wichita RV show this evening about tank less HW as his brand was all over tank less HW in some of their lines the last couple of years. He indicated FR is backing away from automatically installing them in some of FR lines of products and having it an available option. He said they just weren't working out as planned ... too many unhappy owners. We have a 10 gal gas/electric HW and have never had an issue with no hot water. Put it on both gas and electric when the need arises ... it recovers very well. Yeah I know ... we don't full time ... however, I never was one to stand in the shower till I got all pruney. Takes a lot of energy to grow back those skin cells.

[MAMalody]

I have had a tankless system in two Montana and would not go without it. When we got our new 3790RD in September 2015 I had a couple of major addons, disk brakes and the tankless water system were two of the most important. The new tankless system is better than my older one. It does have an adjustable dial temp guage. It is not temperature specific.. If we have it on high in the summer, the water is too hot. We have to turn it down to about medium. During the winter we do need to have it on high or close to it.

For winter use it does have anti freeze protection. Since we are full-time this is critical because it can get below zero where we live.

I have not noticed any significant increase in my propane usage. I thought it would be very noticeable and was worried about that. Not a problem though. This is good because my wife likes long showers.

The swap out time on my old unit was a little over two hours. It was the first unit the tech had installed, however.

I would recommend this to anyone. We love it.

[WeBeFulltime]

Originally Posted by MAMalody

I have had a tankless system in two Montana and would not go without it. When we got our new 3790RD in September 2015 I had a couple of major addons, disk brakes and the tankless water system were two of the most important. The new tankless system is better than my older one. It does have an adjustable dial temp guage. It is not temperature specific.. If we have it on high in the summer, the water is too hot. We have to turn it down to about medium. During the winter we do need to have it on high or close to it.

For winter use it does have anti freeze protection. Since we are full-time this is critical because it can get below zero where we live.

I have not noticed any significant increase in my propane usage. I thought it would be very noticeable and was worried about that. Not a problem though. This is good because my wife likes long showers.

The swap out time on my old unit was a little over two hours. It was the first unit the tech had installed, however.

I would recommend this to anyone. We love it.

Is the Make & Model of the one you have classified information? Some of us may want to know.

[DQDick]

We've had an unusual amount of really cold weather this year and one of the folks down the road said they went several days with luke warm water at best. The water coming in was just too cold for the heater to do the job.

[RBuffordTJ]

Originally Posted by WeBeFulltime

Is the Make & Model of the one you have classified information? Some of us may want to know.

What make and model of on demand did you install?