Tankless water heater procedures for cold weather camping

[NTG]

Recently started FT'ing in new Influence 2903RL. Going to camp in area with mid 20's temp. Do I need to drain the tankless water heater every night or will it be ok if we are running the furnace? Looking for someone with experience to advise.

 

[txloser]

If it’s a newer Furion, which I suspect it is, it’s business as usual. The tank will fire off the propane now and then to keep it from freezing. I’ve camped with mine down to 17 degrees at night. Upper 20’s by day. No issues.

 

[NTG]

If it’s a newer Furion, which I suspect it is, it’s business as usual. The tank will fire off the propane now and then to keep it from freezing. I’ve camped with mine down to 17 degrees at night. Upper 20’s by day. No issues.

What model do you have because I know one has the freeze protection but I don't think the one they put in mine has that feature after reading manuals.

 

[txloser]

I’ve got a Furrion tankless. Not sure the model number, but my understanding is the newest ones all have this feature. My trailer is almost a year old. You mentioned you had a new trailer so I assumed it may be the same. Maybe I need to check mine as well so I’m not giving myself bad advice. Lol.

 

[NTG]

I’ve got a Furrion tankless. Not sure the model number, but my understanding is the newest ones all have this feature. My trailer is almost a year old. You mentioned you had a new trailer so I assumed it may be the same. Maybe I need to check mine as well so I’m not giving myself bad advice. Lol.

View attachment 191240I

 

[NTG]

Yea I have a 2025 and I saw in the manual what you attached. Instead of an AM model, the documents say it's an AB model. I couldn't find it on their site,so I sent an email to Furrion to ask if it has the freeze protection feature. Thanks for your help.

 

[Wichita Dave]

@NTG, I carry a very small fan forced electric heater with a tip over safety switch. It has three settings the lowest being 600 W. Last winter in Rockport, Texas the lows were mid-20s for a few nights. My tankless is accessible from the pass-through. I set the heater up at 600W and to come on at about 40° (a guess). I was sure to have plenty of clearance around it, but it heated all the plumbing in the pass through. I had shore power to do it.

 

[NTG]

@NTG, I carry a very small fan forced electric heater with a tip over safety switch. It has three settings the lowest being 600 W. Last winter in Rockport, Texas the lows were mid-20s for a few nights. My tankless is accessible from the pass-through. I set the heater up at 600W and to come on at about 40° (a guess). I was sure to have plenty of clearance around it, but it heated all the plumbing in the pass through. I had shore power to do it.

Thanks for your response. It's a shame I can't get this answered correctly from Furrion. I believe it has automatic anti freeze protection feature. If mine was in or connected to basement it would be fine as mine is heated by the furnace. I have a back up plan if I don't get a response to put insulation board and tape over the outside if temps drop too low and just not use it at night. I can also drain it. Still waiting for a correct answer. About to send an email and call Grand Design. Dealer has not responded with an answer either. Go figure.

 

[BarryLaDuke]

I read the attachment from txloser - it has an automatic freeze protection. All tankless have them now (residential and RV). As mentioned earlier, you must make sure you have propane and electricity supplied to the tankless. Also make sure you have a heated water supply hose from the bib to the Influence so the outside line doesn't freeze. The park you're in should also have some sort of heated tape on any piping below the bib that is above the freeze line.

In short, you don't have to drain it each night. Just keep it supplied with water, electricity for ignition, and gas to give you a flame. It's internal sensors will know when it's time to fire and internally circulate hot water to keep the heat exchanger from freezing.

My resume includes a 7 year career selling tankless water heaters and doing technical training for installers.

 

[NTG]

I read the attachment from txloser - it has an automatic freeze protection. All tankless have them now (residential and RV). As mentioned earlier, you must make sure you have propane and electricity supplied to the tankless. Also make sure you have a heated water supply hose from the bib to the Influence so the outside line doesn't freeze. The park you're in should also have some sort of heated tape on any piping below the bib that is above the freeze line.

In short, you don't have to drain it each night. Just keep it supplied with water, electricity for ignition, and gas to give you a flame. It's internal sensors will know when it's time to fire and internally circulate hot water to keep the heat exchanger from freezing.

My resume includes a 7 year career selling tankless water heaters and doing technical training for installers.

Thanks for your feedback. What was throwing me off was the "only clause" at the top of the manual and the mentioning of the AM model but not the AB model. I can't find any mention of the AB model even on the Furrion website.

 

[PeterInNH]

Yea I have a 2025 and I saw in the manual what you attached. Instead of an AM model, the documents say it's an AB model. I couldn't find it on their site,so I sent an email to Furrion to ask if it has the freeze protection feature. Thanks for your help.

I called them on exactly what that suffix meant - nothing:

Furrion Tankless Water Heater - Cold Weather

Will air blow out the water in the mixing bowl? While I can't say for certain, it would seem to me that if only the hot water feed were open, then yes, assuming sufficient pressure, all of the water in the tankless water heater could be blown out (including the mixing bowl). There have been...

www.mygrandrv.com

 

[Bradley_361]

Recently started FT'ing in new Influence 2903RL. Going to camp in area with mid 20's temp. Do I need to drain the tankless water heater every night or will it be ok if we are running the furnace? Looking for someone with experience to advise.

I am following this post too!