Looks like I need a new water heater...

[TMG51]

Chasing a drip under the van, I noticed dampness under my RV style water heater... Ripped off the styrofoam  jacket to find fittings in the back rusted and leaking.

Time to replace. Is there anything more fun out there these days or should I just replace it with the same Suburban 6 gal unit?

 

[Ballenxj]

Time to replace. Is there anything more fun out there these days or should I just replace it with the same Suburban 6 gal unit?

Your tank looks like it's made of steel? I have done that rodeo twice now. Once in my old motorhome, and more recently in my TT.
The motorhome one was upgraded from a 6 to a 10 gallon one. That went right in, with luckily all the fittings in the same spots.
With the one in the TT, I had the aluminum tank separated, heli-iarced for about $80. and reinstalled.
If yours is steel, you should be able to get it done cheaper? I've seen used ones on C.L., but rarely. The best time to find them is in the summer.
A lot of times they burst in the Winter due to not being Winterized when stored in colder climates. Do yourself a favor and buy a spare thermocouple while you're at it.

 

[BobBski]

I haven't looked into RV models, if there are any. But I replaced the tank water heater, in the house I used to own with a tankless/on demand Rennai water heater. That thing worked great and according to my granddaughter is still working great. It used natural gas and you never ran out of hot water. You'd have you're hot water much quicker and it's roughly the dimensions of a breaker box in the house.

 

[GotSmart]

I haven't looked into RV models, if there are any.  But I replaced the tank water heater, in the house I used to own with a tankless/on demand Rennai water heater.  That thing worked great and according to my granddaughter is still working great.   It used natural gas and you never ran out of hot water.  You'd have you're hot water much quicker and it's roughly the dimensions of a breaker box in the house.

The only problem is limited water availible.  Not to mention power.

 

[BobBski]

Less water and power required. http://m.campingworld.com/shopping/item/tankless-liquid-propane-gas-water-heater-10l/84346

 

[Gary68]

if the tank is good,why not just replace the fittings?

 

[TMG51]

if the tank is good,why not just replace the fittings?

It's leaking around the fittings on the tank, if those are rusted through then it seemed to me it might be more trouble than it's worth to take the tank out, have it welded, and reinstall just to have a still-rusty tank for my time and money. If I could fix it cheap and easy, I would, but I'm not sure this one can be solved with pipe tape and epoxy putty.

I like the tankless heater BobSki linked to. Seems to me it would use no more propane unless I used more hot water.

 

[Gary68]

ah,ok,so the bung weld is rusted away and not just the threads leaking,i like the tankless heaters but if you give me unlimited hot water,i will use it

 

[hepcat]

Just replace the old Suburban. It likely was OE... and has lasted however long your van is old. If you take care of the new one, it'll last just as long. It's a direct-bolt in and you can R&R it in a couple of hours tops with no new plumbing needed (unless of course there's a problem with your fittings.) I had to replace the Atwood in my B-van when I got it as the previous owner(s) had failed to winterize it and the WH froze and burst. I think the new electric-start one was $287 from Amazon.

 

[Ballenxj]

I like the tankless heater BobSki linked to. Seems to me it would use no more propane unless I used more hot water.

I really like that idea as well! I believe they use a piezo igniter, so very little drain on battery, if any, no pilot lite needed, and also doesn't stay running/burning when not in use, so very frugal with propane.  My current water heater is constantly kicking on when it starts to cool off, so running more than it needs to. I agree that with a tankless water heater I think you could actually use more hot water, while still burning less propane.

 

[ahh_me2]

And then there are tankless/demand water heaters from Girard that
are meant to drop in and replace 6 gallon or 10 gallon standard tank heaters.

 

[rvpopeye]

I don't have any experience with the tankless ones.

I kind of lean towards the old style pilot light models.
No electronic board failures to worry about.

I turn it beyond pilot unless I need hot water in a hurry ,,, the pilot alone will heat it up and keep it hot enough for a shower and then in a day or so it will be hot again.

WAY less fuel burned and no jet engine noise keeping me (and neighbors) awake at night ;>)

Solar heated water is another option to consider too.

 

[highdesertranger]

there are a few tankless water heaters that replace the standard RV water heaters. like the Girard that ahh me posted, I believe Atwood makes one too. I think you should get a tankless and do a review for all of us. just kidding but there are options. highdesertranger

 

[Ballenxj]

I don't have any experience with the tankless ones.

Apparently they are fairly simple and straight forward to install. See video below.
Tankless Water Heater installation
Now I'm really interested in getting one.

 

[TMG51]

there are a few tankless  water heaters that replace the standard RV water heaters.  like the Girard that ahh me posted,  I believe Atwood makes one too.  I think you should get a tankless and do a review for all of us.  just kidding but there are options.  highdesertranger

I just might!

I'm more inclined to like these Marey ones I think... half the price of the bolt-in units like Girard. The only thing I wonder about is how to vent it, looks like exhaust comes out the top, rather than the side door like the existing unit.
https://www.amazon.com/Marey-Power-Propane-Tankless-Heater/dp/B00886CZA6

 

[hepcat]

On-demand is a very cool concept... but let's look at this from a practical perspective.  I only run my WH for a couple of hours in a 24 hour period.  Once, usually, in the morning, and for a while in the evening.  It takes just a few minutes for the tank to heat.  Others, like Popeye (above) just use the pilot light to heat the tank.  Either way, it doesn't take much propane. 

A Suburban 6 gal electric-spark start WH is $348 on Amazon.  The Girard (that fits the same space) is $511.  That's $163 difference for the Girard. 

I don't really know how much propane an on-demand WH would save you in a year's time, but $163 will buy you FORTY gallons of propane at $4/gallon.  Now, I don't full-time in my van, but I do spend a couple of months a year in it at various times.  I just spent 34 days on the road in the van and stayed in it 29 of those nights... and used about 3 gallons of propane and that was using the WH, cooking, running the propane forced-air furnace almost nightly,  and running the fridge on propane much of that time.  I suspect that most of my propane was used running the furnace and fridge...  but even with that kind of use, forty gallons of propane will last a loooong time.  

Yes, on-demand is a very cool concept, but like diesel engines, at their current prices it'll take a long time to recover the cost.  And for those of us who stay off the grid for a while, it's kind of comforting to know I've got an extra six gallons of water in my HW tank should I ever need it. 

A direct-spark ignition Suburban WH is $348 from Amazon, free shipping:

https://www.amazon.com/Suburban-509...387&sr=1-83&keywords=suburban+rv+water+heater

an on-demand Girard is $511 from Amazon, free shipping:

https://www.amazon.com/Girard-Prod-...r=1-1-catcorr&keywords=girard+rv+water+heater

 

[John61CT]

$80-140 gets tankless units new on eBay, 5L up to 18L flow rates.

 

[hepcat]

$80-140 gets tankless units new on eBay, 5L up to 18L flow rates.

For residential use or RV use?

 

[GotSmart]

The biggest reason for going tankless, is leaking rusting tanks.

 

[John61CT]

For residential use or RV use?

No electricity, so either?

Friend's got one set up with a bucket shower tent camping.