Forum Discussion

drillagent's avatar
drillagent
Explorer
Nov 17, 2014

Will my space heater shut down my furnace?

The furnace vents into the tank areas keeping the plumbing from freezing. But the temp sensor for the furnace is located in the bedroom. The furnace isn't very effective at heating anyway, so I need to supplement with the fireplace and space heaters.

How do I run a space heater in the bedroom without shutting down the furnace risking frozen plumbing? Is there a way to switch zones on the Dometic thermostat?
  • racedrvr's avatar
    racedrvr
    Explorer
    Nov 17, 2014
    I like Christopherglenn's idea best. I heat with space heaters and leave the furnace on manual fan only. It will constantly circulate the warm air in your camper and the underbelly. It gives more even heat throughout, and won't result in the furnace "kicking in" making lots of noise in the middle of the night.
  • kennethwooster's avatar
    kennethwooster
    Explorer
    Nov 17, 2014
    I've used a heat lamp, and made sure it did not touch anything, It doesn't take a lot of heat for the underbelly unless the trailer is just not insulated very well. Even a light bulb will do the job, or turn on the baggage lights in the belly, as they will create a lot of heat. Still I'm very careful to keep the heater running part time.
  • bucky's avatar
    bucky
    Explorer II
    Nov 18, 2014
    Mount a small ceramic heater in the underbelly with the cord exposed and run it off the pedestal when needed. It could be a very small heater, just protect the plug while traveling. Might make for warm floors too.
  • bigdon68's avatar
    bigdon68
    Explorer
    Nov 18, 2014
    RoyB wrote:
    Thats what we do. Will set the Propane furnace to kick in if the inside temp drops below 35-40 degrees or so.

    Then we run a couple of the oil-filled portable low profile heaters plugged into the 20AMP service at the pedestal using an extension cord running into the trailer.

    Using the 20AMP Service does not interfere with the 30A or 50A service you have the trailer plugged into.

    We hate the loud BRRR noise the propane heater blower makes and hate to burn up all of my propane. Our oil-filled heaters only go CLICK ever now and then... The oil-filled heaters also do not give off burnt dust smell or have a visible red hot core or flame to deal with. If we need to move some air around we will use the O2OOL 10-inch AC/DC/D-CELL fans sitting behind the heater.


    Its better for us to use the camp ground electric then our propane hehe...

    Roy Ken



    We actually ran an outlet just for heaters. The outside outlet box is mounted on the rear frame and has a male outlet. Just run the extension cord from the pedestal to the outlet box and you are good as gold.

    bigdon68
  • rjsurfer's avatar
    rjsurfer
    Explorer
    Nov 19, 2014
    How do you keep your furnace fan running? I don't think I have that option on my Cougar. The only manual option to keep the fan going is for the air-conditioning unit.

    If I remember right that has nothing to do with the furnace.

    Ron W.
  • greende's avatar
    greende
    Explorer II
    Nov 19, 2014
    rjsurfer wrote:
    How do you keep your furnace fan running? I don't think I have that option on my Cougar. The only manual option to keep the fan going is for the air-conditioning unit.

    If I remember right that has nothing to do with the furnace.

    Ron W.


    Ron, I think it is the type of thermostat. My Cougar does not do that either. Not sure if we could wire in a "summer switch" into the furnace like I used to in my home furnace.

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