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Your RV water heater is your lifeline on the road to hot water (and, most importantly, a hot shower).
The thought of losing access to hot water on the road isn’t a fun one, so knowing more about how your water heater works– and if yours is gas or electric– is a good idea.
Below, we’ll dive into how to know which type of water heater you have as well as:
- The different types of water heaters
- Which is better for you
- And tips for maintaining for water heater
First, let’s break down the different types of water heaters and how to tell if your RV has an electric or gas water heater.
Types of RV Water Heaters
RV water heaters break down based on two categories:
- Power (gas or electric), and
- Standard vs. tankless
Let’s break down each individually:
Standard water heater
A standard hot water heater funnels water from your freshwater tank then uses energy (whether gas or electric power or a combination) to heat that water up.
These typically come by way of 6 lb and 10 lb tanks, which is primarily up to preference and the space available to you.
Tankless water heater
Tankless RV water heaters are what they sound like: a water heater that doesn’t use its own tank to store and heat up water.
Instead, it uses water pressure and a heat exchanger unit to “instantly” (still takes a few seconds, but near instant) heat up water.
Learn more about tankless water heaters: What Is the Best Electric Tankless Water Heater for RVing?
Gas water heater
Now, let’s talk about the two ways a water heater is generally powered.
Now matter how your water heater is powered, it can be either a standard or tankless variant.
In the same way, a standard water heater can be gas or electric or even a combination that uses both as power sources.
In the case of gas-only RV water heaters, propane is used to generate gas which is lit and the resulting heat raises the temperature of the water coming from your fresh water tank.
Electric water heater
An electric water heater uses electricity to generate heat that raises the temperature of the tank. The electric element activates when the water heater senses the flow of water, making it highly effective at heating quickly.
Are RV Water Heaters Typically Gas or Electric?
Traditionally, RV water heaters have usually been gas-powered. However, modern RVs are often just as likely to be electric or electric + gas-powered combined (i.e. a hybrid water heater).
Both work great, so it’s more a matter of preference than effectiveness.
A gas + electric powered water heater can allow for the best of both worlds, heating up water faster and offering a backup method when your electricity goes out.
How Do I Know If My RV Water Heater Is Gas or Electric?
To find out if your RV’s water heater is gas or electric, there are a few things you can do:
Listen for the igniting of the flame
When you turn your hot water on, if you stand next to your water heater you’ll hear the flame lighting if it’s a gas water heater.
This is typically described as a “whoosh” like a quick, low burst of wind.
Check for an electrical switch
Electric water heaters have a control panel with an electric switch, which should be clearly observable when opening up the outside compartment where your water heater is located. Typically, the on/off switch is located near the top of the water heater panel but it should be hard to find either way.
Contact the manufacturer
If all else fails, contact your manufacturer. If you’re still using the stock water heater they installed, they’ll be able to tell you what it runs on.
Is a Gas or Electric Water Heater Better? Comparing Differences
Neither type of water heater is inherently better than the other. Both take cold water and heat it relatively quickly and efficiently and can provide a regular supply of hot water.
However, there are some things you should know about the differences between each.
These points will help you decide which is better for you.
Cost
Gas water heaters are typically far more affordable than electric heaters. That’s because propane is typically far more affordable than electrical power.
Available electrical power
Another thing to think about is whether electrical power is available.
We talked about the difference in cost between gas vs. electric RV water heaters, however, it depends on how you’re using your RV and whether you’re staying at an RV park with electrical hookups.
If electricity is included, an electric water heater becomes far more affordable than usual, so you can take advantage of the benefits of an electric water heater without the main con.
This can also give you access to hot water faster by utilizing both gas and electrical at the same time.
Boondocking
Yet another important thing to think about is how you travel and camp. If you’re boondocking and you had to choose between the two then gas is a safer choice as it doesn’t require you to be hooked up.
If you’ll be doing a mix of different types of camping (some boondocking, some parks), then you might as well set up both so that you can take advantage of electric power when available.
RV Water Heater Maintenance: 3 Tips
Next, let’s talk a bit about taking care of your RV water heater.
Now that you know what type of water heater you have and how they work, it’s time to talk about how to clean an RV water heater tank.
Proper maintenance is important, as the typical water heater costs around $1,000. Don’t take care of your water heater? Be prepared to pay to purchase a replacement far sooner than you should need to.
Don’t worry, though. The process of maintaining your water heater’s tank is pretty straightforward and pretty much just involves flushing your tank regularly and replacing your anode rod.
We’ll go over the high-level points in this section, but if you’d like a full guide to cleaning your RV water heater, check out our guide: How to Clean an RV Water Heater Tank: Step-by-Step Guide.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Flush your tank
If you haven’t done it in a while, take a few minutes to drain your tank. It’s a pretty simple process that involves:
- Turning your water heater off
- Releasing the pressure valve
- Flushing the tank
- Then putting everything back as it was
But this simple maintenance will keep your tank clean and in good working order.
2. Get an (or replace your) anode rod
An anode rod is a device that collects impurities within your water heater, keeping it healthy longer and extending the water heater’s lifespan.
This is incredibly useful as the typical water heater will cost you around $1,000, while an anode rod is about a $20 investment and lasts several years at a time.
Chances are, if you have a newer RV, you already have a rod installed. To find out, watch this video to find out where your anode rod will be located:
3. Perform routine maintenance every 3-6 months
Now that you know how to perform routine maintenance on your water heater (and replace your anode rod), it’s important to maintain a regular maintenance schedule.
Ideally, you inspect your water heater and flush your tank every 3 months. However, depending on how often you use your RV you may be able to get by with twice a year (before and after your travel season, for example).
Which Type of Water Heater Is for You?
Both gas and electric water heaters are depended on by millions of RVers all around the country.
No matter which style of water heater you choose, know that either can serve you well on the road. Both can quickly increase the temperature of your water source and have their own sets of pros and cons.
Ideally, you make use of both power sources. However, you can get by just fine with just one.
Hopefully, this guide helped you learn more about the difference between them, which is ideal for you and your needs, and a bit about how to maintain your water heater and tank properly.
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