You love camping – the fresh air, the peace and quiet, the time spent with your family, the beauty of it all, which is only spoiled when you’re pelted with an ice rain shower. Luckily, you’ve invested in a camping water heater, and with only a few easy-to-follow steps, you can adjust its temperature to the perfect setting and never be left out in the cold again.
Know your settings
There are some disputes about the optimal temperature for a water heater (and let’s be honest, we’re all different people with different desires).
Some manufacturers have the default setting at 140ºF, while others opt for the more widely acceptable 120ºF. According to the Department of Energy, water at 140ºF can kill certain bacteria, making it optimal for cleaning dishes and for people who are immunocompromised.
However, water that hot can lead to scalding, damage pipes and units, not to mention lost funds. Most water heaters can reach temperatures as high as 150ºF. However, setting your unit that high is generally discouraged because doing so would almost certainly result in scalding and damage to the unit itself.
Pros and cons of different temperatures
Depending on your choice, the temperature change will be more or less beneficial to your desires.
- Turning down your camping water heater will save you money and help to protect the environment since you will use less power or gas.
- A lower water heater temperature can help prevent mold and mildew growth when camping in an area with high humidity.
- The higher it’s set, the longer it’ll take to heat up. Depending on the time available and the area you’re in, this might not be a dealbreaker.
- Cold outside temperatures and lower-set camping water heaters can lead to damaged pipes.
- If you have small children, you risk them opening the tap and scalding themselves if it’s set too hot.
Know your different temperature zones
As all campers will know, not all areas are created equal. Some camping water heaters, especially propane gas heaters, should remain outside; this can lead to them getting damaged should there be wind or rain.
But there are other elements to consider, such as freezing temperatures – frozen water expands, damaging the heater and its pipes. On the other hand, in warmer places, you might not want the water as hot, and water will heat up more quickly.
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How to change the temperature
So, you’ve weighed everything up and are ready to make the change – but how? It’s easy.
- Find the adjusting settings on your water heater. You can normally find the Marey tankless water heating settings on the front of the unit.
- Adjust the settings for flame and season to the desired temperature. Remember to remain within the camping water heater’s prescribed guidelines to prevent damaging the unit.
- Enjoy your perfectly tempered shower (or clean dishes).
On a side note, not all camping water heaters are measured equally. Thus, you might want to invest in a thermometer before adjusting anything. If you rely on a thermometer, remember to give the unit enough time to adjust to the newly selected temperature before testing it again.
Last but not least, don’t simply recycle your user manual. Keep it somewhere out of sight, but not out of mind; in the trailer, camper, or the cloud. Not only will it be able to provide you with the needed information and guidelines to inspect and adapt your unit, but it will also supply you with the necessary contact information if something goes wrong. Not to mention that you severely decrease the risk of losing the warranty by following the manual as stipulated.
Whatever your preferred choice of water temperature is, you can’t enjoy it without a suitable camping water heater. So while planning your next nature escape, be sure to find a camping water heater that suits your needs. Not only are Marey tankless hot water solutions eco-friendly, but they are also energy- and cost-efficient.