Hot water heater

BuckSally · 02-26-2021, 02:13 PM

We picked up our Montana HC 331RLS yesterday and spent night in campground to see if any issues came up and there were. One of them was we ran out of hot water while showering in less than 5 mins. They said that was pretty standard - that it does run out fairly quickly. So we had them go back thru it and they said the size of the shower head (water pressure) was using too much too fast. This doesn’t seem correct. Anyone else have issues running out of hot water so quickly?

Cbrez · 02-26-2021, 02:39 PM

Welcome to the forum. Your water heater capacity is probably 6 gal. If your shower head flow rate is about 1.25 gal/min you’re going to run out of hot water in about 5 min. This is completely normal. We turn the water off while lathering up and only use it to rinse off. Provides enough hot water for two back to back showers, which is all we need.

The recovery time is pretty fast. It seems like if we wait 15 min or so between showers, the second person has a full tank of hot water.

I don’t buy what the dealership told you. I’d be very surprised if you don’t have the same shower head as the rest of us. I think you’re in great shape if this is the only issue you have with your new rig.

jasin1 · 02-26-2021, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckSally

We picked up our 331 yesterday and spent night in campground to see if any issues came up and there were. One of them was we ran out of hot water while showering in less than 5 mins. They said that was pretty standard - that it does run out fairly quickly. So we had them go back thru it and they said the size of the shower head (water pressure) was using too much too fast. This doesn’t seem correct. Anyone else have issues running out of hot water so quickly?

I turn it on and get right in.. it is a small tank ...you don’t have to wait for it to get hot very long.. you don’t want to turn the shower on and then brush your teeth or something before getting in as you will have waisted a good bit of the hot water.

**sourdough** · 02-26-2021, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckSally

We picked up our 331 yesterday and spent night in campground to see if any issues came up and there were. One of them was we ran out of hot water while showering in less than 5 mins. They said that was pretty standard - that it does run out fairly quickly. So we had them go back thru it and they said the size of the shower head (water pressure) was using too much too fast. This doesn’t seem correct. Anyone else have issues running out of hot water so quickly?

What is your trailer? Year/model etc. really, really helps when trying to answer some of these questions.

I have the trailer in my sig, also a 331. It has a 12 gal. hot water tank and every MHC 331RL I looked at did as well. What is yours?

Have you ever had an RV before? I assume you are aware (if it new...you said you just picked it up) that you can run both electric and LP at the same time greatly helping your run time. A little more info would go a very long way in helping you get accurate answers.

jasin1 · 02-26-2021, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourdough

What is your trailer? Year/model etc. really, really helps when trying to answer some of these questions.

I have the trailer in my sig, also a 331. It has a 12 gal. hot water tank and every MHC 331RL I looked at did as well. What is yours?

Have you ever had an RV before? I assume you are aware (if it new...you said you just picked it up) that you can run both electric and LP at the same time greatly helping your run time. A little more info would go a very long way in helping you get accurate answers.

I didn’t know you could run the water heater on electric and propane at the same time ... it didn’t even occur to me as I’m used to residential systems ...learn something new every day ..guess it would help to read through my owners manuals

... but we haven’t had a problem with lack of hot water

BuckSally · 02-28-2021, 06:09 PM

It’s not our first camper and I learned when we picked this one up (Montana HC 331RL) about using elec and propane. We did some troubleshooting and found that the electric wasn’t working. It ended up being a bad heating element. I do see the recommendations of switching out shower head, which we will do. In my previous camper it would last much longer. I do use the pause button as well.

**sourdough** · 02-28-2021, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckSally

It’s not our first camper and I learned when we picked this one up (Montana HC 331RL) about using elec and propane. We did some troubleshooting and found that the electric wasn’t working. It ended up being a bad heating element. I do see the recommendations of switching out shower head, which we will do. In my previous camper it would last much longer. I do use the pause button as well.

Posting your RV specifics in your signature line is greatly beneficial for those trying to help. I assume this is a used trailer? If the element was bad right off the bat and then you found it something was missed somewhere? You indicate you have experience with RVs and hot water lasted much longer "back when"??

Informing members with what you have, experience etc. greatly enhances the possibility of success in questions. Basic trouble shooting right off the bat can many times fix things much faster.

jasin1 · 03-05-2021, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourdough

What is your trailer? Year/model etc. really, really helps when trying to answer some of these questions.

