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Old 06-05-2019, 04:42 PM   #1
Livin salty
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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 🤔
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Old 06-05-2019, 04:49 PM   #2
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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.
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Old 06-05-2019, 04:50 PM   #3
richfaa
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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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Old 06-05-2019, 05:12 PM   #4
Livin salty
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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.
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Old 06-05-2019, 08:39 PM   #5
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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.
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Old 06-05-2019, 09:57 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Livin salty View Post
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.

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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Old 06-06-2019, 10:06 AM   #7
mazboy
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you can keep it on, no problem other than the cost.
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Old 06-06-2019, 03:28 PM   #8
WeBeFulltime
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Been full timing almost 9 years and we never turn ours off except when moving.
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Old 06-19-2019, 02:59 PM   #9
phillyg
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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.
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Old 06-19-2019, 03:10 PM   #10
Jcroome
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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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Old 06-19-2019, 04:18 PM   #11
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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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Old 06-19-2019, 08:31 PM   #12
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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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Old 06-20-2019, 06:19 AM   #13
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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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Old 06-20-2019, 07:39 AM   #14
richfaa
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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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Old 06-20-2019, 09:33 AM   #15
waynemoore
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Yep mine is on all the time except for travel.
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Old 06-24-2019, 01:33 PM   #16
DebNJim B
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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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Old 06-24-2019, 02:11 PM   #17
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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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Old 06-24-2019, 05:22 PM   #18
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Old 06-24-2019, 05:26 PM   #19
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Mine has two........ just sayin........
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Old 02-07-2020, 07:04 AM   #20
bheckie123
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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.
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