Water heater gas or electric

[sailingsuppo46]

All,

I have been heating the water in the Water Heater using gas only. I have not used the electric source as of yet and was wondering if there is a benefit using one over the other. I have heard that some people use both to regenerate faster. I am wondering if gas only will wear out the Water Heater faster? Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks,

[NWJeeper]

Use the parks power when available rather than your propane. Use both if taking showers=quicker recovery time. No using gas will not wear out the water heater.

[08flagvlite]

X2 on that- use the park's AC power; your'e paying for it anyway! Save your gas for heating and cooking, IMO. Randy

[MikeA]

I agree. Except during the occasional power outage the only time our water heater was burning gas was to check it out in the spring.

MIke

[milzat]

I figure, I'm already paying a set price for electricity, why no heat the water with the heating element.

[kvtaylor]

We use electric in the campgrounds (since were paying for the electricty) unless the power is two low. Low voltage can burn out the board in the water heater along with other appliances in you RV. we use gas when were on the road, campgrounds and at Rallys that have no hookups.

[christykay]

We have a 2004 sunseeker..with no manual..we were wondering if the hot water heater runs stickly on gas or can we use it with electricity.

[NWJeeper]

Hi Christy. Welcome to the forums.

To find out if you have an electric element or not you can do two things. Open your breaker panel inside the motorhome and see if you have a breaker labeled "water heater". or you can open the outside access door to the water heater and look in the lower left corner behind the gas burner pipe, you will see a small black rocker switch with on/off on it. This is for the electric element.

Make sure you have water in the water heater before turning on the electric element or it will burn out immediately

[powerboatr]

Originally Posted by NWJeeper

Use the parks power when available rather than your propane. Use both if taking showers=quicker recovery time. No using gas will not wear out the water heater.

yup x2
and at home port we have a big 100 gallon tank so i use LP over 80% of the time.
using gas will also drive off wasps trying to build nests.

[sailingsuppo46]

Hi All,
Great weekend at the KOA in Gettysburg. Water Heater worked well all weekend, but weeped on and off even after switching over to electric. Pulled my manual after I got home and found a section that specifically talked about dripping relief valves. It stated this was normal operations to reduce PSI when the WH is heating the water. Dealer said the same. Dripping is fine....flowing is not. I am in the dripping mode for now. Heading out in two weeks so I will see how it goes. Hopefully, the MFG is right.
Also, do I need to reinstall the cotter pin in the switch on the WH after I turn it off? I would think it is a safety feature to keep from burning the element should someone turn on the breaker without properly filling tank. later, j

[08flagvlite]

Hi George. I personally would leave that switch on, and turn the breaker on the converter panel labeled "water heater" off and on as needed from there. Much easier to access! Just remember to have water in the water heater before turning it on, and turn it off every time you unplug the power cable before leaving any campgrounds. Randy

[sailingsuppo46]

Randy,

Thanks. That sounds good to me. I figure that little cotter pin will be lost by the time I head out next week. Thanks again, George