I have the trailer in my sig, also a 331. It has a 12 gal. hot water tank and every MHC 331RL I looked at did as well. What is yours?

Have you ever had an RV before? I assume you are aware (if it new...you said you just picked it up) that you can run both electric and LP at the same time greatly helping your run time. A little more info would go a very long way in helping you get accurate answers.

My keystone has the iN·command system ...it only lets you choose gas or electric...not both...am I missing something?

**sourdough** · 03-05-2021, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasin1

My keystone has the iN·command system ...it only lets you choose gas or electric...not both...am I missing something?

Jasin, I don't have InCommand. I would assume they would have retained what is a very beneficial mode of operation....but maybe not. Probably one of the many reasons I specified a trailer without it. Hopefully someone knowledgeable about it will chime in.

Juanitopablo · 03-08-2021, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasin1

My keystone has the iN·command system ...it only lets you choose gas or electric...not both...am I missing something?

Mine, Springdale SG 240BH has the option to run on electricity and propane together

travelin texans · 02-26-2021, 04:07 PM

Replace the original shower head with an Oxygenic head, it feels like more water with more pressure, but actually uses less water with less pressure required.
Also use the on/off button on it, wet down, shut water off, lather up, turn on water & rinse, don't just let the water run continuously or you will run out of hot water eventually + fill the grey tank much quicker.
We also had a 12 gallon water heater that just on electric we could both take showers one after the other & not run out of hot water, but did shut off the shower head as I mentioned above.

rhagfo · 02-26-2021, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelin texans

Replace the original shower head with an Oxygenic head, it feels like more water with more pressure, but actually uses less water with less pressure required.
Also use the on/off button on it, wet down, shut water off, lather up, turn on water & rinse, don't just let the water run continuously or you will run out of hot water eventually + fill the grey tank much quicker.
We also had a 12 gallon water heater that just on electric we could both take showers one after the other & not run out of hot water, but did shut off the shower head as I mentioned above.

We also run gas and electric, cook with gas, a 7 gallon tank of propane will last about one month. We just went through a nine day power outage, we used about 2 gallons of propane a day, outside temp between 35 and 40 degrees. Usage was for heat 60 to 65 at night, 68 day time, hot water, cooking, heating water for drinks, refrigerator. I love the fast recovery with gas!

**chuckster57** · 02-26-2021, 08:13 PM

It’s NOT a “hot” water heater, hot water doesn’t need to be heated.

It’s a WATER HEATER. Really doesn’t matter to me but a tech that I used to work with would actually get mad if you called it a hot water heater.

gkainz · 02-26-2021, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

It’s NOT a “hot” water heater, hot water doesn’t need to be heated.

It’s a WATER HEATER. Really doesn’t matter to me but a tech that I used to work with would actually get mad if you called it a hot water heater.

LOL thank you. I bite my tongue on that so many times

Cracker · 03-04-2021, 08:43 AM

Surprisingly enough, "HWH" was often used on architectural plans to designate the location of the water heater - possibly to differentiate from "WH" - but, if so, I can't remember what "WH" would have meant???

Mic · 03-09-2021, 05:55 AM

yep

been a spell since i heated hot water

.

larryflew · 03-04-2021, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

It’s NOT a “hot” water heater, hot water doesn’t need to be heated.

It’s a WATER HEATER. Really doesn’t matter to me but a tech that I used to work with would actually get mad if you called it a hot water heater.

I have wanted to make that point MANY times, thanks for being bold

Plumbers have the same problem as your tech.

Elk4me · 03-04-2021, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

It’s NOT a “hot” water heater, hot water doesn’t need to be heated.

It’s a WATER HEATER. Really doesn’t matter to me but a tech that I used to work with would actually get mad if you called it a hot water heater.

I call it a water heater, plumber since 1977.

cavie · 03-05-2021, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elk4me

I call it a water heater, plumber since 1977.

It says so on the box it came in!!!!

Ksupaul · 03-04-2021, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

It’s NOT a “hot” water heater, hot water doesn’t need to be heated.

It’s a WATER HEATER. Really doesn’t matter to me but a tech that I used to work with would actually get mad if you called it a hot water heater.

Made me laugh Chuck, but I think you’re wrong. It’s heating hot water hotter more of the time than it’s heating not hot water hotter.

You may also like: