Girard tankless water heater

First topic message reminder :

We just purchased a 32 qbt and it comes with the above mentioned water heater. I was just curious if anyone has had any problems or issues with this water heater. We upgraded from a TT and had a 6 gallon water heater, so that is the extent of my experience. Thanks

c04678 to the forum from the U.K. I am sorry to hear of the water heater problem you are experiencing, and hope you get it solved asap. Some members have had good experiences from this heater, EMGR55 is one member who has used this system to his benefit.
Sean

Thanks for the welcome. I don't know if we are having problems or if it's just the nature of the beast. Bare in mind that it's currently a pain to get the water temp right without wasting water in the process. And since we have our Wildcat parked on property that does not have water, we have to conserve as best as possible.

Dear c04678

Please see the email on page 1 to you frim jrnert to contact Girard.
They will be glad to inspect your unit and make sure all is well.
Girard is very interested that all wildcat owners have a positive experience with their product.

Rhino wrote:I have had the tankless hot water system in my house for over two years and not a problem. I have the stat set at 125 and will provide all the hot water for two baths and dishwasher at the same time. My gas bill this month is $19.78 and under the old system with 40 gal tank would have been around $50.00. When a code appears you have to back flush the system with 5 gals of white vinager. Then flush it with fresh water and good to go. The people that live in LA have to do this often since the water is not that good. My system is made in Japan and cost me $lK after rebates.

The Girard tankless water heater uses 60% less propane than the standard storage tank water heater in use today -- very similar to the cost savings you're seeing in your home.

I've read the concerns posted here that many camp sites have electricity included in their cost, but if you're using more than 6 gallons of hot water at any given time with a standard water heater, you're still going to need propane for recovery -- and even more for the so-called "quick recovery water heaters" in newer RVs (not to mention the always on pilot light). The tankless system only uses propane on demand. It doesn't require stored water to be kept hot continuously (losing heat then reheating, over and over) and there is no recovery time.

It's simple and efficient, good for campers and the environment. We're very excited about this new Wildcat feature. I hope everyone gets a chance to see one of these in action -- they are the future of RV water heating.

Wildcat Chris said:

It's simple and efficient, good for campers and the environment.

Chris, I'm still considering which new trailer to buy. Frankly, I remain concerned about the tankless hot water heater concept, particularly as it applies to boondocking.

We fairly often camp at sites that do not have a sewer connection. We have to limit water use due to limited gray water storage capacity. Do you really think that the adjustment method (detailed in the manual) needed for this tankless water heater is a good match for that use, which may require that the water be turned on and then off several times during a shower? Before I consider buying a trailer equipped with such a heater, I sure would like to hear from many "boondockers" who found they could easily and comfortably restrict water use with a tankless water heater.

I am with Rv hiker ---Sure would like to hear from the boondockers, I am not too sure about this tankless water heater.

Don't just take my word for it:
http://rv-roadtrips.thefuntimesguide.com/2010/11/rv_tankless_water_heaters.php
http://knol.google.com/k/rv-direct-replacement-tankless-water-heaters#

All new technology is questioned (especially by the tech it replaces). We've done our testing on this and feel the cost savings alone are worth the change (up to 60%). Add in the fact that you'll have long or multiple hot showers and it's just gravy...

I understand that anything new has its own set of questions, sometimes we just dont like changes. What happens if we give this a try and honestly dont like it? I guess I am old school and have the addage of "why fix it if it aint broke" I guess just a little worried that we spend thousands on a new rig and we dont like the new heater then what???

Wildcat Chris, what kind of testing did you do? Did you actually try boondocking with limited water usage in mind? I don't think I spend much on heating water so saving 60% would not convince me that there is much savings there. Water usage however is very important when boondocking. I even brush my teeth using the water that comes cold before turning hot. That's how important it is to save when boondocking. Also when we have shore power we use the electric heating element only and don't use the propane at all. It would take alot more convincing then I have seen so far for me to accept the tankless heater.

