On demand hot water

Reno8220

Advanced Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2010
Messages
36
I have a question concerning this system as our new Reflection 337 has this installed. My system seems to take several minutes to send hot water to either the kitchen sink or the shower and bathroom sink. Is this normal. During my walkthrough I was advised of the adjustment located outside on the tank, and told to leave it on the maximum setting, which it is. I’m usually hooked up to city water, and couldn’t imagine how much water I would waste waiting for it to heat up to shower, if we were boondocking. I’ve accepted the fact that hot water will cost me now because of the need for propane, but this lengthy delay is annoying. Any info would be appreciated. TIA. We love everything else about our new Reflection and probably just need to get use to this new technology.
 
I have a question concerning this system as our new Reflection 337 has this installed. My system seems to take several minutes to send hot water to either the kitchen sink or the shower and bathroom sink. Is this normal. During my walkthrough I was advised of the adjustment located outside on the tank, and told to leave it on the maximum setting, which it is. I’m usually hooked up to city water, and couldn’t imagine how much water I would waste waiting for it to heat up to shower, if we were boondocking. I’ve accepted the fact that hot water will cost me now because of the need for propane, but this lengthy delay is annoying. Any info would be appreciated. TIA. We love everything else about our new Reflection and probably just need to get use to this new technology.

It's probably a function of how long the pipe is between the heater and the tap. In our Reflection, the tap or shower in the bathroom heats up pretty quickly while the kitchen takes longer. So that we don't waste water when boondocking, we have a collapsible bucket that captures the water that flows while waiting for the hot water, and we use that to flush the toilet.
 
It is normal. It does take a minute for the hot water to make its way from the water heater through your lines to the sink/tub/shower. An on-demand heater is great if you're in a full hookup campground. You can take a shower for an hour or two with no worries. If you're boon docking, you suddenly have to worry about tank capacities and how much water you're wasting waiting for the water to get to you.
 
It's probably a function of how long the pipe is between the heater and the tap. In our Reflection, the tap or shower in the bathroom heats up pretty quickly while the kitchen takes longer. So that we don't waste water when boondocking, we have a collapsible bucket that captures the water that flows while waiting for the hot water, and we use that to flush the toilet.

On my Momentum, the HWH is right under the kitchen sink. But the output line does not directly feed the kitchen sink, it goes towards the front of the coach.I guess it probably goes to the Nautilus system for winterizing purposes. this wasted a lot of water doing dishes as the hot water was making a long trip. Since I do not need to winterize, I cut and capped the line feeding the sink, then I installed a tee in HWH output line feeding the kitchen faucet directly. It now has HW at the tap with only 1/2 cup wasted.
 
I am not happy at all with the water heater on demand at our house. We too have to wait forever for the hot eater. Not only that but if you turn the knob down too much just to make it warm it will suddenly go cold. Then you have to wait again to get the hot back. Glad we don't have it in our trailer too.
 
The word that comes to mind for the on demand water heater in our reflection is “Hate”.

The water in the heater is not hot when it is at rest. There is a flow sensor in the water heater. The flow sensor must first sense there is water flowing, then the heater will ignite then it takes a few moments for the water to get hot, then it will make it’s way to the faucet. Our shower is right above the water heater and it still takes about 20 seconds for the water to get hot. I’m about ready to see what it will take to put in a real water heater.
 
I have a question concerning this system as our new Reflection 337 has this installed. My system seems to take several minutes to send hot water to either the kitchen sink or the shower and bathroom sink. Is this normal. During my walkthrough I was advised of the adjustment located outside on the tank, and told to leave it on the maximum setting, which it is. I’m usually hooked up to city water, and couldn’t imagine how much water I would waste waiting for it to heat up to shower, if we were boondocking. I’ve accepted the fact that hot water will cost me now because of the need for propane, but this lengthy delay is annoying. Any info would be appreciated. TIA. We love everything else about our new Reflection and probably just need to get use to this new technology.

This year was the first year of use for us in our new Reflection 303RLS with the on-demand water heater. Although it's a bit different than the old-fashioned style with a tank full of hot water....I would not say that we hate it. It has pros and cons just like the other model. I would say it takes like 10-15 secs to get hot water in the bathroom and maybe 20-30 at the kitchen sink. We just turn the spigots on a small amount to enable the flow sensor and burner so that minimal water is "wasted". We only boondock and leave our house with our freshwater tank full. Our trips average 4-6 days and we have no issues with lack of water. For the most part, we typically dump prob 50% of the unused fresh when returning from our trips anyway. It's just a matter of getting used to the systems on the camper and how to use them efficiently....at least for us. I realize that some like or hate the ODWH......
 
