Water heater in the camper van

Hi campervan friends,

Is it more economical to leave the water heater on all the time in a camper van, or should you turn it on just before you need hot water? Thanks for your great tips. Chrysalides.

Hi, I think leaving the water heater on uses more energy than only turning it on when you need it. The campervan’s water heater isn’t insulated like a domestic one. But I reckon if you "manage" your hot water, you only need it once a day. Unless you’ve got a specific need—then you’ve got other options to avoid draining your gas bottles too quickly.

Happy travels!

Eric😛

Hi ERIC, thanks for your tips! It's Simon

Hi there, Same as Eric, we turn it on when needed and switch it off right away. Either way, you’ll still have hot water for a good while. Michel

Hi, there are water heaters without pilot lights... When you turn on the water, the pressure spins a small turbine that creates a spark and ignites it. Simple, economical, etc. You can find them from the usual manufacturers. Now, it also depends on whether you have a conventional one... or if you have a boiler....

Hello from Brittany,

Thanks for your valuable tips. Safe travels, and have a great day! C SIMON.

Hello from Brittany, Thanks for your reply. Have a great day, Michel. C. SIMON.

Hi, I installed a water heater that recovers engine heat, and now I have hot water on demand (it stays hot for about 12 hours). http://www.theliot.fr/crbst_61.html

Later,

eric😛

Hi ERIC, Thanks for the tip. Really interesting site. A beautiful outlook on life. Have a great trip to India. Christian.

Good evening Chrysalides, I own a McLouis campervan, and according to the advice in the manual for my vehicle, it’s better to turn on the water heater a little before using it rather than leaving it on all the time. In fact, it’s even advised against leaving it on continuously. Good evening

Hi Ptizorro, Thanks for your tips, and have a great day. CHRYSALIDES

Hi Chrysalides,

Great question, one that comes up often among motorhome owners looking to optimize their energy use.

As a general rule, it’s more economical to turn the water heater on only when you need it, rather than leaving it running continuously. This avoids unnecessary heating cycles that consume gas or electricity even when you’re not using hot water.

Here are a few practical tips:

🔥 **Gas water heater**: Heats up in 15 to 30 minutes. Ideally, turn it on just before use (shower, dishes), then switch it off.

⚡ **Electric water heater**: Watch out for battery or campsite power consumption. Here too, it’s better to use it only when needed.

❄️ **In winter**, keeping it on continuously might help prevent freezing, but this depends on your model.

Safe travels and enjoy your campervan!