Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 07-29-2013, 01:20 PM   #1
Member
 
GCAKIA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 42
We have the ability to run our water heater on electric or propane.



With the temps in Texas reaching into the 100+ area, the AC can't keep up. Does running the water heater on propane help this issue at all?



We've noticed that the water doesn't get as hot with propane and needs more time to recover once a shower is taken etc. Does the water heater heat more quickly if we turn on the electric and propane? Is there any risk or other reasons the water heater shouldn't be heated by electric and propane at the same time?
__________________
Gary and Karen
Denton, Texas
2012 Ford F-350 (4X4 dually)
2015 Redwood RV (39MB)
GCAKIA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2013, 01:44 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
atom ant's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,101
I always thought the propane got the tank hotter, but maybe not. There should be non real impact to AC peformance by running the HW tank on electric, providing you are plugged into 50A service.
__________________
Brad & Dory - Lone Tree, CO
CURRENT - 2013 Itasca Meridian 42E/2013 Wrangler 4dr Sahara
SOLD - 2014 Redwood 36RL/2014 F350 DRW
atom ant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2013, 02:16 PM   #3
Site Team
 
Dave&Ginny's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5,407

Quote:
Originally Posted by GCAKIA
We have the ability to run our water heater on electric or propane.



With the temps in Texas reaching into the 100+ area, the AC can't keep up. Does running the water heater on propane help this issue at all?



We've noticed that the water doesn't get as hot with propane and needs more time to recover once a shower is taken etc. Does the water heater heat more quickly if we turn on the electric and propane? Is there any risk or other reasons the water heater shouldn't be heated by electric and propane at the same time?
Yes you can run your hot water heater on propane and electric at the same time. The propane will usually heat the water faster so if you want fast recovery use the propane.

The only reason the propane would help with the Air conditioner is that the electric heating element will be eating up some of the amperage coming into the coach. Some of the parks in real hot weather don't have enough amperage even though they have 50 amp plugs due to all the a/c units being on at the same time.
__________________
SOB "The RV Wiseguy"
Dave&Ginny is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2013, 03:16 PM   #4
Member
 
GCAKIA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 42
Dave, thanks for the insight. I was hoping for that answer. Recently we've used the propane to heat water for the first time. Always good to learn new things about your home.



By using both electric and propane, will it heat the water that much faster? My wife and I both work and taking showers with less wait time in between helps our schedule.
__________________
Gary and Karen
Denton, Texas
2012 Ford F-350 (4X4 dually)
2015 Redwood RV (39MB)
GCAKIA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2013, 03:18 PM   #5
Member
 
GCAKIA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 42
Appreciate your feedback Atom. Nice Redwood and truck!
__________________
Gary and Karen
Denton, Texas
2012 Ford F-350 (4X4 dually)
2015 Redwood RV (39MB)
GCAKIA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2013, 03:38 PM   #6
Site Team
 
Dave&Ginny's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5,407

Quote:
Originally Posted by GCAKIA
Dave, thanks for the insight. I was hoping for that answer. Recently we've used the propane to heat water for the first time. Always good to learn new things about your home.



By using both electric and propane, will it heat the water that much faster? My wife and I both work and taking showers with less wait time in between helps our schedule.
Also something to consider.....a lot of us have replaced our shower heads with the "Oxygenic" shower head from Camping World. They work a lot better and use less water while doing a better job. $50 well spent in my opinion.
__________________
SOB "The RV Wiseguy"
Dave&Ginny is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2013, 04:42 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
atom ant's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,101
Quote:
Originally Posted by GCAKIA
Appreciate your feedback Atom.Â* Nice Redwood and truck!
Hey thanks!
atom ant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2013, 05:47 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
rcflame's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 619
There are several different ways to go with the water heater. Depending on the situation, I think we have done all of them at one time or another. Normally we run the water heater on electric. If we are going to use a lot of hot water, we will turn the propane on at the same time. It will heat the water faster and you can use more water before it starts getting too cool. We have run just propane when needed. What we will usually do then is shut the heater off after getting done showering and turn it back on about a half hour before we need use a lot of hot water again. Will both the electric and propane off, the water heater will keep the water warm for a long time. If your electric is heating faster than propane, there is something wrong. Have never spent the summer in Texas, but have spent the winter. There are some days in Nov. & March where the temp gets close to the 100's. Most of the water lines aren't that deep, and sometimes the water coming in is almost warm enough to take a shower without the water heater on.
__________________
Roger & Cheryl Full Time since 2002, RVing since 1975 2008 Chevy 3500 Crew Cab Dually, 2012 RW 36RL
rcflame is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2013, 02:36 PM   #9
Member
 
