I have read about them, http://www.houseneeds.com/shop/heatingproducts/waterheating/rv/rv500waterheatermainpage.htm

I don't have an rv yet but this looks interesting.

 

I looked at the PrecisionTemp website, and I haven't found any others out there yet. I've also found that Teton offers them as an option, but the price !! $1500, or something like that??? The heater itself only costs around $500 or so... oh well, I guess that's why you have to negotiate when purchasing (I hate that)...

Anyway, I really like the idea of one of these things, although I guess you'd have to be careful about taking those lingering showers - could run up the propane bill pretty quickly. I wonder though, how many of you turn off your standard RV water heater when you're set up in camp? Do you ever forget to turn it off? But wait, most of them are a combination of propane/electric, aren't they?

When we hit the road, it will be as fulltimers, with as many creature comforts/conveniences as possible.

Tim & Robyn

 

I know my better half (Fred/luvglass) said we get along fine with the standard 10 gallon water heater, and he's right to a point. I can tell you though, that if we had the "on-demand" tankless water heater, I would take longer more luxurious showers without worrying that I was using all the hot water and not saving any for him.

So if money were no object, I would get the tankless.

The PrecisionTemp 500 is only for RVs. I've also heard about the Rinnai tankless water heaters for home use. According to the PrecisionTemp website their tank fits in the space occupied by the conventional 10gal RV water heater. I don't know about in an RV, but in a home environment I can certainly see how it would save money over the long haul... water is heated only when you need it - it doesn't waste energy keeping water in the tank hot when you're not using it. Either way, I certainly expect to be more conscious of water conservation when we get out there... I just don't want to run out of hot water in the middle of a shower if I can help it. That's one creature comfort I'd like to take with us from the stick house if there's a solution out there on the market, and it appears that there is one.

Best regards, and a belated Happy New Year to everyone!

Tim Fansler

 

Hah, I've been putting the seat down since the day I met her, and it's still not enough, now she wants more water.

I've read on other forums, that the RV version of the tankless heater isn't as good as the home version due to 110V vs 220V. Makes sense if true.

Fred


-- Edited by Luvglass at 21:09, 2007-01-08

Jo-   it appears Fred is a real "keeper" so take good care of him so he'll last a long time.

Tim,

Somewhere back there in this thread was a question about leaving the water heater on when parked.  We NEVER leave ours on.  I don't know if I have a good reason, but I figure the fewer things turned on that can get really hot, the better.  It's just a peace of mind thing when we are away from the rig.

We just flip on the electric water heater switch about 20 minutes before needing hot water.  If we need it a few minutes faster, we use the propane.  Of course we use the propane if we don't have electric.

A tankless water heater would be a nice feature to have, but it is far from the top of the priority list for us. 

Howard (another toilet seat/lid putter-downer - but that's a whole different topic and thread)  

I'm considering installing a tankless for 2 reasons, 1 is unlimited hot water and 2 is the saving of maintenance in flushing and cleaning the tank. If you are thinking it is not important and have not done it, I dare you to go pull the plug and witness the disgusting stuff that will come out of your heater! :) Make sure you shut off the water before pulling the plug and turn heater off.

Our anode gets replaced about every 3 years.  It still looks like it would go another year each time.  But when the mechanic we use gets it out, he just replaces it. One reason it lasted so long for us is most all of the CG's we visit have sweet water (very soft).                                                                                                                         I replace the charcoal cartridge in the whole house omni water filter several times a year.  Went home for about 2 months several years ago for some medical work and didn't drain the water filter.   When we got back out on the road, the water was black in the whole system.  Spent the first day flushing the system and installing a new filter. Seems the sweet water broke down the charcoal filter when left stored in the system for that period of time.

When (if) I get a new MH I'm going to have a reverse osmosis water system installed.

Tim & Robyn - We have also been looking into the Precision Temp RV 500 (Or RV 550). They're quite expensive but our new situation (we just got a vintage bus) calls for a different set up then our last Class C rv. The never ending HW sounds awesome and not having a tank on board is another perk. A good RV upgrade, we agree!!!!

So, before we had a 10 gal HW heater (LPG) and it was fine, we took military showers to conserve water thus, never coming close to running out of HOT water! :) Ha ha. This all worked fine for the Class C.

Now, with the bus, we have bigger everything BUT the original system was an electric only water heater (wow, crazy uh?). So where the old WH sat there is no option to vent a LPG water heater (expect down). We boondock so having a LPG WH  is important to us. Luckly there are LPG lines there for a floor heater.

Now, back to the Precison Temp... We want it! Specifically, the RV550 that vents through the floor so we don't have to cut a whole in the side of our bus. We're ready to buy it... but we ARE NOT HANDY FOLKS. Uggg!! 

THE ISSUE: We've called several instalation places (RV service places) and nobody seems to want to work with a TANKLESS set up, it's too 'new'??? Really? 

So, before we buy it, I want to find someone to install it. The phones number on the Precision TEmp website go to personal message boxes, not business lines? Scary? I don't know. However I'm in New Jersey right now, maybe there are more qualitified techs in other states for this install?

Have you done any instalation research? What have you found? Are you going to DIY?  

Having been in the HVAC/R industry , here are some service observations.......

When you clean your tank the debris and mineral buildup can be flushed from the system.....in a tank-less system it stays within the system and clogs the heat loop like a dirty radiator this causes internal corrosion or blockage .. some times the blockage can be cleared ,but a leak will require the core to be replaced...just in a simple repair its going to be costly not to mention finding a Tech that specializes in this system..

you do not save on propane or electric the cost is about even..

you get more hot-water but the maintenance costs are higher and they are not DIY


IMHO..........Bring your Visa....The look on your face when you get the bill.....Priceless!!!

Terry, thanks for the heads up. My best well wishes go out to him and his family.

Lucky Mike, thanks for the information. Do you have a recommendation on a WH that vents through the floor or a 2" pipe instead of a large wall vent? Our current layout had an Electric WH, we'd like an LPG WH but the space doesn't have direct access to a wall. This unit the RV 550 NSP is the only option we've found. Still, we're open to others.

looking at what you have your only options without throwing alot of money and labor would be using the Rv 500 or a 10 gallon ceramic LP/110 HWH(attwood)

Either way the hole will have to be cut to fit the unit unless an lp unit existed before..........so at that point it becomes a matter of preference and longevity

once the hole is cut it looks no different than any other HWH whether it be tank or tankless they both use the same cabinet dimensions

Lucky Mike - I'm sure I can START the job... just finishing it would be the problem!! I'm not handy enough to be cutting copper pipes or re routing LPG lines safely or without major catrastrophe . Eeek. 

Crossing fingers that the installers WILL agree to do it and because it looks straight forward, do it quickly... 

Our last somewhat successful DIY plumbing project was a new toilet. That's the top of the mark for us! 

We made a video, we were so proud. It's not helpful for experienced folks, but incentive for anyone like us (fearful of these type of projects!).