Hot water heater questions

[bernie]

Got a 2000 model Casita. I have never used the hot water heater but now I'm getting ready for a long trip. Sometimes I will not be at an RV park but would like to use the tank for showers. Question: If my onboard water tank runs dry will the hot water tank also be dry. I understand that if HW tank is dry when lit it will do damage. Question: When filling up the water tank how do I know when the hot water tank is full? Question: Will the pilot light stay lit during travel or will have to turn it off and relight at destination? any and all info appreciated.

[Bill K]

I will try to answer some of your questions.
Your hot water tank will only go dry by pulling the drain plug.

When you fill your water tank turn on the water pump and then turn on the hot water faucet even if the hot water tank is cold. When you get water out of the hot water faucet the hot water tank is full. then you can fill your water tank till full.

I have never had my hot water tank on when driving.

Bill K

Originally Posted by bernie

Got a 2000 model Casita. I have never used the hot water heater but now I'm getting ready for a long trip. Sometimes I will not be at an RV park but would like to use the tank for showers. Question: If my onboard water tank runs dry will the hot water tank also be dry. I understand that if HW tank is dry when lit it will do damage. Question: When filling up the water tank how do I know when the hot water tank is full? Question: Will the pilot light stay lit during travel or will have to turn it off and relight at destination? any and all info appreciated.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Bill has good answers; I'd like to elaborate if I may...

Originally Posted by bernie

Question #1: If my onboard water tank runs dry will the hot water tank also be dry.
Question #2: When filling up the water tank how do I know when the hot water tank is full?
Question #3: Will the pilot light stay lit during travel or will have to turn it off and relight at destination?

Answer #1:No, the water tank will not drain the hot water heater by itself.
Answer #2:Like Bill says, when you open any hot water faucet and get water not air, the hot water heater's tank is full.
Answer #3:If you close the Propane Bottle's valve to travel, the water heater's pilot light will go out (mine takes up to 10 minutes to burn off the propane left in the line between the Propane Bottle and the Water Heater.) However, if you forget to relight the water heater's pilot light the next time you open the Propane Bottle's valve, then the propane will flow out the water heater's still open gas valve with potentially dangerous results.

I highly recommend consciously turning the water heater off during travel and relighting it at your destination.

[Greg H]

Yes turn the pilot out, you wouldn't want to buy a freshly exploded gas station, would you?

[Donna D.]

Water heats really fast in a hot water heater. Like minutes... and stays warm for a quite a while. No point in leaving the propane on for it during transit IMHO. Remember too, the water weighs approx 8# per gallon. That could be weight you'd rather not be hauling around. More weight means less fuel mileage. I travel with an empty tank, fill it and heat at destination. YMMV

[bernie]

OK, thanks everybody for the info.

[Bill K]

Most gas valves have a pilot safety that shuts off the gas supply to the pilot if the flame goes out.

I am not saying that there are not some old systems out there without a safety.

Bill K