For those that say it takes too long to get hot......is it any longer than a traditional tanked water heater?

It has the same length of pipe to get from the water heater to the faucet/spigot/whatever.

No one promotes these as "under sink instant hot water" units. They are tankless water heaters.

You can't keep the hot water hot in the pex tubing any better with a tanked unit than you can with a tankless unit.
 
For those that say it takes too long to get hot......is it any longer than a traditional tanked water heater?

It has the same length of pipe to get from the water heater to the faucet/spigot/whatever.

No one promotes these as "under sink instant hot water" units. They are tankless water heaters.

You can't keep the hot water hot in the pex tubing any better with a tanked unit than you can with a tankless unit.


It most certainly does take longer. The water in the heater is cold. When I turn on the hot water faucet I can hear the water heater burner come on after 3-5 seconds then it takes a few moments for the heater to actually heat the water that is passing through it THEN it sends hot water down the pipe.

Another thing I don’t like is that it does not keep a steady temperature. When I shower I set it for 100deg, the temps will not stay steady, a couple of times the water was getting hot, I looked at the wall control and it showed 110deg.

Then there is the fact that it can not be set higher than 123 but the hottest I have ever seen water come out of the faucet is 115 which my wife complains about because it is not hot enough to suit her when she does the dishes.
 
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Yes, sadly, what you're experiencing is normal. the majority of our camping is Provincial Parks - hydro only. I keep topping up the tank with 6 gallon jugs.
The kitchen faucet is the worst. We've started to heat a pot of water on the induction plate and then dump it into the dishpan to do dishes........this helps.

I've was concerned with the addtional amount of propane that we would use, but, to my surpise, it's not an issues. Hauling water jugs in my wagon to top up the tank is a bigger PITA.
 
It most certainly does take longer. The water in the heater is cold. When I turn on the hot water faucet I can hear the water heater burner come on after 3-5 seconds then it takes a few moments for the heater to actually heat the water that is passing through it THEN it sends hot water down the pipe.

Another thing I don’t like is that it does not keep a steady temperature. When I shower I set it for 100deg, the temps will not stay steady, a couple of times the water was getting hot, I looked at the wall control and it showed 110deg.

Then there is the fact that it can not be set higher than 123 but the hottest I have ever seen water come out of the faucet is 115 which my wife complains about because it is not hot enough to suit her when she does the dishes.

That's why I asked....I do not have the TWH in my Reflection.

I haven't used one to see the difference.
 
Thank you all for the feedback. For the record, I’ve had several campers with traditional hot water heaters, gas/electric. I’m happy to hear that the propane usage is minimal with the on demand system. That’s a plus. As to the comment concerning the water traveling the same distance as a conventional gas/electric system, stop and think. Those systems hold hot water, keep it at a set temperature, and then deliver it to either location when a faucet or shower head is activated. The on demand has to light, and heat the flow of water, causing the delay that I’m not use to. So I guess it will take some getting use to. Again, not a deal breaker, the other benefits of our new 337 far outweigh this minor inconvenience. Happy camping and Merry Christmas y’all.
 
The word that comes to mind for the on demand water heater in our reflection is “Hate”.

The water in the heater is not hot when it is at rest. There is a flow sensor in the water heater. The flow sensor must first sense there is water flowing, then the heater will ignite then it takes a few moments for the water to get hot, then it will make it’s way to the faucet. Our shower is right above the water heater and it still takes about 20 seconds for the water to get hot. I’m about ready to see what it will take to put in a real water heater.

We are of the same opinion. Besides the wild temperature swings when starting and stopping the shower we don't like that they cannot be used in freezing temperatures. Since we camp pretty much from February to early December the inability to use the water heater when it's freezing outside really shortens our camping season. I suspect there is enough residual heat to keep it from freezing when we are in the trailer but we still have to deal with the drive and storage when we get home. Also Furrion won't warrant the unit below 38F.

I am looking into replacing our tankless with a propane/electric tank model this coming spring. How hard it is to swap will vary from trailer to trailer but we are fortunate that the XLS 22MLE has the main power in the vicinity of the water heater and a panel under the sink we can mount circuit breakers and controls into.
 
