Forum Discussion

T_bone1's avatar
T_bone1
Explorer II
Dec 06, 2014

Heater

I need ideas and suggestions for an auxiliary electric heater for our motor home..The designer decided that it does not need any furnace ducts anywhere past midway ..2 in bedroom,1 in bathroom and 1 in kitchen.We have a small DURA FLAME heater that is not up to the task.

15 Replies

  • Hi,

    How cold will it be when the RV is in use (worst case)?

    If you boondock electric heat won't be suitable.

    If there will be shore power, I favor 1/2 size oil filled heaters that can be tucked away into otherwise wasted space. I've had all but three outlets upgraded to high quality female plugs.

    There are heated carpets available. I managed to find some that have no wires, so they can be cut to shape. I chose indoor/outdoor carpet so I can pressure wash them if they become soiled.

    Another way to add heating capacity is to run auxiliary shore power cords. I have added a 20 and 15 amp. This lets me heat 100% electrically if I have access to three shore power 15 amp circuits.

    For propane heating, I'd suggest the Platinum Cat.

    There are propane heaters that have through the wall chimney's.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    I will not suggest a space heater for a un-modified RV because the outlets they use are not all that good.

    I added a pair of 15/20 amp house type outlets, these mount in boxes (so you need a spot in the wall where you can put a box) they are fed with 12 ga wire and they each have a breaker all to themselves.

    Once you do that most any electric space heater will do.. Hot wire, Ceramic, Oil filed, your choice,, Some folks will tell you one or another kind does a better job of heating but the fact is all electric heaters put out exactly the same amount of heat per watt... Forced air types circulate it better. I kind of like Ceramic cause they are small and perhaps a bit safer,, Make sure whatever you use has tip over protection.

    But remember a 1500 watt heater puts out the same amount of heat no matter what kind it is.

    Camping world, and I think ACE hardware, both have a nice little electric fire place, Not that big (perhaps a foot wide) 1500 watts and nice flame video.

    My computer has a nice flame video.. Very little heat though :)
  • We have one of those oil-circulating electric heaters (DeLonghi) in our motor home. It's nice and quiet, but not that great if it's really cold (New Hampshire in the fall.) We have a small electric heater in the bathroom to take the chill off during showers-kind of a glorified hair dryer. We recently tried a quartz infared heater (similar to Eden Pure brand)-very noisy and only after a week, became buggy, so back for a refund.
  • Many RV's have a air duct that runs under a couch towards the drivers compartment, and that is about 4" diameter, and will carry about 100 cubic feet per minute. I guess that you need one more vent going forward?

    You should be able to buy a 4" wye at a hardware store, and connect into the existing air ducts. Then run something like flexible dryer hose to the location that you need more heat. I guess if there is a slide out in the way, it will not work all that well. The manufacture should have put a floor vent in the basement someplace, where there is little traffic, (to avoid people stepping on it, or dirt getting inside from your shoes). It can be under a chair or couch, the heat will end up in the living room somehow. . .

    If you spend a lot of time at campgrounds with hookups, try running 2-3 small 1,500 watt electric heaters on low heat output. Just make sure that you are not plugging into a inverter output receptacle, as you might trip a fuse on the inverter.

    So if you have some receptacles that run on the inverter, don't use them for a heater line.

    Have fun camping!

    Fred.
  • Ceramic space heaters?

    OR LED RV fireplace by Therma Heat.


    Installing a higher btu furnace would require additional duct work which is difficult to run ducts after rig is built.
    IF you were doing a remodel or rebuild then maybe.