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Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / Indoor propane water heater
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adkoffgridhome
Member
# Posted: 1 Nov 2021 14:36
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We are looking for advise/recommendations on battery ignition propane indoor hot water heaters.
Our water source is an IBC tank located in our second floor above wall below where shower, bathroom sink, toilet, and kitchen sink are located.
1. Does anyone know if the gravity feed water pressure is enough for heater to run properly? We realize the pressure in shower head won’t be great but are used to that as we are currently using an outdoor on demand shower system.
2. Recommendations for a reliable vented indoor unit with battery ignition system?

Thanks in advance for advice.

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 1 Nov 2021 20:30
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With about 3psi it prob wont work with any on demand heater. You need to ad a pump.

ICC
Member
# Posted: 1 Nov 2021 21:37
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FYI, you get 0.43 PSI for each foot of water head.... 10 ft. from top of water in tank to point where the water leaves the pipe = 4.3 PSI. As the water in the tank is used pressure falls . A heater should give specs for psi, gpm, temperature rise at various gpm....

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 1 Nov 2021 22:48
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How about an lp travel trailer hot water heater?
A small 12v water pump is readily available or if you use a decent sized 'pond pump' you could power it with 120vac off an inverter.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2021 08:43
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My tank is 20' above the L5. Won't kick on under gravity, even with 750 gallons in the tank.

Someone said there are heaters that are pressure triggered and some flow triggered. I believe the L5 is pressure, maybe a flow triggered?

Aklogcabin
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2021 09:18
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You could use it this way but you just wouldn't have much pressure. The water heater doesn't care if the water is flowing or not. It just keeps it warm.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2021 10:03 - Edited by: gcrank1
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I have been curious about the L5 and grav-feed Paul. We have one I saved from our RV days. You just saved me from making a tower.

adkoffgridhome
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2021 10:36
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Do you currently have gravity feed system? If so, what water heater do you use and are you happy with it?

adkoffgridhome
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2021 10:39
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We currently use the portable unit- but using our inc tank on second floor is more convenient than carrying Pails of water.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2021 11:12 - Edited by: paulz
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The L5 does have an internal pressure adjustment screw. I've never messed with it but there's a guy on here who was going to try a few months back, don't know the result.

This one is supposed to start at 2psi.

https://www.campingworld.com/excel-vent-free-tankless-propane-water-heater-low-p ressure-startup-1.6gpm-105040.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=%7bC ampaign%7d&gclid=Cj0KCQjww4OMBhCUARIsAILndv6Ukcg508Jwss6EYV1D-pzy3AzDh2geETvJPX4qa_3B yn19oRX01MAaAmgkEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

paulz
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2021 11:16 - Edited by: paulz
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As far as indoor, any LP heater is going to put out CO. The ones advertised as indoor have a sniffer and safety switch, like a buddy heater, unless piped to an external vent. Use it long enough and it will shut off. But for washing up or a quick shower probably won't, I run my stovetop longer than that and haven't set off the CO alarm.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2021 11:44
Reply 


+1 that, but emphasis needs be made to:
Have A CO Detector IF You Run Any Gas Device Indoors

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