Heating RV problems.

If you're willing to plug in for heat, then I'd toss in a small, electric heater before I'd bother with a possible but unlikely heat strip in AC unit.

In the winter here, I've used one of those $39 Oil Filled Radiator electric heaters in ours. Works very well.

pulsar wrote:

Fla904 wrote:
Does the RV ac unit also heat the RV? When I put the thermostat to heat it only blows out cool air? I'm a not turning something on?

It would help if we knew what RV you have. (If you put that in your signature or on your profile page, one could look it up, if you didn't include it in your post.

As already stated, not all RV's come equipped with air conditioners that will also heat - that is, not all are heat pumps or have heat strips.

Perhaps the thermostat, when set for heat, should turn on the propane furnace. Let us know how you turn on the propane furnace.

Tom

1998 ford Shasta Cheyenne with a dometic ac unit. The previous owner was a older lady and was paranoid about having propane so she disconnected the lines for it. All I have to do is re connect the lines and it should work fine but was hoping I could just plug in or use the generator for heat.

Mine has separate AC and furnace, both controlled by their own thermostat. The heater works off propane.

When I bought my 99 Coachman it did not have a heat strip in the AC unit on the roof but I had one installed. Now when I put the dial onto heat I get enough warm air blowing from the unit to take the chill out of the air in the mornings without having to put the furnace on. If you have electric it is nice to have.

John S

Hi,

The heat strip is often 1500 watts which equates to about 5112 btu's.

The air coming from the duct work will not feel "hot" but rather luke warm. If you set the fan speed to low it may help.

BruceMc wrote:
Older AC units may have an optional heat strip but it's pretty low wattage.

Our new Sunseeker has a single thermostat for both heating and cooling, however, the two functions are in completely separate units. The ducted propane heater is under the refer, and delivers hot air at the floor level. The Dometic Roof top AC is ducted throughout the ceiling. There are no controls on the intake panel on the AC unit.

If you have a single thermostat for both, it's possible your gas is not turned on, or there's a problem with the power or wiring to the heater.

Older AC units may have an optional heat strip but it's pretty low wattage. It may help to keep a unit warm in moderately cool temps, but it is not sufficient to warm a cold unit, nor is is sufficient to keep up with cold & windy environments.

Fla904 wrote:
Does the RV ac unit also heat the RV? When I put the thermostat to heat it only blows out cool air? I'm a not turning something on?

It would help if we knew what RV you have. (If you put that in your signature or on your profile page, one could look it up, if you didn't include it in your post.

As already stated, not all RV's come equipped with air conditioners that will also heat - that is, not all are heat pumps or have heat strips.

Perhaps the thermostat, when set for heat, should turn on the propane furnace. Let us know how you turn on the propane furnace.

Tom

Fla904 wrote:
I'm a not turning something on?

In most class Cs, the A/C is on the roof and the furnace is near the floor, often under the refrigerator or the sink. They are two separate systems.

Make sure that you have propane in the tank and the valve on the tank is open.

Try lighting the stove. That will tell you if you have usable propane or not.

If the stove lights, make sure that the thermostat set temperature is above the ambient temperature.

Tim

Some are Heat Pumps also! But mostly on larger Class A's

Some have a heat strip.
Most do not, they cool only!