Here's what I installed to help the water conservation while drydocking. Shurflo has a new pump that has a internal bypass to eliminate the rapid cycling, new 4008 Revolution pump. I installed this pump and it works as advertised. I was able to adjust the flow better and get hot water, though just when you think the water is hot enough to wash dishes the heater limits out and you get flooded with cold water and you have to start the whole adjustment process over. This is not acceptable for water conservation. Side note, I would love to see a chart that give us a input temp/flow to out put temp for these tankless water heaters.

ScottandGrace wrote:I didn't see any temperature-rise specs in that pdf. Thats a bit concerning to me since a common problem with some home demand systems is that they can't keep up.
You'll have to let us know how it does.

If you do not plan right that can happen. We have a tank-less in out home and luv it. We went one size about what was recommended. Best why I have found to prevent that. Never ending hot water that will take your skin off.

kcnielsen wrote:Wildcat Chris, what kind of testing did you do? Did you actually try boondocking with limited water usage in mind? I don't think I spend much on heating water so saving 60% would not convince me that there is much savings there. Water usage however is very important when boondocking. I even brush my teeth using the water that comes cold before turning hot. That's how important it is to save when boondocking. Also when we have shore power we use the electric heating element only and don't use the propane at all. It would take alot more convincing then I have seen so far for me to accept the tankless heater.

We use the electric with gas as a backup. Turn both on when we arrive. Helps get hot water quicker. Electric can not keep up with a shower. Nice to have the gas for a back up.

Wildcat Chris wrote:

Rhino wrote:I have had the tankless hot water system in my house for over two years and not a problem. I have the stat set at 125 and will provide all the hot water for two baths and dishwasher at the same time. My gas bill this month is $19.78 and under the old system with 40 gal tank would have been around $50.00. When a code appears you have to back flush the system with 5 gals of white vinager. Then flush it with fresh water and good to go. The people that live in LA have to do this often since the water is not that good. My system is made in Japan and cost me $lK after rebates.

The Girard tankless water heater uses 60% less propane than the standard storage tank water heater in use today -- very similar to the cost savings you're seeing in your home.

I've read the concerns posted here that many camp sites have electricity included in their cost, but if you're using more than 6 gallons of hot water at any given time with a standard water heater, you're still going to need propane for recovery -- and even more for the so-called "quick recovery water heaters" in newer RVs (not to mention the always on pilot light). The tankless system only uses propane on demand. It doesn't require stored water to be kept hot continuously (losing heat then reheating, over and over) and there is no recovery time.

It's simple and efficient, good for campers and the environment. We're very excited about this new Wildcat feature. I hope everyone gets a chance to see one of these in action -- they are the future of RV water heating.

Softwater operates the best with a THW. Some places we stay at has some awful hard water. Be interesting to see how that works out. We clean our house THW once a year and it works great. We use a little more water with it. Takes a tad longer to get HW.

Rhino wrote:I have had the tankless hot water system in my house for over two years and not a problem. I have the stat set at 125 and will provide all the hot water for two baths and dishwasher at the same time. My gas bill this month is $19.78 and under the old system with 40 gal tank would have been around $50.00. When a code appears you have to back flush the system with 5 gals of white vinager. Then flush it with fresh water and good to go. The people that live in LA have to do this often since the water is not that good. My system is made in Japan and cost me $lK after rebates.

We ended up with a Rheem. The one made in Japan we looked at did not have the output of a Rheem.

Before I take my leave today I have to add one more thing. We payed for a 10 gallon water heater. We had FR take out the 6 and chuck it. They are useless. Also when we go dry camping our gray water was limited until we hooked both tanks together. Now we have some storage. We usually stay at places that have showers available so we do not shower in the trailer. That helps 2. In some areas you can dump gray water on the ground. Just some options to be looked at.

foolsrushin couldn't be more right on the money. I would much rather have a traditional water heater due to the fact we dry dock 95% of the time. If we had a water hookup at our property I would go with the tankless. Pretty simple, if you have unlimited water, then a tankless is the way to go.

c04678 wrote:foolsrushin couldn't be more right on the money. I would much rather have a traditional water heater due to the fact we dry dock 95% of the time. If we had a water hookup at our property I would go with the tankless. Pretty simple, if you have unlimited water, then a tankless is the way to go.