For those that say it takes too long to get hot......is it any longer than a traditional tanked water heater?

It has the same length of pipe to get from the water heater to the faucet/spigot/whatever.

No one promotes these as "under sink instant hot water" units. They are tankless water heaters.

You can't keep the hot water hot in the pex tubing any better with a tanked unit than you can with a tankless unit.

For your typical tankless water heater it takes longer to heat up as unlike a tank water heater there is not a supply of heated water ready to go into the pipe. It also stops heating as soon as you stop the water so you will get a burst of cooler water once you start the water back up as the water heater brings things back to temperature. There is also the problem of not being able to use it when there are freezing temperatures. With the exception of Truma's top of the line tankless water heater cold weather use is not supported or warranted by the manufacturer.

Truma does make a couple of tankless water heaters that are instant hot water if plumbed with their recirculating pumps. Truma also has models that are usable in freezing temperatures both while camped and driving. I have yet to see an American water heater with these features.
 
For your typical tankless water heater it takes longer to heat up as unlike a tank water heater there is not a supply of heated water ready to go into the pipe. It also stops heating as soon as you stop the water so you will get a burst of cooler water once you start the water back up as the water heater brings things back to temperature. There is also the problem of not being able to use it when there are freezing temperatures. With the exception of Truma's top of the line tankless water heater cold weather use is not supported or warranted by the manufacturer.

Truma does make a couple of tankless water heaters that are instant hot water if plumbed with their recirculating pumps. Truma also has models that are usable in freezing temperatures both while camped and driving. I have yet to see an American water heater with these features.

Supposedly, Furrion has upgraded their TWH to come on and run at certain intervals when the weather is freezing, to prevent freeze up.

I believe there are some members on here that have them in their units already, as expressed in their posts.

I'm sure it is not an ideal situation for everyone, but this is the way the RV industry is heading, just like the 12 volt refers.
 
Supposedly, Furrion has upgraded their TWH to come on and run at certain intervals when the weather is freezing, to prevent freeze up.

I believe there are some members on here that have them in their units already, as expressed in their posts.

I'm sure it is not an ideal situation for everyone, but this is the way the RV industry is heading, just like the 12 volt refers.

I upgraded my motherboard to the freeze protection model and it works great. Took about 15 mins. As long as the 12v and propane are enabled...works great and very seamless.
 
Supposedly, Furrion has upgraded their TWH to come on and run at certain intervals when the weather is freezing, to prevent freeze up.

I believe there are some members on here that have them in their units already, as expressed in their posts.

I'm sure it is not an ideal situation for everyone, but this is the way the RV industry is heading, just like the 12 volt refers.

I talked to Lippert and you are correct that they added antifreeze protection. The current version has freeze protection but it won't function while driving since it relies upon the propane being on (I'm not trying to start a propane on/off while traveling argument). I don't have access to our trailer at the moment so can't see if it has the newer model. All I know is the manual says it should not be used below 38 degrees.

I had considered the Truma since it has the addition of a 12V travel mode antifreeze protection but that would mean replumbing the hot water lines to recirculate which is more work than I want to do on my own.
 
"I upgraded my motherboard to the freeze protection model and it works great. Took about 15 mins. As long as the 12v and propane are enabled...works great and very seamless." I think I'll check into that. Overall, we're not impressed with this tankless hot water heater. It takes more than 20-30 seconds to get hot water to the kitchen, which is the farthest from the water heater. It is more like 2-3 minutes. The water heater is located directly below the shower faucet, and to the left of the bathroom faucet, probably about 3-4 feet of hose, so it should get hot water quickly. I'll time it today and see.

The water in the kitchen isn't anywhere close to hot enough to wash dishes, even with the tankless water heater set at the maximum of 124*, so I heat water in a teapot and the microwave as well.
 
I ran a test earlier today. No hot water had been used for a couple of hours, so the pipes, etc. were all at ambient temperature. I turned on the bathroom sink, which is closest to the hot water heater. Instead of running the hot water full blast, I turned it on only about 1/3 to 1/2. It took 30 seconds for the water heater to kick on (probably due to the pressure tank I recently installed). At about 1:30 the water was getting warm enough to wash my hands, so I turned the faucet all the way open. By the time I finished washing my hands the water was reasonably warm. Still not hot, though.
 

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