Foto-n-T
Well-known member
There was recently a thread dealing with a bad heating element and as I was reading the responses I noted a couple where people mentioned adjustable thermostats on RV water heaters and I wanted to mention a trick without hijacking that thread.
My rig has a ten gallon Atwood which has served me well for the last decade (knock on wood). As with all RV hot water heaters this thing puts out water hot enough to poach eggs. Many years ago on our first 5vr I wanted to get that water temperature down to something reasonable both for convenience and to save on propane. Since at the time I was very new and had no idea that there were actually adjustable thermostats out there I decided to use the bypass valves instead. Basically if you'd like to lower the output (faucet) temperature of your hot water simply crack open cold water valve between the cold water inlet to the water heater and the hot water outlet on the water heater bypass circuit of the plumbing. Do this while running the hot water from the faucet into a container with either an instant read thermometer or a meat thermometer that reads down to around 120?. When the water temp gets to where you like it stop opening that bypass valve and you're set.
Note that if you're in Arizona during the summer where the water comes out of the ground at 120? this will have little benefit.
My rig has a ten gallon Atwood which has served me well for the last decade (knock on wood). As with all RV hot water heaters this thing puts out water hot enough to poach eggs. Many years ago on our first 5vr I wanted to get that water temperature down to something reasonable both for convenience and to save on propane. Since at the time I was very new and had no idea that there were actually adjustable thermostats out there I decided to use the bypass valves instead. Basically if you'd like to lower the output (faucet) temperature of your hot water simply crack open cold water valve between the cold water inlet to the water heater and the hot water outlet on the water heater bypass circuit of the plumbing. Do this while running the hot water from the faucet into a container with either an instant read thermometer or a meat thermometer that reads down to around 120?. When the water temp gets to where you like it stop opening that bypass valve and you're set.
Note that if you're in Arizona during the summer where the water comes out of the ground at 120? this will have little benefit.
As you say, that is what one does anyway with taps. I just can't visualize how mixing hot water with cold anywhere along the line will reduce propane consumption.
