Fireplace

[Rockchuck]

Tried to search and really could not find an answer...
I see alot of new units have a fireplace in them.. how much heat do
these actually give off? any issues? How much propane do they use compared to the furnace?

Thanks... RC

[Monaco_Montclai]

from what I hear the form of how to run the heat thing, run the propane furnce bring up the temp, then off the furnce, and on the electric,heater, works for us , now it all happy-camping

[lee_worsdell]

Works great if you are hook to 30 or 50 amp service. heats the living room up nice to take the chill off

[Bumpyroad]

John I Haggerty wrote:
I can't picture throwing a blanket in front of a cube heater and having fun. To each their own.

you obviously are too selective in "having fun' locations and ambiance.
bumpy 🙂

[NC_Hauler]

Bamaman1 wrote:
I too use a cube electric heater in the bedroom, and we seldom even use the furnace. We also do our cooking in an electric skillet and microwave--and don't go through a tank or two of propane per year.

Same here, fireplace in the livingroom a ceramic heater in the bedroom. It's rare we use the stove..wife loves the convection/microwave combo..but stove is there if we lose electricity....BUT, that's why we also have a generator:)

[Bamaman11]

I too use a cube electric heater in the bedroom, and we seldom even use the furnace. We also do our cooking in an electric skillet and microwave--and don't go through a tank or two of propane per year.

[John_I_Haggerty]

I can't picture throwing a blanket in front of a cube heater and having fun. To each their own.

[SandSOrrell]

I agree with C-Bears. My FP heats the downstairs, especially the living room pretty well as long as the outside temp is in the upper forties or fifties and the inside temp is in the fifties or sixties. Colder than that, I use the furnace, usually in addition to the FP.

Also agree with NC Hauler, my FP weighs maybe 15 pounds. So the weight argument doesn't make much sense. As far as space goes, even if I removed mine, the space behind it would be negligible. My TV retracts down behind the FP. At most I might be able to get some very narrow shelves in there, but it would not appreciably increase my storage space.

My FP stays right where it is and I will continue to enjoy it, both for the heat it does produce and the ambiance as well.

[NC_Hauler]

Bumpyroad wrote:

C-Bears wrote:

When space is a premium in RVs, why wouldn't you want a 1500w heater built in, which is what these fireplace unit actually are.

as somebody previously pointed out, the fireplace in their unit would have been on the diagonal and storage space wasted behind it. like you say space (and weight) is at a premium in RVs, so a heavy fireplace vs a light cube heater which both put out exactly the same amount of heat and more vs less space favors the cube. also you can move the cube to the location you are in so that the heat goes there because 1500 watts will NOT heat up an entire RV.
bumpy

Bumpy,
I've pulled my fire place out, weighs about 15-20# maybe? Not what I would consider, heavy... If I pulled it out, I could maybe put two drawers in that space and it wouldn't really help all that much, between our basement and ALL the drawers and cabinets I have in my 5er, last thing I have a problem with is space and weight..

Most of us who have these fireplaces know they only put out 1500 watts of heat, but they add some ambiance to the area and, though I initially didn't care for it, the wife and I really like ours...It's just the way it is, all the negative talk about them isn't going to change anyone's mind for those of us who like them...I have sliding doors that will shut off my living room and this little heater warms that entire area...we take that as a plus, and it doesn't use up any space that I will ever need or would want to use

I guess some hate them and some of us really like them. Mine is going on 8 yrs old and never had to replace or fix anything with it...works and looks great.

If we all had the same taste, it would be a very boring world:)

[Bumpyroad]

C-Bears wrote:

When space is a premium in RVs, why wouldn't you want a 1500w heater built in, which is what these fireplace unit actually are.

as somebody previously pointed out, the fireplace in their unit would have been on the diagonal and storage space wasted behind it. like you say space (and weight) is at a premium in RVs, so a heavy fireplace vs a light cube heater which both put out exactly the same amount of heat and more vs less space favors the cube. also you can move the cube to the location you are in so that the heat goes there because 1500 watts will NOT heat up an entire RV.
bumpy

[C-Bears]

Bumpyroad wrote:

C-Bears wrote:
We have had the built-in electric fireplace in our last two fivers. We also utilize a small box ceramic heater and a tower ceramic heater. Furnace comes on when temps fall below 35 or so.

I think the fireplaces are worth it.

but you also need two electric heaters to make it work right.
bumpy

On mornings when the temp is 55 or 60 degrees the fireplace will bring the living area temperature up nicely, without the use of the other heaters or furnace.

When it is 30 degrees outside and the wind is blowing 40mph, no you are correct.....the fireplace standing alone will not heat the FW. Neither will the fireplace in a stick built under those conditions.

When space is a premium in RVs, why wouldn't you want a 1500w heater built in, which is what these fireplace unit actually are.

[Swamp_Man]

Bumpyroad wrote:
lets see, a 1500 watt heater puts out how many BTUs? and one keeps an RV warm which would be about 10% as efficient as a house. I think I will replace my heat pump in my house with 2-1500 watt ceramic cubes. nice and warm and toasty.
now I do sit in my basement rec room and watch the TV while having a 1500 watt parabolic heater pointed at me and that keeps me very warm. but if I move 2 ft in any direction, BRRR.
bumpy

Do you have the fuzzy bunny slippers also? LOL Seriously, what about the stuff that the furnace warms such as the fresh water tank, plumbing lines, and holding tanks/valves?

[Rockchuck]

First off, thanks for all the replys! Rvers are a great group for the most part...
I do feel like an idiot for not knowing they are electric, I better get the old eyeballs checked again..haha

I currently use a combination of small ceramic heaters in my fifth wheel, I just use them on low to keep the chill off, I don't trust them to run on high... seen too many cords melt, etc... but on low I've never had an issue.

Thanks again!

[cochise49]

If we are at a park with 50 amps, we use electric heat pumps and fireplace as much as possible. We already paid for it. When outside temp goes below 40, heat pumps don't work well so we have to use the LPG. Don't really winter camp much so not much of an issue. Love the ambiance. Variable heat and two speed settings on ours. Had a stand alone elec. FP from Home Depot from a clearance rack in our old DP. Liked it too.

[ddschuman]

We use the fireplace more than the furnace. It heats well, looks good and saves propane.

[shepstone]

I'm the wife's heater , when it gets cold she cuddles up !! nothing wrong with that. I definitely don't want to be put out of that job,.,.,.