Tapping a Home Water Heater for RV Use

Hot water in an RV can be an expensive luxury if your only energy source is propane. If parked in a location for an extended period of time, investing in a small home 120 volt water heater may be a solution. Here is an easy inexpensive way to connect a home water heater to your RV. Disconnecting the heater for travel s as easy as; disconnecting the garden hose and capping the inlet fitting. For a more temporary solution using an existing water heater see our post Tapping a Home Water Heater for RV Use.

Parts you will need:

1. Home water heater currently in use.
2. Washing machine hoses with female hose fittings.
3. Garden hose; a shorter hose will deliver hot water faster.
4. Rubber hose washer with a debris filter.
5. Pipe nipple ½” (½’ is standard yours may vary).
6. Hose adapter fitting to fit you pipe nipple (½” standard)
7. Garden faucet cap for travel setup. (optional)
8. Teflon pipe tape to prevent leaks.

The idea is to tap into the RV hot water OUTLET with a washing machine hose connected to a home water OUTLET. Here is how it is done.

Home water heaters have a drain valve at the bottom of the tank with a garden hose connection. This valve is used to drain the tank for repairs or to remove sediments collected a bottom.

To connect your garden hose to your home water heater; begin by flushing any sediments from the hot water tank by opening the drain valve all the way open. When the sediments are removed, connect a garden hose with a DEBRIS SCREEN RUBBER WASHER to the water tank. The debris filter washer will prevent sediments from clogging RV faucets and shower heads. Clean or replace this rubber washer if RV hot water pressure decreases after time.

RV water heaters have two readily accessed connections to the heater. These connections are usually found under the RV or in the water heater maintenance hatch. One at the bottom of the hot water heater is to drain the heater for winterization (ignore this one). The water connection exiting the top of the heater is the hot water outlet which we will connect to.

To connect the garden hose to your RV water heater, begin by turning off the water supply to the RV. Remove the ½” drain plug from the hot water outlet. Using Teflon pipe tape, insert a ½” pipe nipple into the fitting. Attach (using Teflon pipe tape) a garden hose adapter fitting to the ½” nipple. Connect the washing machine hose to the hose adaptor fitting. Attach the garden hose to your RV via the washing machine hose.

To disconnect the home water heater for travel; remove the washing machine hose and cap the connection with a garden faucet cap or remove the ½“ pipe nipple and replace the original drain plug. NOTE: DO NOT use this connection to winterize your RV; it will NOT drain your water heater.

OR_Maverick
Wintering in Tucson, AZ