Heat Pump

K Charles wrote:
I too like using campground power instead of LP. Our 2004 Winnebago heat pump (basement air) still works fine... knock on wood.

Our Winnie has a residential type AC, it does a great job but it pops and clanks when it come on and turns off. It wakes me up at night and my wife normally can't do that. I have heard the same noises coming from AC units in S&Bs and I really need to have it checked out, another BIG but, where?, most Auto Air shops won't look at it and I don't think many RV shops have the personnel to check it out. When operating we get the pop of a piece of sheet metal flexing from changes in pressure but once running is very quiet. Love the intent, hate the loss of storage.

When on park power and not wanting to use our propane, we just plug in a 1500 watt portable electric heater to keep the RV warm.

What a heat pump does in it's warming mode when it's warm enough outside for it to work well in it's heating mode - is use less park power than a 1500 watt portable heater would use - which could be important if you're paying for the amount of park power you use.

Of course using a heat pump to heat with is also more convenient than using a portable electric heater. Also, some folks won't leave a portable electric turned on while they're sleeping or away from the RV. A heat pump in heating mode would seem to be a safer way to heat for folks that don't trust a portable electric heater completely.

trailerbikecamper wrote:
We have one in our S&B and it works great. Our heat bill is roughly half of a relative that uses oil heat. It heats about 3500 sq. ft. with no issues down to some raelly cold temps. Even when the temp went down to -20C it worked. Hasn't been colder than that here on the east coast.

I am guessing that colder than that the Auxilliary heat function would have to be used. Also works during summer as our air conditioner. We set ours at 22C and and the whole house stays comfortable.

Have had it for about 7yrs plus the original owner for another 3. Even with lots of windows(cold sink) it works fine.

As for RV models, I have no experience with them.

Yours works to -20C? Ours at home works down to 0C and it is minimal at that point at best.

Saying that we do have one in the camper and it works really well, however we only camp in temperatures above freezing so that is definitely a big part of why it works well.

S Davis wrote:

georgelesley wrote:
Heat pumps also help with humidity control which is always a problem in winter. Space heaters do nothing to reduce humidity

Only if you run it in cooling.

Perhaps for some models. That has not been our experience. Last year we parked in a steel barn and the outside temp was near zero and inside was near 40 several days we left the heat pump on all day as we house hunted and found water on the floor in the usual spot the same as when we ran it in cool mode.

We also found an RV collects moisture especially in winter when it is closed up without adequate ventilation. A steel van which is what we used to have does not breath like a house and with two people and two dogs inside rapidly collects moisture. A heat pump mitigates that.

We have one in our S&B and it works great. Our heat bill is roughly half of a relative that uses oil heat. It heats about 3500 sq. ft. with no issues down to some raelly cold temps. Even when the temp went down to -20C it worked. Hasn't been colder than that here on the east coast.

I am guessing that colder than that the Auxilliary heat function would have to be used. Also works during summer as our air conditioner. We set ours at 22C and and the whole house stays comfortable.

Have had it for about 7yrs plus the original owner for another 3. Even with lots of windows(cold sink) it works fine.

As for RV models, I have no experience with them.

We love our heat pumps. We have used at temps as low as the 30's with no problems. The owner's manuals state they are equipped with internal strip heaters that engage when the temps get too cold outside. That I have not confirmed, but would be nice if true!

We have heat pumps in the main living area and the bedroom. They work fine in the high 30's and up. Around 36 they are not great and switch to LP at 34 automatically.

georgelesley wrote:
Heat pumps also help with humidity control which is always a problem in winter. Space heaters do nothing to reduce humidity

Only if you run it in cooling.

georgelesley wrote:
Heat pumps also help with humidity control which is always a problem in winter. Space heaters do nothing to reduce humidity

Humidity is a problem in winter, that's the first time I ever heard that. Usually lack of humidity is a problem where I live; static shocks, dried out wood in floors and furniture, irritated sinuses, dry skin, etc.

Heat pumps also help with humidity control which is always a problem in winter. Space heaters do nothing to reduce humidity