If you’re an RV owner, you know that one of the biggest advantages of having a camper is access to hot water. You don’t have to worry about running out, and you also don’t have to worry about conserving resources like gas or electricity because you can use as much as you want.
This is especially important when it comes to turning off your hot water heater at night since this question can be a bit complicated. Let’s take a look at both sides of the argument and see what makes the most sense for your needs:
Should I Turn My Rv Hot Water Heater Off At Night?
There are several reasons why you may want to turn your RV hot water heater off at night. It’s helpful to know the pros and cons of doing this so you can make a more informed decision about how best to utilize your hot water supply.
- You can save money by turning it off at night because you won’t be paying for electricity or gas when the demand for hot water isn’t as high (typically overnight).
- You can save time by turning it off, too, it takes less than a minute to turn on your RV’s hot water heater in the morning, but if you’re like me, waking up early enough for that can be difficult.
Will Leaving My RV Hot Water Heater On All The Time Cost Me More Money?
The answer is yes, turning your water heater off at night can save you money. In fact, it’s the most efficient way to use your RV hot water heater.
Let me explain how this works. When you turn on your RV’s hot water faucet, the temperature of that stream of fresh water will be higher than normal because it has been sitting inside of a storage tank that was warmed up by heat from your RV’s engine or power converter depending on which type of heater you have. The higher temperature is necessary for it to reach before travelling through pipes and finally reaching the showerhead where we want it.
But once the cold water sinks back down into the tank again, there’s no longer any need for that extra energy boost so why not let some go unused?
Will Leaving My RV Hot Water Heater On All The Time Wear Down My Equipment?
In most RVs, it’s a good idea to turn off your hot water heater at night. Leaving the water heater on for extended periods of time will cause it to wear out sooner than if you turn it off at night. This is because most RV hot water heaters are sealed systems and require very little maintenance. It’s best to let them sit for 24 hours before using them again so that they have time to cool down completely.
If you’re really worried about ruining your equipment, consider this: turning the hot water heater off once a day means that I can enjoy my RV for years longer without having to replace expensive parts. Just because I was too lazy or forgetful enough not to do something as simple as turning off my hot water heater when we were done using it in the evening, then I think that’s worth giving up one of those precious extra minutes of sleep.
When Should You Turn Off Water Heater?
Turning off your water heater can save you a lot of money, as well as prevent damage to the components of your RV.
When you’re not using your hot water system, turn off the power to it. This will prevent overheating and damage to the thermostat that controls how hot or cold your water gets. Turning off your hot water heater is also good practice when travelling in an RV because it reduces the risk of fire if anything were to happen while on the road such as running over debris.
If you are going away for any length of time or if you do not expect anyone will be using hot water for several days, consider turning off all electrical appliances in your RV including lights, fans and air conditioning units along with refrigerators/freezers which use more electricity than other appliances when left running constantly during long periods without use.
What Is The Best Way To Turn Your Rv Hot Water Heater Off At Night?
The best way to turn your RV hot water heater off at night is:
- Turn off the water heater.
- Shut off power to the water heater.
- Turn off the switch that turns on or off the circuit breaker for your entire electrical system or disconnect it entirely, depending on which type of RV you have.
- Turn off any switches or circuits that provide power to individual components of your RV, such as lights, outlets, etc. This includes anything with a plug that can be pulled out of its socket; just pull out all plugs until they’re all gone.
What Happens If You Don’t Turn Your Rv Hot Water Heater Off At Night?
If you leave your water heater on all night, the water will keep heating and heating. Eventually, it will heat up to a dangerous temperature and then boil over. This is not only hazardous for your RV but also potentially dangerous for yourself.
Your hot water tank could be damaged by the boiling-over water and so could you if it happens while you’re sleeping.
Do Rv Water Heaters Shut Off Automatically?
The short answer is no, your RV water heater will not shut off automatically. Your water heater has a built-in thermostat that will automatically turn the unit on and off as needed to maintain an optimum temperature for use. However, it does not have automatic shutoff features like you would find in a typical gas or electric water heater at home.
If your RV’s hot water heater were to run out of propane while you are away from the vehicle and there are no carbon monoxide detectors present, this could be dangerous if people were inside sleeping at night.
Or if they had been cooking with propane earlier in the day but hadn’t turned it off yet. This creates a potential fire hazard that can cause serious damage to both your RV and any nearby property if left unattended overnight or even longer.
Can I Turn Off Water And Leave Boiler On?
You can’t turn off the hot water heater and leave just the boiler on. That would be a terrible idea.
The hot water tank sits in your RV underneath the tub or shower, but there is also a propane tank outside for heating purposes. If you disconnect the hose from one side of that connection and leave it connected on the other side, then you’ll get a double-whammy effect.
No hot water circulation since there is no way for gas to reach your home, and burnt-out pilot lights, because they are designed to burn continuously.
How Long Does Hot Water Last In Rv?
The hot water heater is set at 140 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent scalding, so it’s not like you can take a quick shower and then jump right back out. The water will cool down pretty quickly. If you don’t plan on using the sink or shower, turn off the water heater at night while you sleep.
This will allow your tank to fill during that time and be ready in the morning when you need it most.
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Conclusion
Hopefully, we’ve helped answer some of your questions about what to do with your RV hot water heater. We know that it can be scary to turn off such a big piece of equipment and it can seem like there are so many questions. But don’t worry, we’re here for you.
We know firsthand how frustrating it is when something goes wrong with your rig, especially when you are far from home and need help right away. That’s why we wanted to share this information with our readers so that they have all the resources they need before they begin their journey in an RV or even if they already own one.
