Fulltimers in Hot Water

Adjusting to the fulltime lifestyle includes many different areas of life. One of them is hot running water. Sure, you have a water heater in your RV, typically its a six gallon job, while your old land-based heater was probably 40 or 50 gallons. All is not lost, most of you won't be doing piles of laundry, so the biggest adjustment will be showers.

First, think "Navy Shower." You get in the shower, turn on the taps and adjust the temperature. Rinse off. NOW turn the valve on the shower head to turn off the flow of water, without turning off the mixing valves. Soap up, stick shampoo in your hair. Water back on, rinse off. For some this just isn't satisfying, but with the "necessities" taken care of, now you can flip the valve open and 'drain the tank' without fear of running out of hot water with shampoo on your dome.

Some fulltimers who have "pilot light" water heaters rarely allow the main burner of their heater to come on. They simply leave the heater set on pilot when in warm climates, and let the pilot light heat the water in the tank. By so doing they reduce the amount of LP used, and don't suffer the "blowtorch" noise of the main burner, popping off anytime day or night. Those with an electronic ignition often simply "turn on" the heater a few minutes before needing water, then shut it off when they're through.