Running Hot Water Heater while traveling....

[Cougguy]

is it OK to have the propane hot water heater and the propane furnace turned on while traveling? My gut tells me that an open flame while speeding down the highway is not good idea but I haven't seen any cautions in the op manuals.

thanks

[Los Popes]

The only propane item I have on while driving is the refrigerator. Occasionally I will light the pilot for the oven if my wife needs it to cook a pizza or something like that while we are driving.

Furnace and water heater are always off.

[Herk7769]

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ving-6728.html

Not again!

[Los Popes]

No kidding - I just finished reading the entire other thread - dead horse and all! I had already replied to this one before going over to the other one.

[kvtaylor]

We also never run the hot water on gas when were traveling. we even turn off the electricty switch. If i want hot water, i turn on the water pump first before I turn on the gas to make sure the hot heater has water. Normally, the water heater is hot enough so i don't have to turn on the gas.

[Radio]

The warm up time for furnace and water heater are minutes. The cool down time for refrigerators is a day if full of food, and the food may spoil as well. That's why people will "risk" running the fridge but not the furnace or water heater. Besides, should the WH become drained while traveling you could ruin it.

I once read where a lady likes to stop an hour before destination and turn on the furnace (when weather appropriate) but we run in and out so much during set up the camper would be cold again anyway.

[rockwood06]

I have not had any reason to travel with the hot water heater on. The hot water heater is what is called "a quick recovery unit" I would say the water is hot within 30 mins....Is there anyone that needs the hot water heater on while traveling? if so what's the reason?

[NWJeeper]

Never run the water heater while driving. My dad's '85 Winnebago Chieftan had a great feature though that I can't understand why they don't offer anymore. There was a coolant hose from the engine that ran back to the water heater and through a heat exchanger installed in the water heater. The engine water would heat the water in the water heater while you drive. There was also a heater core under the rear bed that the same hose ran through with a control to bypass it and there was a fan mounted behind it. This would heat the back of the motorhome just like the heater in the front of the rig does while traveling. The rig is over 25 years old now and there has never been a problem with these items. I suppose it was just to costly to do but they sure worked well.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by NWJeeper

My dad's '85 Winnebago Chieftan had a great feature though that I can't understand why they don't offer anymore. There was a coolant hose from the engine that ran back to the water heater and through a heat exchanger installed in the water heater. The engine water would heat the water in the water heater while you drive.

I can understand why they don't do something like that anymore. A tiny pinhole in the heat exchanger, a pressurized engine cooling system, and a drop in pressure in the camper water system and there is going to be antifreeze in the hot water system. I wouldn't want to wash my dishes, or take a shower with that possibility.

[VTX Al]

Originally Posted by Cougguy

is it OK to have the propane hot water heater and the propane furnace turned on while traveling? My gut tells me that an open flame while speeding down the highway is not good idea but I haven't seen any cautions in the op manuals.

thanks

I agree with other follow-ups to this post. Firstly, don't think that it is a good idea at all. And secondly, cannot see any possible reason for doing it. Hot water heater really only takes a short time to produce at least some hot water and furnace starts producing warm air almost immediately. Total waste of propane IMHO

...VTX-AL

[LadyWindrider]

Since no one else has mentioned it, i will. If you want hot water while traveling, run the heater before you leave out, then shut it off for travel. The water should be warm 4 or 5 hours later, as the newer heaters have decent insulation. just because you turn off the heater, doesn't mean the water is instantly cold. You should still have access to 5 gallons hours later. I agree with most, would never run water heater while traveling. Our water heater will heat 6 gallons before I can get the trailer level anyway.

[Hokiehall]

I am not sure why you would want to run the furnace or water heater. In my annual test of my water heater, the water was warming up within 10 minutes. The furnace was putting out warm air in about five so there is no need to run either while traveling.

[tjk73]

Is it possible to just install a point of use water heater? For example: Electric Tankless Water Heaters, Point of Use and Instantaneous Electric Hot Water Heaters

Tom