Water Heater: electric or propane

[RVFamily5]

Last week we stayed at a campground and were hooked up to the E/W/S. We have the option of switching our water heater to electric and did not know if we should do that and leave it on for the couple of days we were there or stay on the propane for heating the water? The electric comes with the site, so makes me think we should be switching to that. Any thoughts?

[buskirk21921]

Most of the time I use the electric and save money on Propane. If you need hot water fast, you can start on propane and then switch to electric. I figure that I am paying for the Electric site so may as well use that. Hope this helps.

[RoadTrip]

x2 we do electric and only turn on the propane when we actually are showering in order to heat the water faster. And actually, we only turn on the propane part of the heater as a supplement when the temps are low.

[RVFamily5]

So if I go to electric for the hot water heater, I can just leave that on all weekend and through the night to have hot water as needed, right?

[buskirk21921]

Originally Posted by RVFamily5

So if I go to electric for the hot water heater, I can just leave that on all weekend and through the night to have hot water as needed, right?

Yes, you are correct.

[RoadTrip]

Originally Posted by RVFamily5

So if I go to electric for the hot water heater, I can just leave that on all weekend and through the night to have hot water as needed, right?

yep.

here's teh quick intro to hot water on an RV:
1) RV water heaters have two heating elements; electric and propane
2) elements can be used in any combo - elect/no prop; no elect/prop; both
3) propane heats quicker 20-30 min, elect slower at an hourish or more
4)ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS turn on your water BEFORE turning on the electric element
5) electric elements burn out in 8 seconds if turned on with no water in the water heater

yep...that about covers it.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by RVFamily5

Last week we stayed at a campground and were hooked up to the E/W/S. We have the option of switching our water heater to electric and did not know if we should do that and leave it on for the couple of days we were there or stay on the propane for heating the water? The electric comes with the site, so makes me think we should be switching to that. Any thoughts?

Using electric will save propane, but not much. We camped 3+ months in FL using both and the propane gage hardly moved and we use the stove and outside bbq grill. Been the same the last 4 yrs. We filled the 2-30# tanks on our old trailer when we got it new and snowbirded 4 yrs and didn't use a 30# cyl in the 4 yrs. Frig was on propane also. The furnace is the BIG user. It will suck a 30# cyl dry in 4 or 5 days using it when temps get down in the 30's & 40's.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by RVFamily5

So if I go to electric for the hot water heater, I can just leave that on all weekend and through the night to have hot water as needed, right?

One more thing to keep in mind is that the electric water heater element does use a few amps to run (can average 9-13 amps). If you have a 30 amp RV, you have to be mindful of how many amps you are using as you are limited to basically 30 amps total.

If you start tripping breakers because of overload, just turn the water heater element off. You may need to when running microwaves, air-conditioning, etc.

[RVFamily5]

Great tips! Thanks.

[Mountainmanbob]

Originally Posted by RoadTrip

1) RV water heaters have two heating elements; electric and propane

but
the propane is not an element
just a hot flame

Mountainman

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by wmtire

One more thing to keep in mind is that the electric water heater element does use a few amps to run (can average 9-13 amps). If you have a 30 amp RV, you have to be mindful of how many amps you are using as you are limited to basically 30 amps total.

If you start tripping breakers because of overload, just turn the water heater element off. You may need to when running microwaves, air-conditioning, etc.

With a baby and a bottle heater, we blew the breaker on a 30amp site in Florida a few times before I finally switched to propane (and left it) for the water heater.

[RoadTrip]

Originally Posted by Mountainmanbob

but
the propane is not an element
just a hot flame

Mountainman

ummm, can I claim typo?

[RamblerGuy]

Originally Posted by RoadTrip

yep.

here's teh quick intro to hot water on an RV:
1) RV water heaters have two heating elements; electric and propane
2) elements can be used in any combo - elect/no prop; no elect/prop; both
3) propane heats quicker 20-30 min, elect slower at an hourish or more
4)ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS turn on your water BEFORE turning on the electric element
5) electric elements burn out in 8 seconds if turned on with no water in the water heater

yep...that about covers it.

To add a little:
4A) Always open a hot water faucet and the water tank relief valve to be sure the tank is full of water. You can have water pressure but still have air trapped in the tank.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by RoadTrip

yep.

here's teh quick intro to hot water on an RV:
1) RV water heaters have two heating elements; electric and propane
2) elements can be used in any combo - elect/no prop; no elect/prop; both
3) propane heats quicker 20-30 min, elect slower at an hourish or more
4)ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS turn on your water BEFORE turning on the electric element
5) electric elements burn out in 8 seconds if turned on with no water in the water heater

yep...that about covers it.

1a) not All rv water heaters are both propane/electric. Some may be propane Only. No electric.

Turbs

[chevy2500]

hOW WELL I KNOW YOU NEED TO FILL THE WATER HEATER FIST BEFORE POWER. I DID NOT REALIZE I HAD IT IN BY-PASS MODE TURNED ON WATER HAD WATER RUNNING FROM BOTH HOT SIDE AND COLD BUT THE HOT WOULD NOT HEAT. YEAP, YOU GUESSED IT BURNED UP A HEATING ELEMENT REAL QUICK...

"LESSONS EARNED ARE LESSONS LEARNED"

[ependydad]

chevy2500, I almost did this. I got saved by a water leak and propane smell at the start of my last trip- so we had neither until the nearest RV dealer's owner came out to do some mobile RV repair for us. I knew to check for water and even tried the overflow/pressure release valve, just didn't know what I was doing. Fortunately, I hadn't turned it on before he found my winterization valves were still set to bypass the water heater. (I never would have guessed anything would come out of the hot side of the faucets like that - I thought they'd be empty. But, makes sense since you normally put antifreeze into them.) I got lucky.

[chevy2500]

good for you. I will remember this time. Planning to de-winterize camper this weekend and head out for a fews days next week with the wife!

[dretired]

We use...electric at county & state parks koas.. its included with the dailey rate.. propane when snowbirding in Florida for 3 + months.. where.. WE.. pay a monthly electric meter rate.. and... camping world sells propane at $1.99 a gallon on tuesday and wednesdays

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by chevy2500

good for you. I will remember this time. Planning to de-winterize camper this weekend and head out for a fews days next week with the wife!

I posted a glowing review of them. He saved my tush on that, the water leak and helped me figure out the propane smell. I definitely got lucky.

There are a few things I definitely won't forget - 1) how to really know my HW tank is full; 2) to double and triple-check the winterization valves; 3) to properly winterize my toilets.

[Oaklevel]

Our current trailer is the first trailer we have owned that has a water heater that is both electric & propane..... I tend to leave it on gas just habit... It uses so little gas that I don't tend to think about it. If it were not for the furnace just using gas for the stove, grill, oven & water heater I usually only refill the tanks once a season.... Didn't think about the 30A service think I may just leave it on gas......