Can On Demand Water Heaters Survive Cold Weather

Nuffsaid

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2016
Messages
573
Location
Worland, Wyoming
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?
 
Apparently it depends, I have been following them as I am getting new camper and there are few if any without it.

Some of the earlier ones people were adding heating pads to help. Some of the later ones will run the heat when the temperature gets too low.

You will need to research your exact band and model, to see what if anything you need to do.
 
I don't currently have one, but since I have survived -44F in my Solitude with the tank type 12 gallon water heater with no issues even after my fresh water froze up, I just wonder what happens with the tankless water heaters. If they are exposed to cold air from outside they could potentially freeze and get damaged. But I don't know a thing about the RV tankless water heaters. I have a fair amount of experience with tankless water heaters in residential applications and I can tell you that they don't survive in areas like mine with hard water.
 
I don't think a tankless will do well in prolonged exposure to below-zero weather. I don't camp in the winter, but I've thought about it a bit, and I think the whole coach would have to be set up well for winter weather. My Reflection 150 has thinner walls and less insulation, so it is NOT set up for winter weather. As [MENTION=38571]llr2800[/MENTION] said, the newer models of the TWHs are better able to survive cold temps. But I would want the TWH's compartment to have extra insulation. And a bilge heater would be a plus, the yachting types have been dealing with cold for a long time.
 
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.
 
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.

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 TWH are propane. They do need 12-volt power to run but the fuel is propane. They work great while boondocking, we never run out of hot water.
 
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 uses propane and 12VDC for the control board. I was just mentioning the location in regards to my opinion that the water heater location could have an effect on its freeze resistance too.


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.

The Furrion water heater relies upon the gas burner to keep warm and not to get into the should you, could you will not be running when you drive. Travel mode was one of the questions I specifically asked and the Furrion rep said the anti freeze protection is not available while driving. From what I have seen Truma is the only one that has a travel mode anti freeze option with their optional 12VDC heater/pump assembly.
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.

I bought my first tankless water heater in the early 90's. I lived on top of a mountain and used propane for cooking and heating water. Back then it was all about how much propane was used. In recent years I have maintained a few tankless water heaters and what I learned was they don't survive where I live unless the water goes through a water softener because our water is so hard it will plug up the tankless heaters in no time at all.
 
Furion water heaters dont work in cold weather???

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
 
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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

A Furrion on-demand HWH does not have an electric mode - only tank style water heaters do.

Rob
 
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 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?
[MENTION=46628]ArleyB[/MENTION] -

If yours has an electric mode, it is tank-style. You can look in the packet of paperwork that came with your RV and find the manual for it. You can also look on a document in that packet called the Serial Number Data Sheet. That document lists all of the appliances and components used in the building of your RV. It will tell you the make and model of your water heater. Finally, you can pull the cover off outside (it will have a vented cover - especially if it is a tank-style heater) and see the manufacturer on a placard there.

People have replaced water heaters, but I don't know anyone personally who has.

I see you've been a forum member for a while, but here are a few forum tips:

1) If you use "Reply With Quote" (to the right of "Reply") as I have here, folks will know to whom you are responding and that person will get a notification.

2) You can also tag folks using the "@" symbol and their user name (as I have done yours) - they'll also get a notification that way.

3) You can create a signature block with your RV and tow vehicle information (see mine below). That way you won't have to repeat that information whenever you post or ask a question - and others won't have to ask. You can create a signature by going to:

Forum Actions (on menu bar) -> Edit Profile -> Edit Signature (under My Settings on the left)

Note: you'll need to have a paid subscription to add an image to your signature.

Rob
 
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

to add on to the reply from Rob [MENTION=870]Second Chance[/MENTION] - The Furrion On-Demand water heater will work IF you are SET UP in cold weather.

Most of the GD models have a heated underbelly that keeps the unit from freezing - WHEN you are running the whole unit heating unit - Not relying on air conditioner heat pump, fire place or portable space heaters ONLY. (unless you place a space heater in the basement/storage area to keep it warm).

One problem that requires the owner to creatively address is TRAVEL in cold weather. Most folks don't leave the furnace running while driving down the road. The "on demand" hot water heater doesn't cycle even if powered up because (hopefully) there is no "demand" for hot water as you are driving down the road (so it never turns on and cools to abient temperature).

If you have a 12Vdc heater in the storage area or a 120V space heater running off of an inverter powered outlet that could handle the problem but both of those solutions are owner modifications vice coming from the factory installed. Lots of factors and situations....help this helped clarify and appologize if it just made things more confusing!
 
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