Hot water Heater

[curlyfungirl]

I use our Montana in the cold weather as housing in my out of state job. I pretty much use it three days a week then turn down the heater for four. Regarding the hot water heater....do I need to keep the hot water heater running 24/7 or can I turn it off when I am home to save some propane. We are supposed to be able to use it with electric but I cant find the switch to turn it over to electric. Any thoughts?

[Roller4Tan]

Take the cover off the water heater on the outside of your Montana. If it's a Suburban heater, there should be a switch on the lower left behind the gas line. There may also be a cotter key holding the switch in the off position. remove the key and switch on.

[JRTJH]

One complete side of your hot water heater tank is exposed to the outside elements (weather) and will allow the water in the tank to freeze if it gets cold enough. You should either drain the hot water heater or leave it turned on to prevent freezing.

As for the electric switch, there are two or possibly three. First, there is the circuit breaker in the control panel/converter box. Second, there is a switch to turn on the element hidden behind the propane igniter circuitry in the lower left hand corner of the outside panel on your hot water heater. If you open the outside "swing down" panel, stoop down so you are eye level with the bottom of the opening, you'll see a black switch on the metal wall, just behind the orange and black rubber igniter. That is the electric heating element switch. It is clearly marked off (on top) and on (on bottom) which is opposite normal electric switches. Don't ask why, nobody has yet to give me a logical answer, so just accept that the switch is mounted "backerds"... The third may or may not be in your water heater system. It is a wall mounted electric contol switch very similar to the propane switch that is inside your RV. You may or nay not have that electric switch, some RV's do and some don't. The main control switch is the one outside on the water heater, the "backup" is the circuit breaker.

I'd leave the hot water heater on during cold weather when there is a potential to freeze.

[hankaye]

curlyfungirl, Howdy;

Just get yourself a 125 gal. propane tank. I use one now and had one when I lived in Mount Pleasant, Ut.
Propane is cheaper when you buy bulk... I would get mine refilled about once a month, even when it was doing double minus digets in Sanpete County during the winters of 2009 and 2010.

hankaye

[curlyfungirl]

Originally Posted by hankaye

curlyfungirl, Howdy;

Just get yourself a 125 gal. propane tank. I use one now and had one when I lived in Mount Pleasant, Ut.
Propane is cheaper when you buy bulk... I would get mine refilled about once a month, even when it was doing double minus digets in Sanpete County during the winters of 2009 and 2010.

hankaye

Propane is insanely expensive where we have the trailer hooked up. I was able to figure out how to switch it over to electric thanks to the helpful feedback.

[Cabana bunch]

Turn down the water heater thermostat just to keep it warm. Open the inside access to the water heater so that it stays closer to the indoor temp.

[Festus2]

Most Suburban water heaters don't have a thermostat to control water temperature as it is preset at the factory and can't be adjusted.

[SAABDOCTOR]

HI CURLYFUN! on your montana there are 3 switches. one is on the heater as everyone has told you it is a little black rock switch says on off mine is not pinned like my older one was. 2 there is a circut breaker in the electric pannel. the third one is with the switches on the monitor pannel for the tanks. i have 3 on my pannel 1 water pump 1 for gas power hot water and 1 electric fired hot water. the print on the switches is wicked small. mine are stated in order from left to right pump propane electric. hth Barney