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06-10-2012, 08:00 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 38
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1st step - Testing appliances -Hot Water Doubts
Hi friends,
As a newbie in Travel Trailers, I´m testing all the appliances of the Shamrock (17ft). Radio, water, battery, fridge, shower and A/C, just to prepare the next adventure . Everything seems to work properly, just have some doubts about the water heater:
a) Took me a lot to turn it on....do have any tips to speed it up?
b) Any other tip or basics about the hot water operation? How long the heater takes to heat the water - really hot -?
c) Wich of the fuacets is the hot water in the sink, shower and bath? (stupid question)
By patov6 at 2012-06-10
By patov6 at 2012-06-10
By patov6 at 2012-06-10
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06-10-2012, 08:06 PM
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#2
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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Explain a lot to turn on?
I just fill tank while relief valve is open unless already full then I turn on electric and gas at the same time.
Hot water taps are the same in your camper as your house.
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06-10-2012, 08:15 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by f1100turbo
Explain a lot to turn on?
I just fill tank while relief valve is open unless already full then I turn on electric and gas at the same time.
Hot water taps are the same in your camper as your house.
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I kept pressing the pilot enough time and not feel the gas coming out. Finally, after 20 minutes playing, the flame appeared ...
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06-10-2012, 08:59 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Roanoke, VA
Posts: 537
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For getting LP gas to the hot water heater I turn on my LP (open the valve at the tank) and go to the stove/range on the counter. Light a burner and let it burn for a few seconds. That usually gets any air out of the line prior to shifting the refrigerator to LP or getting the water heater lit off on LP. If you are having problems getting the water heater to light off I'd take a look at the burner tube and see if a spider or other critter has taken up residence. Spider just love LP burner tubes for some strange reason.
Hope this helps.
Chris in Virginia
__________________
2006 Sunseeker 3100SS/LTD
2008 Smart Passion Cabriolet TOAD
1986 Honda Helix (Original owner)
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06-10-2012, 09:56 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vasnipe
For getting LP gas to the hot water heater I turn on my LP (open the valve at the tank) and go to the stove/range on the counter. Light a burner and let it burn for a few seconds. That usually gets any air out of the line prior to shifting the refrigerator to LP or getting the water heater lit off on LP. If you are having problems getting the water heater to light off I'd take a look at the burner tube and see if a spider or other critter has taken up residence. Spider just love LP burner tubes for some strange reason.
Hope this helps.
Chris in Virginia
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Ok Chris, nice tip
How long before you turn the shower you must turn on the heater?
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06-10-2012, 10:26 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 855
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Once you are parked and setup, start the water heater and leave it on. That way you have hot water when needed. Basically just like at home, except on a smaller scale.
One thing you will also learn, start the refer 48 hours before you want to leave, 24 hours prior, load it. Day of departure, hook up and pull out. I turn on my gas and purge the lines by lighting the burners on the stove at the same time i start the refer. That way it will not flame out while traveling.
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06-10-2012, 10:27 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Roanoke, VA
Posts: 537
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When we arrive at the campground and after city water and power are connected I turn the hot water heater on. I use both LP gas and the electric element (my unit has both). From cold start it takes about 1/2 hour (maybe less) to warm the hot water tank enough to take a shower or wash dishes.
By the way, if you ever have problems with the refrigerator lighting off on LP check its burner tube for spiders and critters. Vacuum cleaners help out a lot with cleaning them out. That little check on the refrigerator and hot water heater can save a service call/visit.
Chris in Virginia
__________________
2006 Sunseeker 3100SS/LTD
2008 Smart Passion Cabriolet TOAD
1986 Honda Helix (Original owner)
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06-11-2012, 02:03 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donn
Once you are parked and setup, start the water heater and leave it on. That way you have hot water when needed. Basically just like at home, except on a smaller scale.
One thing you will also learn, start the refer 48 hours before you want to leave, 24 hours prior, load it. Day of departure, hook up and pull out. I turn on my gas and purge the lines by lighting the burners on the stove at the same time i start the refer. That way it will not flame out while traveling.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vasnipe
When we arrive at the campground and after city water and power are connected I turn the hot water heater on. I use both LP gas and the electric element (my unit has both). From cold start it takes about 1/2 hour (maybe less) to warm the hot water tank enough to take a shower or wash dishes.
By the way, if you ever have problems with the refrigerator lighting off on LP check its burner tube for spiders and critters. Vacuum cleaners help out a lot with cleaning them out. That little check on the refrigerator and hot water heater can save a service call/visit.
Chris in Virginia
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Thanks Don and Chris for the valuable comments, I will put them on practice
I always had the feeling that is not secure to travel with the gas lighted. What do you think about that, from the safety point of view of course?
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06-11-2012, 07:26 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Roanoke, VA
Posts: 537
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Travel with hot water heater lighted
Traveling with the hot water heater lighted is not recommended. The flame is not protected like the refrigerator and would likely blow out. So you should turn it off prior to pulling out from your camp site. It is OK to travel with the refrigerator on gas, just be careful about refueling stops. Don't worry about the water in the heater getting cold quickly, those heaters are well insulated and it would not long to get up to temperature once you get to your next destination.
Glad to help out.
Chris in Virginia
__________________
2006 Sunseeker 3100SS/LTD
2008 Smart Passion Cabriolet TOAD
1986 Honda Helix (Original owner)
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06-11-2012, 07:38 PM
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#10
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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We leave the water heater on while traveling until we get home. Then I will shut it off after DW gets her things done in case she needs hot water. Once she is finished, I will shut both elec & propane off, open the relief valve and pull the anode. We don't camp every weekend and usually only about every 4-6 wks and will install the anode, turn the pump on, fill the wh and then turn both gas & elec on again. May not be the recommended way, but the way we've been doing it for years.
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06-11-2012, 07:40 PM
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#11
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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We leave ours on while travelling as well.
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06-11-2012, 08:12 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,031
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The new DSI water heater will work while traveling, the same goes for the refrigerator. The old style appliances has pilot lights that would get blown out while driving.
__________________
Terry and Janet
2008 3001W Windjammer
2007 Ford F150
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06-11-2012, 08:35 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vasnipe
Traveling with the hot water heater lighted is not recommended. The flame is not protected like the refrigerator and would likely blow out. So you should turn it off prior to pulling out from your camp site. It is OK to travel with the refrigerator on gas, just be careful about refueling stops. Don't worry about the water in the heater getting cold quickly, those heaters are well insulated and it would not long to get up to temperature once you get to your next destination.
Glad to help out.
Chris in Virginia
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Thanks Chris, I will take care to travel with the hot water turned off. The good news is that we are able to travel with the refrigerator turned on.
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06-12-2012, 01:50 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 71
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My old popup's WH had a pilot that had to be pressed down while you lit it. Even after bleeding the lines as others have described it still took forever for it to light. I cut a old piece of PVC pipe so that I could wedge it in to hold the pilot knob down while I held the lighter to the pilot burner. Didn't make it light faster but it sure was easier on my hand.
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Michael, Cristina, Anthony, Cocoa Puff, Cookie, Blossom, Tosca, & Heidi
2012 Rockwood Roo 21SS
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06-12-2012, 03:50 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by newtsx3
My old popup's WH had a pilot that had to be pressed down while you lit it. Even after bleeding the lines as others have described it still took forever for it to light. I cut a old piece of PVC pipe so that I could wedge it in to hold the pilot knob down while I held the lighter to the pilot burner. Didn't make it light faster but it sure was easier on my hand.
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hehehe...nice idea
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