Tankless Hot Water Heater??

[Anonymous]

I’m wondring if anyone here has and experience with or recommendations for a tankless hot water heater…Ideally, I hope to find one that is weather resistant…Thanks for any ideas 🙂

[ardvark]

Historically these units have been problematic. They are also subject to variation in temperature of output based on water pressure and incoming water temperature. When training on them I was struck by the added complexity and the difficulties the manufacturers had in fixing malfunctions.

My thought would be to research any tankless water heater carefully focusing on owner complaints and repair when malfunctioning.

Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SC

[Don]

I have not owned a tank heater in almost 20 years…in my home. Since I installed both of my homes tankless units and I can only say its truly a DIY job and you will be glad you did, great $$$ savings, all the hot water you can use.

But alas it seems the tankless units in RV’s are problematic at best. IMO that is because they are RV grade units, meaning cheaply made, poorly made and designed.

You should at a PoU (Point of Use) model that are common in Europe and Asia. These have been around for over 50 years and work very well.

That said electric ones are not as efficient and use a lot of juice to heat water on demand, not RV friendly IMO. The 6/10 gal DSI units are still your best bet for an RV IMO.

Don
US Army Retired
2019 F 350 CC-LB King Ranch
Hill Country of Texas

[ardvark]

Dating myself badly, the first tankless heaters in RVs were decades ago and were a disaster. Fortunately changing over to a standard DSI or DSI plus AC at that time was not difficult and lots of folks made the changes. Ultimately the biggest retailer of the tankless models sold them out at give away prices just to get rid of them. Later I had to work on models where the complaint was not enough hot water. The problem was they were so limited in pressure and incoming water temperature range they worked just fine if held within narrow parameters. More pressure or colder incoming water and adios warm shower. There are also parameters on the newer models, but with bigger heat sources.

While no longer involved in RV service, there were multiple complaints and it seems to me there still are regarding the current iterations thus my advice to research carefully and don’t rush into something that sounds ideal in concept, but works not so well in reality. Ask end-users who have them if they are satisfied (and don’t even get me started on the service aspect).

And yeah, the electric point of delivery models draw way too much power to be practical in RVs, as Don said. One of the horse trailer manufacturers tried using them which led to unhappy owners and work for me ripping them out and installing DSI models. Near 30 amp draw on a trailer with a 30 amp shoreline was just not a good idea. 🙂

Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SC

[Mello Mike]

I’d pass. I like the extra 6 gallons that comes with the standard water heater.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate your opinions!…I was only asking for a neighbor who I’m helping to convert his new V nose 8’x12’ cargo trailer into a camper…We just installed a neo-angle shower stall into the V nose, and are continuing forward…

[Anonymous]

Palomino has tankless water heaters in T/C. May want to ask about that brand.

[ardvark]

Our new NorthStar has on a 4-gallon water heater which doesn’t sound like much until you use it. The old days of 120 degree T-stats are long gone and the new models have water so hot it takes only a trickle with plenty of cold added to shower and taking two showers in a row doesn’t begin to exhaust the hot water supply and in 10 minutes you have plenty of hot water. Since we are only talking a little over 30 pounds to be gained by going tankless, is the added complexity worth it? Fixing a standard water heater is a no brainer. Tankless on the other hand – hum. For me it is fixing a problem few folks are having. 🙂

Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SC

[Mello Mike]

If I decided to try out a tankless water heater, I’d go with the Truma AquaGo. Truma is making a name for itself for its high quality and efficiency, though they are more expensive (you get what you pay for).

[Author]

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