Nuffsaid
Senior Member
This is just a thought I had that I don't know the answer to, but can an on demand water heater survive winter weather without freezing up and possibly getting destroyed?
Based on a conversation I had with Furrion their more recent tankless water heaters are supposed to be usable below freezing. They wouldn't say how low. I'm going from memory but below 38F outside they will run the burner when they detect the unit has dropped below 52F. There is no mechanism to keep the water heater from freezing while traveling. Based on my experience here at the house the location of the water heater is probably involved as well. Ours is under the sink inside the heated area of the trailer. I had the heat running when we had some freezing temps and the water heater did not freeze up even though it was turned off. We were above freezing during the day so make of it what you will.
Truma has one rated for below freezing that circulates the hot water and cycles the burner when it gets too cold. They also have a 12VDC heater and pump that is suppose to keep the heater from freezing while traveling.
I do not know about the freeze protection of other brands.
I do not consider the Furrion fully freeze protected because there is no travel mode. It also has to be winterized with antifreeze due to its design. Unlike a tank style heater you just can't drain and bypass the thing and be good. We haven't fully decided but we are leaning to going back to a tank style water heater to regain our extended camping season. The alternative is to go with the Truma. Either one of them involves some rewiring and/or replumbing but I expect the Furrion to be gone by next winter.
Based on a conversation I had with Furrion their more recent tankless water heaters are supposed to be usable below freezing. They wouldn't say how low. I'm going from memory but below 38F outside they will run the burner when they detect the unit has dropped below 52F. There is no mechanism to keep the water heater from freezing while traveling. Based on my experience here at the house the location of the water heater is probably involved as well. Ours is under the sink inside the heated area of the trailer. I had the heat running when we had some freezing temps and the water heater did not freeze up even though it was turned off. We were above freezing during the day so make of it what you will.
Truma has one rated for below freezing that circulates the hot water and cycles the burner when it gets too cold. They also have a 12VDC heater and pump that is suppose to keep the heater from freezing while traveling.
I do not know about the freeze protection of other brands.
I do not consider the Furrion fully freeze protected because there is no travel mode. It also has to be winterized with antifreeze due to its design. Unlike a tank style heater you just can't drain and bypass the thing and be good. We haven't fully decided but we are leaning to going back to a tank style water heater to regain our extended camping season. The alternative is to go with the Truma. Either one of them involves some rewiring and/or replumbing but I expect the Furrion to be gone by next winter.
I guess I made a poor assumption that these tankless heaters are propane, but if it is located under the sink I would assume it is 110V am I correct? I like to boonedock or camp in my daughters front yard, LOL, I don't like having to rely on electric. I have a small on demand electric water heater in my shop mainly so I can have warm water to wash the grease off of my hands. It works ok but I wouldn't keep up with a shower.
I guess I made a poor assumption that these tankless heaters are propane, but if it is located under the sink I would assume it is 110V am I correct? I like to boonedock or camp in my daughters front yard, LOL, I don't like having to rely on electric. I have a small on demand electric water heater in my shop mainly so I can have warm water to wash the grease off of my hands. It works ok but I wouldn't keep up with a shower.
Could you please elaborate why it won't work during travel? This is the 1st I heard of this.
I have heard about some people using standard household heat tapes, these would be 120V and not work in travel.
I guess I made a poor assumption that these tankless heaters are propane, but if it is located under the sink I would assume it is 110V am I correct? I like to boonedock or camp in my daughters front yard, LOL, I don't like having to rely on electric. I have a small on demand electric water heater in my shop mainly so I can have warm water to wash the grease off of my hands. It works ok but I wouldn't keep up with a shower.
The Furrion on-demand water heaters are LP - not electric. Several brands (Truma, Garard) make on-demand HWHs that have a system with a pump and turn on the burner and circulate water in the HWH when the temp drops below 38 degrees... the Furrion does not as far as I know. The issue is not using the Furion during cold weather - it's what happens when you're not using it in between showers, washing dishes, etc.
Rob
This would be a definate no go for me, I travel in the cold and camp in the cold as well as the other three seasons.
We camp most of the year as well. Our last trip is usually around early December. We then start back up after the holidays towards the middle to end of January. The Furrion used by GD really cuts into our season. Had I been aware of its potential to freeze we might have gone with another brand where we had a tank or Truma option. I'm just thankful that the layout of the 22MLE is such that reworking the plumbing and AC to accommodate other units is straight forward.
An all-season trailer w/ LP water heater that doesn't work in the cold... [deleted]?!?
As I sit here in my 2021 22MLE in a raging snow storm (Mammoth Lakes, CA) -- our 3rd time up here in very cold weather -- my gas water heater won't work again. I'm pretty sure it's Furion. So, this is a product deficiency??? We are hooked up to electric power, but the electric mode never seems to get the water sufficiently heated.
Do I bite the bullet and get one of the other brands? Any idea how much that will set me back? Do people actually do this?
All input/suggestions greatly appreciated!
-- Arley B
[MENTION=46628]ArleyB[/MENTION] -Thanks Rob. How does one tell if they have an on-demand or tank heater? I thought mine was tank. Do people switch out heaters to resolve the issue?
Thanks and noted, @secondchance
An all-season trailer w/ LP water heater that doesn't work in the cold???!?
As I sit here in my 2021 22MLE in a raging snow storm (Mammoth Lakes, CA) -- our 3rd time up here in very cold weather -- my gas water heater won't work again. I'm pretty sure it's Furion. So, this is a product deficiency??? We are hooked up to electric power, but the electric mode never seems to get the water sufficiently heated.
Do I bite the bullet and get one of the other brands? Any idea how much that will set me back? Do people actually do this?
All input/suggestions greatly appreciated!
-- Arley B