Coleman AC. Should we upgrade to heat pump

susblum wrote:
Our 2017 Jayco has a Coleman AC. We miss the Dometic heat pump that was in our Forest River. Thinking of pulling out the AC. Any feedback on upgrading to a heatoump
Is one brand better than another? What about a heat strip. We are sucking down too much propane.

You could just buy a couple ceramic heaters it would be a lot cheaper.
Bill

A heat pump is economical to operate and distributes even dry heat. I had them on a prior rig and really liked it. It does not use nearly as much energy as a radiant heater or strip heat.

We use our heat pump along with ceramic heaters. They both have their place. That said I would not pull a working AC just to replace it with a AC/HP.

msturtz wrote:
A heat pump is economical to operate and distributes even dry heat. I had them on a prior rig and really liked it. It does not use nearly as much energy as a radiant heater or strip heat.

A Heat Pump will pull 1680 watts. I do not know of a Radiant heater for standard Household use that pulls more than 1500 watts. They use about the same energy, but the HP will distribute the Heat much better and thruout the RV unlike a Radiant heater. Doug

susblum wrote:
Our 2017 Jayco has a Coleman AC. We miss the Dometic heat pump that was in our Forest River. Thinking of pulling out the AC. Any feedback on upgrading to a heatoump
Is one brand better than another? What about a heat strip. We are sucking down too much propane.

1. Heat Strips are NOT meant to heat an RV, Just take the chill off.
2. Since you already have the RV wired for a RVP(Coleman) just get a RVP HP. You only have 2 choices. Dometic and RVP. Both are comparable.
3. You will have to change the wall Tstat if you go to a Heat Pump.
4. HOW long is your Trailer? If over 25 feet and you have 50 amp service, install the original AC in the Bedroom and install the HP in the living room. Doug

Another option may be the electric heat coil in the furnace.

Cheap Heat. I don't know anyone that has this, but the advantage would be that it would operate continuously down to temperatures that the heat pump would not (<40 degrees), and it would circulate as well as your existing furnace to a point - they do have to slow the fan down to match the heat output.

Heat is very relative to wattage. A good quality space heater will go a lot further than a low qual because of the distribution, fan, and overall engineering. REMEMBER though that more expensive does NOT mean better. One of my best space heaters is from the 1980's and still going today.

Heat pump (roof top) has a small window of best use. I found below 40 forget it. I did spend the money to upgrade to heat pump and regret it. I would have been better off using two small portable heaters and then propane when they can't keep up. Save your money.

Pirate wrote:
Heat pump (roof top) has a small window of best use. I found below 40 forget it. I did spend the money to upgrade to heat pump and regret it. I would have been better off using two small portable heaters and then propane when they can't keep up. Save your money.

My thought exactly. Maybe in moderate climates the heat pump is more effective. However in places where it is actually cold (below 40f).
I have found heat pumps to be inadequate.

Heat pumps average 4X more efficient than restive heat... even below 40 they are still 2X. I use mine below freezing before switching to my AquaHot. Strip heat is nothing but restive heat.

Op, unless you use your camper often when it's cold and you pay for elect I would not remove that new a AC. Buy a couple space heaters.