Help Needed With Tankless Water Heater

Converting Cargo Trailers into TTTs

Help Needed With Tankless Water Heater

Postby flboy » Fri Feb 19, 2021 11:20 pm

Hi all.I am going to use a tankless propane water heater in my new CTC build. I believe I will build it into the wall up front where I can tap it for the shower and the sink. Since I am starting the build from scratch, I think I'd like to vent this properly. Anyone have any pics of sidewall vents or roof vents they used for the tankless water heater? I need to source it.


Also, any recommendations on brands to stay away from and ones that are really good? I see prices ranging from $65 to $150 for the 6L type. They all probably use the same technology.

Any help and advise would be appreciated.


Also, once you set the controls where you like them... is it just "leave it alone" and it always works assuming the source water temperature is constant?
Don (Flboy)

YouTube Video of Finished 6x12 Trailer:
https://youtu.be/6_-8cVdWUIA
YouTube Video of 7*18 with 2ft V-nose Trailer:
https://youtu.be/MUcMM86LA2g
User avatar
flboy
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 4216
Images: 378
Joined: Tue May 15, 2012 6:13 pm

Re: Help Needed With Tankless Water Heater

Postby bdosborn » Sat Feb 20, 2021 7:19 am

I've been looking at the tankless type too, just because I don't like how big a hole you have to cut for a RV tank type. BUT, the standing pilot tanked water heater I have in the trailer works really well and doesn't use much gas. I'd use it again in a heartbeat but for the big hole. Here's the tankless unit I'm leaning towards; it's supposed to be ventless and works for low flow applications:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DHDX3DT/?coliid=I1HS8T72GSDXBO&colid=387VYSF7T3AQ2&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Bruce
2009 6.5'X11' TTT - Boxcar
All it takes is a speck of faith and a few kilowatts of sweat and grace.
Image
Boxcar Build
aVANger Build
User avatar
bdosborn
Donating Member
 
Posts: 5492
Images: 767
Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 11:10 pm
Location: CO, Littleton

Re: Help Needed With Tankless Water Heater

Postby flboy » Sat Feb 20, 2021 7:49 am

I have a 6 gallon piloted water heater in my existing CTC, but with this smaller build, I too want to conserve the floor space and avoid the large hole.

Do you have to vent this type? If not, how far away from ceiling should it be? I am going to build a facia around the bottom side to conceal piping hookups..

Is the Excel @ $199 on Amazon much different from similar units on Ebay costing between $65 and $150. The internals look the same? I'd rather pay more and have reliability, but all the reviews seem similar with average 4.5 stars. Mostly good with the few horror stories.


Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk
Don (Flboy)

YouTube Video of Finished 6x12 Trailer:
https://youtu.be/6_-8cVdWUIA
YouTube Video of 7*18 with 2ft V-nose Trailer:
https://youtu.be/MUcMM86LA2g
User avatar
flboy
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 4216
Images: 378
Joined: Tue May 15, 2012 6:13 pm
Top

Re: Help Needed With Tankless Water Heater

Postby bdosborn » Sat Feb 20, 2021 8:11 am

Venting is where the info gets vague, I'm guessing that the ventless claim is more marketing than reality. I saw a lot of different opinions on the van building sites I looked at. At a minimum I'd expect a window by the exhaust opening. There are a few videos on YouTube about the unit. Quality wise, I don''t know. I was interested in the low venting requirements more than anything else.
Bruce
2009 6.5'X11' TTT - Boxcar
All it takes is a speck of faith and a few kilowatts of sweat and grace.
Image
Boxcar Build
aVANger Build
User avatar
bdosborn
Donating Member
 
Posts: 5492
Images: 767
Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 11:10 pm
Location: CO, Littleton
Top

Re: Help Needed With Tankless Water Heater

Postby flboy » Sat Feb 20, 2021 10:55 am

I believe I will go up through the ceiling and roof and put in this vent since it is a fresh build and I can seal up really well during construction. I will need to buy the type of Water Heater with the 3 inch vent on top instead of wide open. In any case, this should be low and seal well on the roof.

Also planning to build the unit into a cabinet up front in Kitchen, so vertical vent pipe and etc. will not be seen. I need to run shower and sink hot water from there.

Has anyone install like this? Pics? Any issues with vent in roof while driving in rain (thinking of rain blowing in vent)?



