Last Updated on October 28, 2022 by Douglas
Water heaters are an essential part of any RV. They provide the hot water that is needed for bathing, cooking and cleaning. And while they are not a necessity, many RV owners find that they make their life easier.
A water heater is usually installed on the outside of the trailer, either on the side or at the rear of it. So if you want to install one in your travel trailer you will need to make sure that there is enough room for it.
Electric water heaters are becoming more popular with RV owners because they are easy to install and maintain and take up less space than gas heaters.
Do they make electric water heaters for RVs?
EcoSmart ECO Electric Tankless Water Heater This electric water heater is portable and versatile, so it is perfect for an RV. The tankless heater has a battery-powered ignition and manual temperature control. This feature lets you choose the right temperature for your needs.[1]
How do you turn on an RV electric water heater?
Flip the water heater switch inside the RV to “OFF”. Go outside the RV and look for a panel (usually on the driver’s side). Open the panel. In the bottom left-hand corner, find the small switch that turns the electric power to your water heater on. Flip this switch to “ON”.[2]
How do I get hot water in my travel trailer?
Locate your hot water heater access panel, typically on the outside of your RV, and remove it. Find the RV water heater on and off switch on the panel. Typically, it’s located on the bottom left-hand side (see image above). Flip the switch to the on position.[3]
How does a RV hot water heater work?
How They Work. Propane water heaters often use a pilot light or even a direct spark ignition to heat the water in the tank. They pull water from your hot water tank to send to your fixtures. Once you’ve used your hot water supply, you’ll need to allow the water heater time to reheat.[4]
How do I know if my RV water heater is electric?
Most often found in the galley area, look your control panel over. In the photo above, you’ll see a control panel that includes the switch for “LP GAS”. To the right of the gas switch you’ll see one labeled “ELECTRIC”. This owner has a DSI gas water heater with the optional electric element.[5]
Should I run my RV water heater on gas or electric?
You can choose to leave your water heater on or switch it off between uses. However, it is important to note that leaving a propane heater running will empty your fuel tank pretty quickly. Additionally, leaving an electric heater on runs the risk of burning or frying an element should your tank somehow become empty.[6]
Do RV heaters run on electricity?
Do RV heaters run on electricity? While onboard RV furnaces do not run solely on electricity, the heater that’s built into your RV’s HVAC system does — and there are a variety of electric heaters on the market you can add to your RV’s interior for extra heating.[7]
Will an RV heater work without electricity?
As long as you have propane and good house batteries you can operate your furnace as in almost all cases the blowers for the furnace run off of 12 volt DC being provided by your house batteries. That being said; your house batteries will have to be charged in order to keep operating the furnace on a daily basis.[8]
How long does it take for a travel trailer water heater to heat up?
RV water heaters typically take 20 minutes to heat up the water. It also depends on how many gallons of water is in it if there are 10 gallons it can take longer to heat up.[9]
Why am I not getting hot water in my travel trailer?
Another easy troubleshooting step if there’s no hot water in your RV is to check your propane levels. If your propane tank is empty, or even if it’s very low, and you’re trying to heat your water using propane, you won’t get hot water.[10]
Why does my RV hot water run out so quickly?
Sediment can be things such as sand, silt, or rust that take up space in your water tank. As a result, your hot water supply dwindles. However, another issue with sediment is that your heating elements heat the sediment instead of the water, so it is slower to heat.[11]
Does a RV water heater run constantly?
However, other people turn it off to save money on their camping trip. And to reduce their environmental impact. Some RVers feel it’s just good to give it a break. But in the end, it is normal to keep your water heater running all day.[12]