Tankless Water Heater precaution while camping in below freezing weather

[cg1920]

We have a 2024 Cherokee Grey Wolf and will need to be in potentially below freezing temps for several days. Is there any precaution we can take to protect the tankless water heater aside from winterizing it since our plumbing will be in use?

 

[Oaklevel]

If you are in the trailer and using the water I will assume that you will be using the heat. The biggest issue I can see is your outside water hose freezing so you might want to use your water tank and pump when the temps are below freezing.

Others will chime in.

 

[DJ252]

Check the owner's manual. It may have self protection ability.

Many will automatically periodically, fire the burner, based on temps, to protect themselves.

If that is the case, you'll want it in the plumbing loop and the switch at the heater, on.

 

[Aussieguy]

if your water heater has access via an inside cupboard...
open the cupboard door to allow better heat flow to the heater

or open the closest cupboard ... bet the heat will travel

If you are warm... water will be too

use TANK water for those realy cold nights the city hose is frozen
get a tank heater if it does not get any heat from basement area

 

[Cruzrtwdgt]

We don't camp typically with extended freezing temps but Ive thought about this a lot since I do for a water plant. The Furrion tankless has a drain, a filter, and a flow control outside. These would be susceptible to freezing. I've thought of a 3' heat trace wrapped around this area. They are readily available at big box stores. I can vouch they work as I have a 100' run of potable water line feeding a brine tank and we wrapped it with a 150' run of heat trace and wrapped it with insulation.

 

[RGB1]

Check your owner’s manual, but our tankless water heater has freeze protection built in, as long as you have 12 volt power, LP gas, and the heater is turned on. Minus any of those three conditions, you would be at risk and need to drain it. Since you didn’t mention the brand heater you have, check your manual to be sure. Our’s has been fine down into single digit temps, without it getting above freezing during the day.

 

[Russ1002]

We have a 2024 Cherokee Grey Wolf and will need to be in potentially below freezing temps for several days. Is there any precaution we can take to protect the tankless water heater aside from winterizing it since our plumbing will be in use?

I have a 2023 gray wolf 23mkbl. I was in the Florida panhandle this year for the ice storm. Temps were down to 24° at night. I was also concerned, but in the owners manual, it says that there is a freezing protection built in and when did Tim get below 42° the heater turns on and runs for about six minutes then off for 15 minutes after I read this, I heard it come on and go off. Everything was good.
Russ

 

[dave neiser]

A tankless water heater running for six minutes without water flow would boil the water and blow up.

 

[DJ252]

A tankless water heater running for six minutes without water flow would boil the water and blow up.

There is a switch on the heater for that.

 

[GolfingDave]

There is a switch on the heater for that.

And a pressure relief valve.

 

[llr2800]

A tankless water heater running for six minutes without water flow would boil the water and blow up.

I have no idea the run time, however since the on demand can adjust the flame based on flow and incoming temperature, I would think a longer low burn would be better to spread the heat out more

 

[NMWildcat]

You really need to read your owners manual and/or call the manufacturer to ask about winter use specifics. Listening to guesses and folks saying it will blow up is not helpful.

We use our Girard gen1 on demand in freezing weather often. It comes with a winter use device (WUD). The manual says that to enable this I need to have the unit turned on and provide 12v power, water pressure (usually pump), and propane. When the temp drops, a thermostat turns the unit on for a few minutes. The water is returned from the water heater back to the fresh tank via a return line from the winter use device. Works perfectly.

 

[DJ252]

The water is returned from the water heater back to the fresh tank via a return line from the winter use device. Works perfectly.

Hmmm.
Ours is a Girard but perhaps a different version. It does have the winter protection system but no special line going to the fresh tank.

 

[NMWildcat]

Mine is the very first version WSGH-1 installed in 2011. The WUD is a solenoid/valve that tees off the output line and when the valve opens during cold weather, the output goes into the teed line and back to the fresh tank. I don't see that device on your output line.

Many things have changed in the more recent Girard versions. My version has no way to drain or clean the copper tubes. In fact, I will be replacing our Girard with a Fogatti sometime this year. The copper lines surrounding the heater stack have become clogged enough (causing low flow) that during the summer we can no longer get the water cool enough to use. And if we introduce cold water, it just cycles between scalding and frigid. During the winter it is perfect!

Time for an upgrade!!!