Visit our Popular Forums

frankfarmer · 10-20-2011, 06:34 PM

Thinking about trying the new tankless hot water heater. Just wonder of other experiences???

Full time in Limited 34, second winter coming.

Thanks for suggestions/advise.

**Kevin245** · 10-20-2011, 06:46 PM

There are numerous posts on tankless water heaters.

If you use the search function with Tankless in the thread title you'll find plenty to read on the subject.

You may also want to touch base with Lewster.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f206...light=tankless

Let us know how you proceed.

TouringDan · 10-20-2011, 09:12 PM

I am not sure of your reason for wanting to go to tankless, but if it is to save money on propane, I believe the cost savings will be negligible. For a residential home with a 40 or 50 gal gas water heater, I have read that a cost savings of $160 per year can be realized. Considering the 6 gal tank and the considerably smaller water usage in your trailer, the fuel cost savings will be very small (imho). There are other disadvantages. The tankless unit will cost more, it will be considerably more complicated and much less reliable, who is going to trouble shoot problems and repair it, plus you will not have the ability to operate it with electricity, just propane. You may also need to run a larger gas line to the tankless unit. It comes down to two of my favorite sayings: If it is not necessary to change, then it is necessary not to change and new solutions have new problems. And a third by Wally: let us not make changes, only improvements.

Dan

frankfarmer · 10-21-2011, 06:34 AM

Thanks for advise, I'll look at Girard products, Precision Temp is about 1K.

Gonna change, try one, want lots of hot water!!! Full time, second winter, no fun with wimpy 6 gallon water heater.

**Aage** · 10-21-2011, 06:48 AM

Gotta wonder why a 34-footer would have a 6 gallon WH. My '74 31-footer has a 10 gallon. Odd...

frankfarmer · 10-21-2011, 12:17 PM

Not sure why small tank, but Girard no tank unit unit on it's way. I'll post after installed, etc.....

Darkspeed · 10-21-2011, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankfarmer

Not sure why small tank, but Girard no tank unit unit on it's way. I'll post after installed, etc.....

I thought there were problems with the Girard???

InsideOut · 10-21-2011, 02:12 PM

We installed the Precision Temp ShowerMate 500 in our 1956 Safari and LOVE it! We especially like this model because it has a power assisted vent through the floor so was no need to put a new hole in our trailer. You can see pics here.

One of the primary reasons we went this route was the old water heater (which was missing when we got the trailer) was in the back of the trailer under the bed. Being that all the need for hot water was up front on our model, a LOT of water was just sitting in the lines which was then wasted when hot water was called for up front. So we wanted to move the W/H up front. Again, due to our layout - moving a traditional W/H up front, would move a lot of weight up to the tongue which is already heavy because of the tanks & appliances up there. So tankless, in our case was really the only way to go...it was expensive, but worth it!

Shari

frankfarmer · 10-23-2011, 06:35 PM

Hope the Girard unit works well. They had the only unit that would swap out easily to replace the Atwood 6 gallon heater.

Thanks for advise.

Good luck fellow Airstream owners.

frankfarmer · 11-01-2011, 12:20 PM

New Girard hot water heater works like a champ, plenty hot. Real glad for this improvement. I suggest it to any that like real long shower or hot water, etc....

TouringDan · 11-02-2011, 06:08 AM

Joe

Glad to hear that your Girard tankless water heater is working out real well for you. I guess sometimes you just really miss something that you can not normally have (a long hot shower in an Airstream).

Dan

frankfarmer · 11-02-2011, 09:47 PM

Dan & other AS Folks. Seems like a simple device, senses water flow & temp of incoming water, has 2 burners if inflow is cold, below 60 degrees, real hot water, swaps out easily for the old 6 gallon Atwood heater, 2 year warranty, my service guy says really not much to go wrong with it seemed to him.

Good luck all AS friends.