Electric Heater vs Winterizing
Have you tried keeping tanks warm with a small electric heater instead of winterizing. How has that worked for you?
Forum Discussion
Depending on your model, you may need to run a fan to move the air into the basement area. The other factor is how often you plan to use it over the winter. If you park it and only use it once, I would probably just go ahead and winterize it.
However, down here near the coast in SC, I only have to worry about it a few times. Usually throw the furnace on at 50 on nights I know it is going below about 28. That is the temp I find the inside gets down to about 34 for a low. As soon as the cold snap is over, I turn it off. Battery is good for a couple cold snaps before I have to recharge (usually at 70-75% according to trimetric). Usually use less than a 20# tank of propane over a winter and have gotten good at watching battery useage by the furnace to know when to start checking the tank.
If it is going into the teens, I bring it home or take it to my father's place for electric so I can run a 600w fan forced electric heater. Have this connected to a baseboard thermostat so can set it at desired temp. Have a mark set for 40* to prevent freezing and 50* for sleeping at night.
However, down here near the coast in SC, I only have to worry about it a few times. Usually throw the furnace on at 50 on nights I know it is going below about 28. That is the temp I find the inside gets down to about 34 for a low. As soon as the cold snap is over, I turn it off. Battery is good for a couple cold snaps before I have to recharge (usually at 70-75% according to trimetric). Usually use less than a 20# tank of propane over a winter and have gotten good at watching battery useage by the furnace to know when to start checking the tank.
If it is going into the teens, I bring it home or take it to my father's place for electric so I can run a 600w fan forced electric heater. Have this connected to a baseboard thermostat so can set it at desired temp. Have a mark set for 40* to prevent freezing and 50* for sleeping at night.