I agree with you. One thing we do notice with our TWH installed in our house is that we use a little more water. In order to eliminate that you need a circulating system that either keeps the water hot in all the pipes or one that can preheats the pipes. We love our system in the house but since we go dry camping at least once a year I am not in favor of a THW in my trailer right now.

We just got back from a 8 day trip we stayed at jellystone in hagerstown. It is 5 of us and the tankless water heater does pretty good. My one complaint is the water pressure, in order to get a nice almost hot shower it has no water pressure. It is fine for those with short hair ( my wife has long hair and she was not to happy, but it got the job done). Keep in mind I have the original shower head in which I will be upgrading soon. Once I read the manuel on how to use the hot water things in proved. You are not suppose to turn on the cold water at all.

Don R,

There is a new shower head on the market (past couple years)which is great for improved shower pressure a low flows...in fact it is a great shower head for any RVer whether they have a tank or tankless water heater. The product uses a venturi effect (mixing water and air plus designed especially for RV plumbing/pressure/water flows. It also will help conserve water.
The shower head/system is "Oxygenics" and it is available from most RV Dealers. They offer it in white so it will match you bath faucet.
If you buy one, turn the Shower Hot Water faucet on full force and then adjust the flow with the dial on the base of the hand held shower head.

jrnert,

Funny you said that, my last 2 days camping my shower head cracked and I ordered the oxygenics one.

You say turn the shower hot water full force and then adjust the flow with the dial. How about adding cold water to the flow? I don't take hot showers. We've been thinking of getting an Oxygenics. Will the Oxygenics stop the burst of cold water when I turn the shower head valve off and on?

Tater

With the girard tankless water heater you don't use the cold water. The hot water is adjustable, when you turn on the hot full blast its kinda warm and when you reduce the pressure the water gets hotter. The oxygenics say that they give you more flow and better water pressure.

Scruffy and Tater wrote:You say turn the shower hot water full force and then adjust the flow with the dial. How about adding cold water to the flow? I don't take hot showers. We've been thinking of getting an Oxygenics. Will the Oxygenics stop the burst of cold water when I turn the shower head valve off and on?

Tater

Since we do not turn ours off and on I can not comment on the burst but we would not trade our Oxygenics for any other shower head that is out there at this time. We encountered 2 manageable concerns. Make sure shower holder is mounted on wood. Our old one wasn't so we silicone 2 extra hole. The head is heavy and the heat and vibration will cause the head to move so we put it in the old hose holder we do not use anymore when we travel and when we finish showering.

We'd have a problem. I like a gentle lukewarm shower, Scruffy likes a hot powerful shower. I guess the Oxygenics wouldn't work for us.

Tater

On a regular HWH should work for Scruffy, U can get a Lukewarm Shower but I do not how gentle it would be.

To All:
If you have a Girard Tankless Water Heater and you turn the Shower off and then back on you are also turning the burner off and then back on....that is why the temp. variance for a few seconds. Remember, the Water Heater is only on if a demand for hot water.
Oxygenics shower head is designed to use less flow and helps conserve water plus gives great shower pressure.
As I said, it is a great addition to any RV's shower no matter waht kind of water heater you have.

Don R

Let us all know your thoughts on the Oxygenics after you and your family tries it.

After this mornings scalding shower, I want my old type tank HWH back. Wife isnt happy with it either. Cant regulate it no matter what we do.. ended up having to turn on abit of cold water to rinse off with. No matter if it is in Auto or Low mode, just scalding hot. Dont know if there is an adjustment than can be made via the factory or dealer?

John and Connie,

Sorry for the issues....to reolve please call Girard Tech Support - 866-559-1221.