Anyone run out of hot water using a 6 gallon?

[robwok]

I keep reading comments of people saying that they have a 6 gallon and it doesn't run out, or a 10 gallon and they wish they had gotten 6.

Has anyone actually run out of hot water using a 6 gallon HW heater - a new one I mean, not the original to the trailer.

Thanks!

[Bill M.]

I use the original (88) 6 gallon hot water heater and have never run out. And it heats quickly from cold. Insulated enough to stay warm over night or during the day while traveling. I like it.

[InsideOut]

It just depends on your conservation habits...you're not going to get two long "home-style" showers boom-boom right after each other - you may need to let things warm up between them. But if you conserve you can do fine...

Shari

[clancy_boy]

Never run out, but we take "Navy" showers. Washing dishes is done in a full sink of about 2 gallons when we have a large load - mostly use disposable paper.

[FullTimin2HI]

We don't have any issues with it and we take back to back showers daily... Conservatively of course (much to wifey's dismay!)... Our 6 gallon appears to be original to the trailer...

[Jammer]

Rob,

There have been, rarely, situations where we have had full hookups and several people taking showers where we have had to wait for hot water. But, with full hookups, we can run both the electric and gas, and the water heats back up quickly -- one of the several benefits of having the electric element there.

I would not consider a 10 gallon heater to be worth the weight or space.

[cameront120]

I have a new 6 gallon Atwood gas/electric water heater in my Tradewind. If you want to take a long shower, you will run out. You learn to adjust the water pressure and length of shower pretty quickly. For other things like washing dishes, etc. there's no issue. Recovery time is pretty fast whether running it on propane or electric. I think 10 gallon would be desirable if there were two people wanting to take back to back showers, but if you can have one person wait a few minutes for the heat to recover, I see no reason to go 10 gallon.

[au_ee]

On all of our RVs we've only had 6gal WHs. As long as you don't take real long showers you won't run out. It also helps to turn off the water while soaping up.

[eubank]

We had some RV-newbie guests here for two nights: Two adults, two young teens. Showering was a several hour process for them. (Believe me, there is a reason why I knew this.) Evidently, none of them knew how to take Navy showers in the RV.


Lynn

[FullTimin2HI]

Originally Posted by au_ee

It also helps to turn off the water while soaping up.

This is a must for us...

[bevman]

I have a 6 gallon Suburban and have never run out. I have to run it on the lowest setting or it gets WAY too hot.

[Gene]

No problems with the 6 gallon water heater.

If you have a dual fuel water heater, electricity takes approximately twice as long to heat water compared to propane.

Gene

[KerriO]

I'm eager to find this out empirically. I have not yet used the shower in ours (the one opportunity I had, I realized I had forgotten the towels!).

So, what is considered a "long" shower? That seems like it could be quite subjective to me. Has anyone actually done some loose timing about how long of a shower can be squeezed out of that tank? Also, I'm curious to know if anyone has found that one of those Oxynegenics (sp?) shower nozzles helps extend the length.

[tpi]

I've not had a problem with mine running out with the 6 gallon water heater and the shower head that came with my '05 Safari. If I'm on tank water, no hookups, I may cut showers short for conservation purposes, not because it runs out of hot water. On full hookups I've taken showers as long as I want. To put a time on it maybe over 10 minutes with water running continuously, with water hot at the end. Potential time probably varies due to water intake temperature, shower head flow, and thermostat cutoff setting on water heater. When the water intake is very cold (cold weather, cold water supply) I notice I mix a lot more hot water when I take showers. My water heater seems to have a high set point. I haven't measured it, but the water is very hot out of the faucet.

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by KerriO

So, what is considered a "long" shower?

You're right...it is subjective. By long in "RV speak" I mean any thing where you run the water continuously more than to wet down or rinse off. We turn off the flow for lathering & shampooing...this is often referred to as a navy shower.

Actual time can vary depending depending on whether you are using the water pressure from city taps or pumping out of your tank. Regardless...it's a short shower. This is why we went with a tankless insta-hot water heater to use in our Safari while camping with hook-ups...that way we have unlimited hot water.

Shari

[n2916s]

Well, you have 6 gallons of water that is generally 160 degrees or so. Add in about a third cold water to get a comfy warm shower and by my poor math that is about 4 minutes straight running with the typical 2 gpm shower head.

Four minutes is longer than you think...

mike

[noreen&sal]

To save any kind of eater, shower with your better half. Try to stay skinny. Sal.

[tpi]

Originally Posted by n2916s

Well, you have 6 gallons of water that is generally 160 degrees or so. Add in about a third cold water to get a comfy warm shower and by my poor math that is about 4 minutes straight running with the typical 2 gpm shower head.

Four minutes is longer than you think...

mike

This is where it gets fuzzy. Sometimes I add "cold" water thats 90 degrees. Sometimes its 35 degrees.

One thing good is it doesn't just get instantly cold. Its like at home where you gradually move the mixer towards hot as it runs out.

[noreen&sal]

Sorry, I meant to say water. Sal.

[4RXLA]

Taking short showers with the faucet off when soaping up will prevent you from getting a cold shower. For all other purposes like dishes, shaving, washing hands etc. 6 gal is plenty of water.