Tankless water heaters are quickly becoming a popular option among homeowners and RVers since they’re energy-efficient, offer instant hot water, and come in electric and gas-powered units.
Should you also replace the propane tank in your RV with a tankless water heater? What are the pros and cons of having a tankless water heater in an RV?
Read on to learn more about tankless heaters and how viable they are for RVs.
What Should You Know About Tankless Water Heaters For RVs?
When you buy or rent an RV, you can sometimes choose between propane or tankless heating options. However, if you’re purchasing a motorhome, you need to decide on one type or change out the standard tank for a tankless if there is no option.
Here are some things you must know about tankless water heaters before buying one for your RV.
Cost and Capacity Comparison
Standard tank heaters have a capacity of six to ten gallons generally. If you’re traveling with family, four people showering consecutively will empty the tank quickly and the larger the size the better.
On the other hand, a tankless water heater provides a consistent water flow.
As for the cost, tankless water heaters tend to be more expensive. However, they use almost half the amount of propane consumed by standard heaters. Plus, they’re lightweight and compact, and can fit in the same location as your current tank heater so they do not eat up space in your RV.
Not All Water Heaters Are Similarly Sized
If you’re planning to replace the propane tank in your RV with a tankless water heater, make sure you measure the size beforehand. In some cases, the sidewall openings might have to be larger, so adjustments will be required.
If you’re not a DIY pro, seek a professional’s help at any local RV service center.
Pros and Cons Of Tankless Water Heaters
If you’re struggling to decide whether you should get a tankless water heater or not, these pros and cons might help you.
Pros
Here are some of the pros of tankless water heaters for RVs:
- Energy-efficient: Tankless water heaters are more efficient than conventional heaters since they do not constantly reheat the water. While traditional heaters are always consuming energy, even when not in use, tankless water heaters only operate when needed.
- Extended Lifespan: As compared to standard heating units, tankless water heaters last double the number of years. While conventional heaters have a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years, tankless water heaters last around two decades.
- Cost Savings: Water heating is the second largest household expense and makes up around 18% of the utility bills. Since tankless water heaters are more efficient, you can save up to $100 a year, depending on your water usage.
- Immediate Hot Water Supply: With a traditional heater, you have to wait for about an hour for the tank to fill up with hot water. However, tankless water heaters heat water on demand, so you don’t have to wait.
- Compact Design: Since tankless water heaters do not take up as much space as standard units, they’re more suitable for RVs. While some models are bigger, others are as small as shoe boxes. So, you can save a ton of space and use it for storing other things like a grill for camping.
- Remote Connection: Some modern tankless heaters can be monitored and controlled with apps. So, you can turn them off when you’re not on the road.
- Safer: Traditional water heaters aren’t very safe for families with kids since they tend to overheat. In rare cases, they may even explode. On the contrary, tankless water heaters aren’t always filled with hot water. Thus, the chances of overheating are minimal.
Cons
Although they’re a wonderful addition to your RV, you must consider the following cons of tankless water heaters.
- High Upfront Cost: Tankless water heaters can cost extra as you have to swap out your current tank heater.
- Installation Charges: Tankless heater installation can cost up to several hundred dollars. In some instances, you may have to create an additional vent or reroute the existing gas pipes, increasing the installation cost.
- Inconsistent Temperatures: If several people are using hot water at the same time, a tankless heater can deliver inconsistent performance.
Best Tankless Water Heater For your RV
If you’re planning to install a tankless water heater in your RV, consider the following option, as this is the one I chose and have been very happy with it. It is a very popular option and fits in many standard RV water heater bays.
Girard 2GWHAM On-Demand Tankless Water Heater
Featuring 4200 BTUs, the Girard tankless water heater offers optimum performance, allowing a family of four to use water freely.
Moreover, it comes with freeze protection technology to ensure worry-free use during winter.
Since the water heater has a digital control panel, you can easily set it at any temperature from 95°F to 124°F. Plus, there’s no need for special plumbing or additional LP gas lines for installing this heater.
Features
- 42000 BTUs
- Works at under 3AMPs
- Temperature range 95°F to 124°F
- Freeze protection for winter use
Conclusion
If you’d rather pay a higher upfront cost than bearing excessive prices due to increased propane consumption every month, you should install a tankless water heater in your RV. Having on demand hot water is an amazing luxury in an RV or Camper!
