Heat pump vs regular gas heat

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Several advantages to both.

Heat pumps have a low outdoor temp limit, Typically 32-40 degrees depending on the model, below that they either simply will refuse to work, or won't work well and in fact may suffer damage if you try. (I like the "will refuse" models better).

But if electricity is included in the site rental.. They work for "Free".

Propane is less expensive to heat with, and really does not mind if you are down to say 25 degrees.. Though BUTANE, which is sometimes sold as propane in the south,, Won't work much below freezing either (NOTE: Butane is less expensive so if someone fills your tank with it and calls it Propane.. yes, that is fraud).

Propane does complain down around -40 though. Your choice of C or F at that temp.

As others have said the heat pump is only good till outside temps around 38 degrees, so if outside temp is in the low 40's we use the heat pump. If temps are expected to go lower we switch to propane but we also use two 1500 ceramic heaters which are quiet compared to the furnace or the heat pump and if not paying for electric will offset propane usage. It is important to use the furnace if the temps are going below freezing if your tanks are heated by it. Some manufactures use electric heat blankets for the tanks so they would need being turned on for subfreezing temps.

Just did five days out at temps in 60's during day, high 20s to high 30s at night.

Heat pump worked for cool of the evening, but first night it got below 35F it was running continuously, so I switched to the furnace. When the temperature gets close to the point where the heat pump no longer works, it becomes much less efficient (e.g. how much heat can 40F air transfer to a 35F evaporator).

Then it gets to the question, how hot do you want your hot air to be. With a heat pump, it is only going to be 15-20 F warmer than what's already inside the RV. With a low efficiency furnace like the RV units, you get a smaller volume of much hotter air, maybe as high as 120 - 150 F. A lot of people prefer that.

That is not so much an issue for me at home now, because I have a high efficiency furnace that provides air at about the same temp as my heat pump, at the point where it switches over.

If temperatures are going below freezing, run the furnace. First, because the heat pump simply won't give you much heat. Second, because the furnace is usually the heat source for keeping fresh water plumbing from freezing.

SteveRuff wrote:
I use my heat pump 98% of the time because I try very hard to stay where it doesn't freeze often. That being said, when an overnight freezer is forecast I will use my propane heater because it also pumps heat through the vents on the floor rather than through the air conditioner vents in the ceiling. This helps prevent pipes from freezing as well since the heat is lower and heats the lockers somewhat.

Very good tip, I will have to remember that. Most of the 5er's we are looking at have roof vents with their AC/heat pumps. Never thought that the basement wouldn't see much of that heat.

Thanks,
OJ

It has been my experience that heat pumps don't provide the higher temps needed to really warm a place. Even at home with a 3 ton unit, it doesn't produce the heat the way a pure heater will. They may be efficient but if I was out in an RV and wanted to warm up the place I'd want gas/propane.

I use my heat pump 98% of the time because I try very hard to stay where it doesn't freeze often. That being said, when an overnight freezer is forecast I will use my propane heater because it also pumps heat through the vents on the floor rather than through the air conditioner vents in the ceiling. This helps prevent pipes from freezing as well since the heat is lower and heats the lockers somewhat.

We have a heat pump at home. Wish we had one on the RV.

ontheroad101 wrote:
Heat pump works great down to about 38* to 40*, then it switch over to the propane furnace. Also while on the heat pump, if the room temperature is 5* below the set temperature it will switch to the propane furnace.

X2

Heat pump works great down to about 38* to 40*, then it switch over to the propane furnace. Also while on the heat pump, if the room temperature is 5* below the set temperature it will switch to the propane furnace.