GCAKIA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 42
Regarding: "Oxygenic" shower head from Camping World







Placed my order yesterday. Thanks!
__________________
Gary and Karen
Denton, Texas
2012 Ford F-350 (4X4 dually)
2015 Redwood RV (39MB)
GCAKIA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2013, 08:57 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 134
X2 on the Oxygenics...and it has a shut-off valve to conserve that hot water.

JJ
Kev n JJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2013, 11:01 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
RollsRoyce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 693
Send a message via Yahoo to RollsRoyce


x2 on the Oxygenics I take long showers just like I do at home...Take a seat on the built in seat in the FB and enjoy...Never have run out of hot water and so far have only used electric
__________________
Royce & Rachel Stanley
2008 F250 6.4 Diesel
6speed Auto SRW
RW36FB
RollsRoyce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2013, 07:42 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
johnboytoo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,055
TMI Royce - TMI
__________________
Ours: '11 Monaco Diplomat 43DFT followed closely by '14 Jeep 4 dr Wrangler.
Hers: '13 Explorer Sport - AWD 365hp twin turbo scooter!
Previous: '13 Ford F350 CC Platinum and '13 38GK
johnboytoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2013, 08:14 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
Buddy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 514
Electric on the parks dime.
__________________
2012 Ford F450 Lariat FX4 dually, 2013 Redwood 36FB Red and Black Painted
Buddy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2013, 08:34 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
SW1117's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 160
We have never run out of hot water in our GK either. Showers, laundry, dishwasher, and still hot water. It gets hot really quickly also.

__________________
2014 38GK
No tow truck yet!!
SW1117 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2013, 01:36 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 370

Quote:
Originally Posted by Buddy
Electric on the parks dime.
In a park that charges for electricity, for penny pinchers out there you can google on-line for a calculation that compares your propane cost and electricity cost and lets you know if you should run the water heater on propane or not. Also applies to running supplementary electric heat vs. the furnace.
__________________
2013 Redwood 36RL, 2011 F-450, Sat Internet, Sat TV
almcc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-05-2013, 09:29 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
Oregonbound's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 224
Quote:
Originally Posted by almcc
Quote:
Originally Posted by Buddy
Electric on the parks dime.
In a park that charges for electricity, for penny pinchers out there you can google on-line for a calculation that compares your propane cost and electricity cost and lets you know if you should run the water heater on propane or not. Also applies to running supplementary electric heat vs. the furnace.
Almcc,

Know this an old post but do you happen to have a specific web address for the calculation you mention above? Thanks in advance.Edited by: Oregonbound
__________________
Ian & Cara (Copper the canine)
Vancouver, WA
2014 36FL, DW, W/D, CVac, Full Body Paint
2011 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn 6.7L TD, SRW, 4X4.

Oregonbound is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-05-2013, 10:01 AM   #17
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 370

I've copied a link below to another web forum that gives some simplified comparison calculations. The question about the heating efficiency of a propane furnace is debatable, I use a 50% efficiency, others use 80%. Hopefully you can read it without joining IRV2.

I had a more detailed formula that I used, but I couldn't find the website link

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f92/is-propane-a-more-economical-heating-source-than-electricity-79987.html

Here is another more simple commentary:

http://www.rollinrollin.com/electricorpropane.htm



Edited by: almcc
__________________
2013 Redwood 36RL, 2011 F-450, Sat Internet, Sat TV
almcc is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Redwood RV or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 11:44 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
×