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06-05-2019, 04:42 PM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Aurora
Posts: 45
M.O.C. #22108
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Water heater on full time?
Fairly embarrassed to ask this simple question, but do you fellow full timers leave your water heater on all of the time? We have been in Dickinson, Texas now for our first month of full timing and have left it on. Is this wrong? Are we shortening its life? What are the risks on doing this. We have it on electricity. Never gave it any thought until we received our first electrical bill. It wasn’t outrageous but will when the heat that is known as Texas wraps its arms arounds us.
Thanks for your input or opinion.. just made me 🤔
Dirk
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06-05-2019, 04:49 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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We've full timed for the last 9 years and are usually in areas hot enouth to need our third AC (all three are running right now). We have always left our water heater on electric all the time and never had a problem. When we boondock and have it on propane we do turn it off after use, but that is to save propane.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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06-05-2019, 04:50 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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Our Water heater, Fridge is on 24/7/365 and has been on both our Montana's since 2006. In extremely hot weather the electric bill is a throat clutcher as these Montana's may be well insulated by RV standards but hold on for the really hot weather.
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06-05-2019, 05:12 PM
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#4
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Established Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Aurora
Posts: 45
M.O.C. #22108
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Thank you guys for the quick response. Glad to hear premature wear is not an issue. Now I can move on and ponder other items... like how much reflective silver bubble wrap I can install on this RV. Like behind the residential fridge if it is facing West.
__________________
2019 Monty 3931FB legacy slate
2018 Ram 3500 DRW 8’ bed 3.73 gears
Dickinson, TX Full Timers
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06-05-2019, 08:39 PM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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You won't believe how much additional insulation you can install. With all the cabinets, behind the TV Etc. The places are endless.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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06-05-2019, 09:57 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,697
M.O.C. #12947
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Livin salty
Thank you guys for the quick response. Glad to hear premature wear is not an issue. Now I can move on and ponder other items... like how much reflective silver bubble wrap I can install on this RV. Like behind the residential fridge if it is facing West.
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You may not want to pack insulation behind any fridge as it reduces airflow which acts to cool the fridge. You should look at the specs of whatever fridge you have to check on required clearances. You would be better of hanging a tarp away from the surface of the outside of the slide to keep the sun off of it while allowing airflow.
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Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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06-06-2019, 10:06 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Grand Rapids
Posts: 1,896
M.O.C. #9561
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you can keep it on, no problem other than the cost.
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06-06-2019, 03:28 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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Been full timing almost 9 years and we never turn ours off except when moving.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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06-19-2019, 02:59 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SWFL
Posts: 964
M.O.C. #17801
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I have a habit of turning it off at bedtime and also when we leave for more than a couple hours.
__________________
2016 Montana 3711FL
2005 Ford F350, 6.0 diesel, short bed
Demco Hitchiker Auto Slide hitch
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06-19-2019, 03:10 PM
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#10
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Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Sandersville
Posts: 19
M.O.C. #20350
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I am not a full timer, but I have found the water heats up in minutes so I leave mine off until I need it.
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06-19-2019, 04:18 PM
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#11
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Established Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: MADISON
Posts: 41
M.O.C. #19296
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Full-timing since 2010; the water heater is only off when we're moving. Or when I forget to turn it back on until one of us is in the shower the morning after a drive... "HONEY TURN ON THE HOT WATER!! @^#&%#"
I do recommend checking the anode rod at least once a year; we do it when we sanitize the fresh water system. I use a small hose wand to help flush out the "sand" (actually magnesium salts mostly) that accumulates in the bottom of the heater reservoir over time.
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06-19-2019, 08:31 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
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I well agree with rohrmann about NOT putting silver bubble wrap behind the fridge if it is a gas absorption kind and to a lesser degree residential type. Remember, the silver sheets not only keep heat out, but at the same time keep heat in as they act both ways. I see you have a residential fridge, but owners with gas absorption fridges probably will ponder your thoughts as well.
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06-20-2019, 06:19 AM
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#13
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Livermore
Posts: 492
M.O.C. #17391
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I have a 03 so I don't think mine runs on electric. I leave mine on all the time.Cheaper to keep water hot than to keep having to reheat water that is now cold. When I don't run the heater my bottle lasts a long time. I only have the 7 gallon bottle. I also leave it on when I am on the road between campgrounds when traveling.
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06-20-2019, 07:39 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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Our water heaters are on all the time we switch back and forth to propane occasionally to make sure all is working correctly. 2 Montanas since 2006 over 130K miles and we are long timers never a problem/
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06-20-2019, 09:33 AM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Lake Havasu City AZ.
Posts: 1,811
M.O.C. #10552
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Yep mine is on all the time except for travel.
__________________
Wayne and Ann Moore
2015 Ford F-350 King Ranch
Firestone air bags, bed saver.
Add 40 GAL tank in bed.
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06-24-2019, 01:33 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Northville, NY
Posts: 807
M.O.C. #21158
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we full time 5 to 6 months each year (snowbirds) we leave it on almost all the time except for travel. I leave both elec. and gas switched on so if DW gets the first shower (she thinks she's home) the gas recovers faster and I still get hot water.
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Jim B
2017 Lariat F-350 FX4, CC, SB, 6.7 PSD 4WD
2018 MONTY 3731FL, at our private winter site in GA
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06-24-2019, 02:11 PM
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#17
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: owen sound
Posts: 491
M.O.C. #17566
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While in Florida for 5 months in the winter we had been leaving our hot water tank on all the time. We had some fairly high power bills compared to neighbors so we experimented and started turning off the hot water tank after our morning showers. Water stayed hot enough to do dish's after evening supper. When we get up in the morning I flip on the hot water while having a coffee and its good to go for both our showers. We then give it a half hour or so and then flip the switch off... The power bills went down about 25 - 30 bucks a month... Was eye opening but then again these things have two big elements, not sure of the wattage but they must be pretty heavy as it don't take long to heat the 12 gallons or so
...
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06-24-2019, 05:22 PM
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#18
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sebring
Posts: 3,658
M.O.C. #9969
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Deleted
__________________
Michelle & Ann
2018 Chevy 3500HD High Country DRW 4X4 Crew Cab w/Duramax/Allison, Formally 2010 Montana 2955RL, Now Loaded 2016 SOB, Mor/ryde IS, Disc Brakes & Pin Box, Comfort Ride Hitch, Sailun 17.5 Tires.
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06-24-2019, 05:26 PM
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#19
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: owen sound
Posts: 491
M.O.C. #17566
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Mine has two........ just sayin........
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02-07-2020, 07:04 AM
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#20
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Established Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: HAMMOND
Posts: 29
M.O.C. #18015
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Turn on hot water in morning when needed
I agree with Speedster100....no need to leave the hot water heater on all the time. It gets expensive, so we turn it on in the morning (electric only) and off again after showering. The water is still hot enough for washing dishes that evening. Have been doing it this way for the past 4 years without any issues.
__________________
Wisconsin resident (Retired)
6/6 Winter Texan (South Padre Island)
2018 Montana 3950BR
2013 Chevy Silverado 3500HD Duramax DRW
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