Slow Hot Water

[BobC]

Is anyone else having to wait a long time to get hot water out of the faucet at kitchen sink, bathroom sink or shower? We are in Florida hooked up to city water the other day 72 degree ambient, sunny bluebird day. Opened hot water faucet only-46 seconds before water even got minimally warm, 1 min and 16 seconds till water got even close to hot, estimated temp at that point 100/110 degre (was not scalding, just warm) 2 full minutes till fully hot. Temperature set at controller in bathroom 124. At bathroom sink same condition turn on hot only 1 min and 6 seconds before it got hot. Anyone else experiencing this? After water reaches temp then things are fine. If I go on fresh water tank it will be empty in two days at this rate. It may be continuous be it certainly isn’t instantaneous.

[howson]

Is anyone else having to wait a long time to get hot water out of the faucet at kitchen sink, bathroom sink or shower? We are in Florida hooked up to city water the other day 72 degree ambient, sunny bluebird day. Opened hot water faucet only-46 seconds before water even got minimally warm, 1 min and 16 seconds till water got even close to hot, estimated temp at that point 100/110 degre (was not scalding, just warm) 2 full minutes till fully hot. Temperature set at controller in bathroom 124. At bathroom sink same condition turn on hot only 1 min and 6 seconds before it got hot. Anyone else experiencing this? After water reaches temp then things are fine. If I go on fresh water tank it will be empty in two days at this rate. It may be continuous be it certainly isn’t instantaneous.

What water heater is in your '22 315RLTS?

It does take some time for hot water to get to the faucet since it must travel from the water heater to the Nautilus Panel then out to the faucet. Nearly the length of the trailer since it has to travel both ways.

You might find this thread interesting as it most likely reflects your setup (drawing is of my '19 315RLTS): https://gdrvowners.com/forum/operati...abled-disabled

Also noted that was your first post, so welcome to the forum. I moved your trailer info to the sig line (I see you tried to get it there!). I assume you read the Welcome Letter (thanks).

Howard

[TedS]

howson why does the hot water have to come back to the Nautilus panel? The hot water outlet of the water heater distributes hot water to the faucets, it does not have to go through any Nautilus valving for distribution.

[Yoda]

Is anyone else having to wait a long time to get hot water out of the faucet at kitchen sink, bathroom sink or shower? We are in Florida hooked up to city water the other day 72 degree ambient, sunny bluebird day. Opened hot water faucet only-46 seconds before water even got minimally warm, 1 min and 16 seconds till water got even close to hot, estimated temp at that point 100/110 degre (was not scalding, just warm) 2 full minutes till fully hot. Temperature set at controller in bathroom 124. At bathroom sink same condition turn on hot only 1 min and 6 seconds before it got hot. Anyone else experiencing this? After water reaches temp then things are fine. If I go on fresh water tank it will be empty in two days at this rate. It may be continuous be it certainly isn’t instantaneous.

Bob
Also check that your outside faucets are turned off. If on the cold and hot will mix at the faucets and dilute the temperature to the rest of the trailer.

[howson]

howson why does the hot water have to come back to the Nautilus panel? The hot water outlet of the water heater distributes hot water to the faucets, it does not have to go through any Nautilus valving for distribution.

Look at the diagram in the linked thread, Ted. The red knob determines if the hot water flows through the system or if cold water flows through the system. Believe it or not the output of the heater goes all the way back to those connections that "T" off to the outside faucet (behind the Nautilus) and all the other sources.

Below is a rough approximation that should (hopefully) demonstrate what I'm trying to describe.

[TedS]

howson I couldn't stand it, I had to go look at my trailer. You are correct the outlet from the water heater does come back to the Nautilus panel plumbing. It comes into a T-fitting to feed the hot water side of the system. The hot water does not go through a valve for distribution. Learned something yet again about my rig. My water heater is only about a foot and a half from the panel, so not much of a path for the water. Three feet out and back, total. Still doesn't explain the long time for hot water to arrive at a faucet.
The RED valve directs cold water either to the water heater inlet or to the hot water side of the system.

[howson]

TedS -- your correct that each trailer's behavior will be different based on the distance from the Nautilus to the heater. As you probably noted in my post, the distance for the 315's is significant.

[Cate&Rob]

x2 on the advice in post #4 . . . It sounds like you have the outside faucets both open, mixing the hot and cold.

Rob

[BobC]

Howard, for the record I have the Furrion continuous Hot Water heater. Like I said right now (city water and sewer hook up) no problem, but when I leave here and go on tanks I’m going to empty my fresh water and fill my gray water up very quickly. The heater itself is only 24 inches from bathroom sink. If it has to go to the water control board and back that might explain the problem.

BobC

[howson]

BobC -- I don't have any personal experience with the "continuous" water heater, but it's my understanding there is a slight delay due to that appliance in addition to the distance.

Here's a similar complaint from a 300RBTS owner: https://gdrvowners.com/forum/operati...ection-300rbts

There's a post somewhere on this forum where an owner inserted a "T", effectively defeating the bypass. Unfortunately my googlefi isn't up to par tonight...maybe someone will remember.

Howard

[Jlawles2]

BobC Bob, try this. Open the hot water faucet, listen for the click and the fan, then turn it off. Count how long it takes for the HWH flame to go out. Now repeat, but just before you reach the flame out temp, turn the faucet back on. What I learned in our home and it also applies to the camper, the unit takes about 20 seconds to get the water up to temp. By cycling the HWH this way, the unit builds water temp in the unit, then continues instead of sending 20 seconds or so of basically unheated water through the pipes.

Also, go out and check the white knob inside the HWH that it is set to the max, this then allows the inside thermostat to control the water temps. While out there, verify that all of the outside shower or other dual handle single outlet fixtures are closed. Look above the Nautilus panel especially as this has been know to be the culprit as mentioned by others.

[Cate&Rob]

Jlawles2
”20 seconds to get the water up to temp” . . . doesn’t really seem to fit the marketing hype of “on demand” water heating .

Rob

[BobC]

Yoda #4, thanks, no outside faucet on. I think the distance from HWH to nautilus panel is the problem. Bypassing the bypass as Howard suggested in #10 may be the solution. I find it very hard to start modifying a trailer that’s 30 days old. Thanks for all the helpful suggestions.

BobC

[ThePowells]

BobC Welcome to the family and the forum!

You ought to see the lag on the kitchen sink in a 390.....

[Jlawles2]

I'm seriously considering putting in a pump and line from the kitchen sink to the inlet of the HWH to minimize water usage with the tankless unit.