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lewster · 11-08-2010, 06:46 PM

Just got the official announcement about a new RV tankless water heater system from Girard Systems. In case you are not familiar with Girard, they manufacture the lateral arm awnings that are found on almost all high-end motor homes (with high end pricing to match

)

This new tankless water heater looks like a direct replacement for a Suburban 10 gallon model (as is the Precision Temp RV-500). The MAJOR DIFFERENCE is the pricing.....what looks to be about HALF the price of the RV-500.

I have one on order to test (they will be available next month). I will report back when I get it and put it on the bench. Here is the promo information that I just got:

Endless Hot Water...
What is Induced
Draft?
A power blower forces
the combustion air
through the heat ex-
changer (Induced draft)
producing instant hot
water.
CSA & UL Approved.
On-Demand
Induced Draft LP Gas
Tankless Water Heater
The Girard Products’ GSWH-1 Tankless Water Heater
incorporates a power blower that forces the combustion
air through the heat exchanger (Induced draft). This new
design results in a unit capable of providing:
• Higher Burner Power in a Smaller Package
• Higher Combustion Efﬁ ciency
• Heat Transfer Efﬁ ciencies in Excess of 90%
without Condensation
• Higher Wind Resistance Performance
ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
• Instant Hot Water – An unlimited supply of hot water when you need it plus
no recovery time!
• Energy Efﬁ cient – Heat only the water you use. The GSWH1 Tankless Water
heater uses 60% less LP Gas than current tank models. No tank means no
heat loss!
• Lightweight – Over 65% lighter than conventional tank model water heaters.
Why carry 50-90 Ibs. of additional dead weight?
• Less Space – 12.5”H x 12.5”W x 15.5”D.
• Electronic Ignition - State of the Art Electronics – No pilot lights or manual
burners to keep lighting or adjusting.
• Dual BTU with AUTO Mode – Automatically selects High or Low Flame
depending on the input water temperature. You also can manually select the
LOW Flame Mode.
• Two Year Limited Warranty

ArtStream · 11-08-2010, 06:54 PM

Thanks fot the info Lewester!

PS, Glad you're still around!

easyride · 11-08-2010, 07:28 PM

Post back with pictures. Dave

vswingfield · 11-08-2010, 07:37 PM

Thanks Lew,

I will be watching for your updates.

GREENovaters · 11-08-2010, 08:12 PM

Very interesting! I'm extremely excited to hear your thoughts and experience with this new system.

olddog299 · 11-08-2010, 08:35 PM

Lew, have you got any idea how much current is drawn at start-up and while running? I look forward to your impressions after testing. Thanks and do use a moisturizer to avoid wrinkled toes...

Foiled Again · 11-08-2010, 09:31 PM

Lew, I'm interested. My water heater is 5 years old - and for fulltiming I figure it's nearing end of life. Unfortunately mine is a six gallon... but reading the dimensions it doesn't sound that much bigger than what I've got in the 25 FB.... Think it would fit?

Will await your evaluation.

Paula

slowmover · 12-26-2010, 06:34 PM

Looking forward to your tests and opinions, Lew. And where or what type of RV configuration is best suited to this. With two people I have a hard time in justifying it (leaving cost completely aside) despite the smaller size and fewer parts. With no washer/dryer and but two people in, say, a '34.

Would it be -- were it yours -- that four people in transit would best benefit by a tankless?

To go a bit off topic, would the Precision Temp ability to heat water and be used a hot water furnace be worth the trouble to eliminate the propane furnace and go to the trouble of new ducting, heat-exchangers, et. al in a trailer. I've been "seeing" this arrangement as a moho item.

Thanks.

.

GREENovaters · 12-26-2010, 06:43 PM

Lew - Lew - Lew:

We're all waiting on you! Please give us your feedback on how the tankless system is working for you!

vswingfield · 12-26-2010, 06:52 PM

Hi Lew,

Hope you had a good Christmas yesterday, happy new year too.

This question seems timely, does the Girard Systems unit have something like the RV-500's Cold Weather Package, either as a standard feature or an option?

lewster · 12-26-2010, 07:03 PM

Hi All,

I'm still awaiting the arrival of the first Girard tankless unit. I have 3 on order for clients at this point. They ordered them sight unseen!

