Your RV water heater provides scorching water to sinks and showers inside (and probably exterior) your RV. If you need a scorching bathe after a day of out of doors adventures, you’ll want your water heater to operate effectively and successfully. When it really works as designed, you most likely received’t spend a lot time questioning, “How do RV water heaters work?”
However when one thing goes incorrect, your information is your most essential troubleshooting device. Understanding how water heaters work in RVs will even show you how to use and keep them correctly. So, let’s cowl the fundamentals of RV water heating techniques.
Forms of RV Sizzling Water Heaters
There are a number of kinds of RV water heaters, largely distinguished by their energy supply. The commonest is a fuel/electrical mannequin, adopted by electrical solely and fuel solely. There are additionally tankless RV water heaters, often known as instantaneous or on-demand water heaters. Let’s take a look at every under.
Gasoline Solely
Gasoline-only fashions are powered by propane. They’re probably the most cost-effective items to buy and run. Though you should utilize them on the campground, they’re additionally nice for off-grid use the place electrical energy isn’t as attainable. They’re accessible with a handbook or electrical pilot.
Electrical Solely
Electrical-only fashions are powered by 120VAC, so that you’ll should be hooked as much as shore energy or a generator to make use of them. Because you’ll be plugged into shore energy, these are nice for individuals who spend most of their time on the campground.
Gasoline/Electrical
Gasoline and electrical fashions are fueled by propane and 120VAC electrical energy. They’re additionally referred to as “hybrids”. Like RV fridges, these water heaters permit you to maximize your sources for one of the best effectivity. When on shore energy, you possibly can change to electrical. When boondocking, you should utilize propane. It’s also possible to use each fuel and electrical energy for better effectivity.
RV Tankless Water Heater
Tankless water heaters have gotten more and more widespread on new RVs. Also called “instantaneous” or “on-demand” water heaters, they warmth water because it passes by a coil. They are often fuel or electrical, however fuel is commonest for RV use. Though usually used, the time period “instantaneous” may be deceptive, as there’s nonetheless a 20 to 30-second delay in getting the water heated and thru the pipes to the tap.
One more reason for the recognition of tankless water heaters is their measurement. In comparison with a normal RV water heater with a standard tank, they’re much extra compact, permitting for extra mounting choices. Along with measurement, switching to tankless will prevent a substantial quantity of weight.
The place to Discover Your RV Water Heater
The placement of your RV’s water heater is determined by the producer. Most place them on the off-camp facet, reverse the principle entry door. Nonetheless, your water heater’s location may be in the direction of the entrance or again of your RV in case you have a rear kitchen or entrance kitchen floorplan.
Right here’s an instance of what your water heater’s exterior entry panel could appear like:
Right here’s an instance of a water heater tank and plumbing traces from the within of an RV:
How Does a DSI RV Propane Water Heater Work?
Guaranteeing the tank is full is step one in working any water heater earlier than turning the water heater on along with your RV’s management panel. You probably have a fuel/electrical mannequin, you possibly can warmth water within the tank with propane or the electrical factor. It’s also possible to make use of each for fast scorching water restoration.
Propane is the first heating supply for fuel/electrical fashions. The propane is burned on the finish of the burner tube, and the flame enters the flue tube. Warmth and exhaust gasses are carried by to an exhaust vent on the prime of the water heater.
Right here’s the sequence of operation when your water heater makes use of propane:
- The propane management change is turned on.
- 12 VDC goes by the thermostat – a usually closed change.
- The thermostat calls for warmth, and contacts shut, opening the propane valve.
- The spark ignites the fuel within the burner tube.
- When a set temperature is attained (often 140℉), the thermostat’s electrical contacts open, closing the fuel valve.
How Does a Gasoline/Electrical RV Water Heater Work on Electrical?
Within the electrical mode, adequate 120-volt AC (VAC) energy is required to warmth the electrical factor. This mode will solely be an choice when plugging into shore energy or utilizing an RV generator.
Technician Tip: The necessities for voltages, amperages, or wattages are on the info plate or in your proprietor’s handbook.
Right here’s the sequence of operation when your water heater makes use of electrical energy:
- The electrical change is turned on.
- 120 VAC goes by the thermostat – a usually closed change.
- The thermostat calls for warmth and contacts shut.
- 120 VAC goes by the ECO (power cut-off) change, usually closed.
- 120 VAC goes to the heating factor and heats water within the tank.
- When the set temperature is attained, the thermostat’s electrical contacts open, eradicating energy from the electrical heating factor.
Technician Tip: Steps 2 and 4 could also be reversed on sure fashions.
How Does a Tankless RV Water Heater Work?
Also called on-demand, tankless RV water heaters present instantaneous scorching water. If you open a scorching water fixture, it triggers the warmth exchanger.
In contrast to conventional RV water heaters, the burners are solely activated when the tap is opened. When the tap is turned off, energy is faraway from the water heater burner.
The water temperature may be adjusted on the management panel, however there’s additionally a redundant power cut-off (ECO) change, or “excessive restrict change,” that screens the warmth. These ECO switches shut off the warmth supply if the water temperature will get too excessive and switch again on when the temperature drops again into the set vary.
What Is an RV Sizzling Water Heater Strain Aid Valve?
All water heaters have a stress reduction valve. This valve is designed to launch water and stress into the air if pressures or temperatures get too excessive, jeopardizing the heater’s structural integrity or posing a threat of burns to the person. The valve opens when stress/temperature rises above a set level and closes when it returns to secure ranges.
How A lot Propane Does an RV Water Heater Use?
The quantity of propane an RV water heater makes use of is affected by many elements, crucial of which is sort. Tankless water heaters eat much less propane than tank-style water heaters. It’s because they solely warmth water when wanted, which makes them extra environment friendly.
One other issue, maybe the obvious, is utilization. You probably have a household of 4 who every take a scorching bathe within the morning, you’ll use much more propane than a pair who use theirs sparingly.
It’s tough to estimate the quantity of utilization based mostly on these elements, however on common, most RV water heaters will run on a 20-pound cylinder for a number of days. That stated, this determine will go down when you use your propane for different home equipment.
If you have to prolong the quantity of scorching water you get out of a single cylinder, there are some issues you are able to do. The primary is popping your faucet temperature all the way down to the bottom comfy degree. The subsequent can be to make use of a bigger or probably retrofit a second propane cylinder. Switching from tank-style to tankless will even permit you to preserve extra propane.
Hopefully, this has clarified how RV water heaters work. Listed here are a number of extra sources that can assist you use and keep your RV water heater:
What questions do you might have about how RV water heaters work? Tell us within the feedback under.