Water Heater

[Firegod]

When camping without hookups why do you do with your water heater? Does it stay on using a little gas now and then or do you turn off and on as needed?

Please help settle the argument, I want to leave it on so I have hot water when needed. We generally don’t dry camp more than 7 days.

Thanks

[flybouy]

We don’t dry camp but often use the WH on gas. Camper is 30 amp so I have to manage electrical loads when running a/c. They use very little gas. Our 6 gal. Suburban tank uses more gas heathng up the water vs maintaining the water temp.

[travelin texans]

Maintaining would use less than completely reheating! LEAVE IT ON!
The only big gas hog is your furnace, it'll blow through a 20lb bottle in a couple days if it's running regularly, as well as depleting your batteries. A week running the fridge & water heater on gas, as designed, shouldn't be a problem.

[KimNTerry]

I dry camp more often than not.
Out of habit and safety, I keep it off when not around or at night and just make sure it is on before it's needed. If I forget either way, it's not the end of the world though.
It does not take long to bring 6 gallons of water up to temp.

[ChuckS]

Your water heater has a set of thermostats.. one for 120 volt AC mode and the other for LP mode..

Once the water temp reaches the thermostat setpoint the propane valve for the water heater is closed and water heater will relight off temp falls below setpoint.

[cesteira]

Would this be the case on a Keystone Zeppelin z241?

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by cesteira

Would this be the case on a Keystone Zeppelin z241?

Welcome to the forum

Yes, it applies to any RV water heater, except the “on demand” types.

[cesteira]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Welcome to the forum

Yes, it applies to any RV water heater, except the “on demand” types.

Thank you! This is not happening with our 2005 Zeppelin. Does the water have to reach a certain temperature in order for it to shut off? We replaced the thermostat and the spark ignition but that didn't fix it. Any thoughts on what it could be? Thanks again.

[dutchmensport]

We always have electric hook-up, we don't boomdock. In all our previous campers, we ran the water heater on gas instead of electric because it was a 30 amp camper, and power management was a must, especially when using the air conditioner.

With our current 50 amp fifth wheel, we run on electric all the time as power is not an issue any more. However, we have on a few occasions been on a 30 amp campsite and plugged in the 30 to 50 amp adapter. When we do, we flip on the gas again and revert back to the 30 amp days of power management.

So really, to use the electric or the gas, it doesn't matter. Both heat the water equally as well. Both together heats water faster, It's all about power management of 30 amps how you choose.

[chuckster57]

Is your water heater gas only? If it’s gas/electric, there are two thermostats.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by cesteira

Thank you! This is not happening with our 2005 Zeppelin. Does the water have to reach a certain temperature in order for it to shut off? We replaced the thermostat and the spark ignition but that didn't fix it. Any thoughts on what it could be? Thanks again.

Are you sure it’s not shutting off? That’s a very dangerous situation..I’d stop working on it if your not well versed in repairing one

[cesteira]

Hi,
We left it on for a couple of hours and it didn't shut off. You are right! Time to find someone to take a look at it. Thank you!

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by cesteira

Hi,
We left it on for a couple of hours and it didn't shut off. You are right! Time to find someone to take a look at it. Thank you!

2hrs? I’m surprised it didn’t explode. I agree, time to let someone look at it.