I do believe that they have a cold weather package, but I will check further.

I'm expecting delivery of unit #1 sometime this week. I'll be bench testing it for a few days and will report back on my observations of this new unit.

Stay tuned!

lewster · 12-26-2010, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REDNAX

Looking forward to your tests and opinions, Lew. And where or what type of RV configuration is best suited to this. With two people I have a hard time in justifying it (leaving cost completely aside) despite the smaller size and fewer parts. With no washer/dryer and but two people in, say, a '34.

Would it be -- were it yours -- that four people in transit would best benefit by a tankless?

To go a bit off topic, would the Precision Temp ability to heat water and be used a hot water furnace be worth the trouble to eliminate the propane furnace and go to the trouble of new ducting, heat-exchangers, et. al in a trailer. I've been "seeing" this arrangement as a moho item .

Thanks.

I had two RV-500's; first in my 1998 Monaco Dynasty 40' diesel pusher with 2 people in it and later in my 19CCD with just me. I would highly recommend it to anyone, irrespective of the amount of water used as they certainly save a huge amount of energy by design and you will never run out of hot water as long as you have water (shore hook-up) and sufficient LP. The new Girard unit seems to do exactly what the RV-500 does at about half the price. We'll see after my initial tests.

I have a friend who used a standard LP 10 gallon water heater as the basis for a hydronic heating system in his RV. There are many modifications to be made to the system, but there is no reason that you could not adapt a tankless water heater for this use. I used a residential tankless water heater (Takagi TK-Jr) as the heating source for a house-wide 4 zone hydronic heating system in my last house.

PM me if you would like more information and direction on this, as I have significant experience and expertise in the RV hydronic heating systems (Aqua-Hot) currently on the market.

slowmover · 12-26-2010, 07:30 PM

PM me if you would like more information and direction on this, as I have significant experience and expertise in the RV hydronic heating systems (Aqua-Hot) currently on the market.

Thank you, I certainly shall (and will refer to this thread). First I need to sell a house then buy another trailer. Your response made this item achieve a higher point on the list of to-do for that trailer.

Happy Holiday and a Happy "Lew" year.

alclad · 12-26-2010, 07:44 PM

i found this:

Girard Products introduces tankless water heater > RV Daily Report |

i hope they offer an aluminum cover for airstream....

constructor · 01-29-2011, 04:57 PM

We have a 73 Tradewind. Do you know if it will fit? We don't need the door option? We put a tankless in our home years ago and like the gas savings and plenty of hot water when people visit. Thanks.

lewster · 01-29-2011, 08:50 PM

Hi ALL,

I don't know about the door options, as I have not received the door yet that I had ordered with my original unit. From what I can tell, the Girard unit is made to fit into the existing space of a 10 gallon unit. I will measure my unit that's on the bench (about to be tested for a week) and will post it in a day or so.

Stay tuned for the performance report for this unit.

Lothlorian · 01-30-2011, 04:52 AM

I wish I would have known about the Girrard Tankless water heater, I just installed a new attwood 10 gallon. What a nice way to go. Does your water heater have to use a certain type of pump with a exact pressure?

Brian

Overlander & Sea · 01-30-2011, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lothlorian

I wish I would have known about the Girrard Tankless water heater, I just installed a new attwood 10 gallon. What a nice way to go. Does your water heater have to use a certain type of pump with a exact pressure?

Brian

I just ordered & installed a 6 gal gas/electric Atwood in our '75 20' Argosy MH (remodel). I saw last week on PPL's web site the tankless Girard, wish I had waited for the Girard.

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/r...ter-heater.htm

constructor · 01-30-2011, 02:46 PM

Lew, so appreciate you advise and look forward to hearing on the bench test. Jim has the old one out. The deminsion of the opening is 16 X 12.5. The original door attaches to the frame of the old HWH. He is thinking he can dismantle the existing HWH and insert the new 12.5 x 12.5 x 15 into the frame/box of the old for reusing the original door.

ddstech · 01-30-2011, 03:08 PM

lewster - Do you think that this unit could be vented using a small vent hole on the side of the trailer, rather then cut a large door out? I have a 58 flying cloud that originally had a electric heater, so no door was cut. I would rather have the cleaner look of no door if possible.

Thanks for your expert advice!

Matt