Propane appliances with constantly burning pilot lights consume far more gas than most RVers realize. A typical RV water heater pilot light uses roughly one gallon of propane every 10 days, even when you’re not actively heating water. Add a furnace pilot and a refrigerator running on propane, and you can burn through a standard 20-pound bottle in two weeks without cooking a single meal.
Many newer RV appliances offer electronic ignition as an alternative to pilot lights, but owners often don’t realize they have the option to switch modes. Water heaters frequently have both pilot and electronic ignition settings, with pilot mode being the default because it’s more reliable in windy conditions. Switching to electronic ignition for extended stays can significantly extend your propane supply, though you’ll need to manually light the unit each time you want hot water.
The trade-off becomes more important during extended boondocking or when propane refills aren’t convenient. Running appliances on electric when hookups are available and saving propane for off-grid periods makes a dramatic difference in how long your bottles last. Some full-timers go as far as switching their refrigerators to 12V/electric mode whenever possible and only using propane for cooking and heating.
Understanding your baseline propane consumption — how much you use just keeping pilots lit versus actual appliance operation — helps you make better decisions about tank size, refill frequency, and when it’s worth the minor inconvenience of manual lighting. The difference between thoughtless and strategic propane use can easily double the time between fill-ups.