Image

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk
Don (Flboy)

YouTube Video of Finished 6x12 Trailer:
https://youtu.be/6_-8cVdWUIA
YouTube Video of 7*18 with 2ft V-nose Trailer:
https://youtu.be/MUcMM86LA2g
User avatar
flboy
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 4216
Images: 378
Joined: Tue May 15, 2012 6:13 pm
Top

Re: Help Needed With Tankless Water Heater

Postby Socal Tom » Sat Feb 20, 2021 11:12 am

Socal Tom
Donating Member
 
Posts: 1347
Images: 12
Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:21 am
Location: San Diego Ca
Top

Re: Help Needed With Tankless Water Heater

Postby flboy » Sat Feb 20, 2021 1:05 pm

Thanks Tom.. I will be using the type with the pipe connection on type (the second link). I think I will go through the roof with a pipe. I'd rather have it vented outside.
Don (Flboy)

YouTube Video of Finished 6x12 Trailer:
https://youtu.be/6_-8cVdWUIA
YouTube Video of 7*18 with 2ft V-nose Trailer:
https://youtu.be/MUcMM86LA2g
User avatar
flboy
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 4216
Images: 378
Joined: Tue May 15, 2012 6:13 pm
Top

Re: Help Needed With Tankless Water Heater

Postby flboy » Sat Feb 20, 2021 6:38 pm

I ordered this one from Amazon and will put a 4in exhaust pipe through the ceiling with the cap previously mentioned. 8L/min is probably higher capacity than needed for for shower given warmer Florida water out of the ground, but I could not find a 6L with a piped exhaust and I may need it up North.

It does seems to be a good size to build into a kitchen cabinet so it is out of sight.

This one had 4.5 stars with 70 reviews and has a digital temperature display albeit in Celsius scale. $75.22





Image



Image

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk
Don (Flboy)

YouTube Video of Finished 6x12 Trailer:
https://youtu.be/6_-8cVdWUIA
YouTube Video of 7*18 with 2ft V-nose Trailer:
https://youtu.be/MUcMM86LA2g
User avatar
flboy
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 4216
Images: 378
Joined: Tue May 15, 2012 6:13 pm
Top

Re: Help Needed With Tankless Water Heater

Postby nsfr1206 » Fri Mar 12, 2021 7:49 pm

How much clearance does this unit need on the sides?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
nsfr1206
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 191
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2021 4:32 am
Top

Re: Help Needed With Tankless Water Heater

Postby TCretro » Mon Apr 12, 2021 7:07 pm

I ordered the excel tankless vent free heater from factory. The way I look at it is that when it is operating it can't be any worse than having propane burners operating on your stove. I will probably just slightly open fantastic fan vent a small amount and will also have an alarm. I have not actually installed it yet but that is my thought process at his time.
TCretro
Teardrop Inspector
 
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2021 4:28 am
Location: traverse city
Top

Re: Help Needed With Tankless Water Heater

Postby timhill28 » Wed May 05, 2021 3:55 pm

TCretro wrote:I ordered the excel tankless vent free heater from factory. The way I look at it is that when it is operating it can't be any worse than having propane burners operating on your stove. I will probably just slightly open fantastic fan vent a small amount and will also have an alarm. I have not actually installed it yet but that is my thought process at his time.

I think my buddy is pertaining to that excel tankless vent. Have you tried to install it? He's just finishing the installation and alignment of the new set of tires 4Wheelonline onto his truck before he finishes the water system on his trailer.
timhill28
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 49
Joined: Sat Jul 13, 2019 2:46 am
Top

Re: Help Needed With Tankless Water Heater

Postby Iconfabul8 » Mon May 10, 2021 2:13 am

Some of these water heaters can put out 140,000 Btu! That's like large salamander heater heat! Using one unvented indoors might be nice in the winter but would roast you in a small ctc in the summer. That said, McDave mounted his in the shower under a power vent and had great success.http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=72302&hilit=+water+heater#p1257383
User avatar
Iconfabul8
500 Club
 
Posts: 624
Images: 14
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2016 6:15 am
Location: Southern Utah
Top

Re: Help Needed With Tankless Water Heater

Postby Iconfabul8 » Mon May 10, 2021 2:49 am

flboy wrote: Anyone have any pics of sidewall vents or roof vents they used for the tankless water heater? I need to source it.

I have an extra side vent!
Image :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
User avatar
Iconfabul8
500 Club
 
Posts: 624
Images: 14
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2016 6:15 am
Location: Southern Utah
Top

Re: Help Needed With Tankless Water Heater

Postby M C Toyer » Wed May 12, 2021 3:04 pm

flboy wrote:I think I'd like to vent this properly. Anyone have any pics of sidewall vents or roof vents they used for the tankless water heater? I need to source it.


I'm away from my desktop right now so will have to post pics later. I used an Ecotemp L 5 which was about $105 and has been trouble free for 8 years now. It is mounted under my sink which adjoins my shower wall.

It is vented through the side wall with a triple wall flue. Vent cover is standard metal clothes dryer but also has a hinged rain shield matching the exterior siding. Exhaust from the top of the heater is routed horizontally with a torpedo boot pop riveted and sealed with hi-temp duct tape.

M C
User avatar
M C Toyer
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 363
Images: 11
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 8:59 pm
Location: Pilot Point (Denton County) Texas
Top


Return to Cargo Trailer Conversions

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests