Heat source when away for the day

This whole thread seems to assume camping with hookups. I wonder how the responses would change when drycamping - such as in the desert around Quartzite in the winter?

We sometimes leave our RV in warm weather with the built-in generator running powering an air conditioner for our dog. I suppose we could do the same with the generator powering electric heaters.

About 35F or lower we will run a 1200w electric radiator 24/7 with supplement from the furnace.

I generally have only had the furnace so that is what we use. Late last season we did pick up an oil filled electric radiator to help out but in general, I hate portable electric heat.

The absolute best heater setup I've seen is the Truma Combi, which can use electric, propane, or both. I'd use this to keep the rig warm when gone.

After that, I'd look into getting a Cheap Heat system, as mentioned above.

The one thing I would never do is leave a Buddy or other open-flame combustible heater running unattended. They are decent and safe heaters, but better safe than sorry.

This is why I like the basement heat/air unit in my Winnebago. I just set the thermostat to the desired temp and go. If it gets too cold outside for the heat pump, the gas furnace will come on and maintain the set temp.

Hi,

I heat 100% electrically. I use oil filled heaters and electric heated carpets. I keep the furnace turned on as a back up in case power should fail.

One needs to be cautious about all heaters.

We use a small ceramic heater turned low..It will shut off if turned over, and it does keep the trio of Chihuahuas warm.

We had an electric fireplace and the motor that makes the fake flames dance quit. Stupid thing like that somehow drives me nuts. Had same fireplace in the bedroom that we never use so I swapped the two. When I pulled out the living room one the wires running to the heater element were so overheated that two inches of insulation were burnt off. Should mention I am a liscensed auto tech of 40 years and that fireplace was close to igniting. Dave PS We were fulltimers and used the fireplace a lot.

gbopp wrote:

coolmom42 wrote:

Fireman are adamantly against them because people do stupid things with them.

Same as years ago when kerosene heaters were popular. The heaters were safe. The people using them didn't have any common sense.

Yep.

I still have a kerosene heater for my emergency backup heat at home. It heats my 1200 sf house to about 65 in the areas with plumbing, even at 0 degrees outside.

Like anything else, you just have to use common sense with it.

I sometimes use a small Honeywell electric heater positioned on a cookie sheet. It has a working tip over switch but should it tip over and run, it will still be off any combustible surface. I have all new residential receptacles in boxes and the kitchen is all wired to 20 amps.