Furnace usage

[mchero]

Out here in Quartzsite AZ and had to fire up the furnace for the 1st time. I want to install an extend-a-stay type connection so I can use a larger tank but DON'T want to use the furnaces due to them being horribly inefficient both on propane and 12VDC.
What heater have you other full-time RV'ers been using and are you satisfied? Next door neighbor suggested a "Blue Flame" but I guess I'll do some googling tonight.



Thanks

[2gypsies1]

We used the Empire propane heater for 16 full-timing years with lots of boondocking (Quartzsite, too) - and even if we were plugged into electric at a RV park.

The RV furnace is inefficient, noisy and cycles on and off with heat and cold.

The propane heaters give a constant warm heat. They are awesome!

They are used by many, many full-timers.

[allen8106]

You should be very careful with rearranging blocking, moving ducting. Furnaces are designed for a certain amount of airflow. To much or to little can create problems. Especally to little which can cause overheating. There safety limits that help with this but even those can fail and allow an overheating situation.

[pianotuna]

Stove top for blue flame but it is better to not use unvented combustion heaters. I would certainly never sleep with one running.

[time2roll]

The natural byproducts of burning any hydrocarbon and oxygen are CO2 and H2O
Does not matter how the fuel is burned. Although Quartzsite should be fairly dry.

+1 for reviewing the furnace ducting to improve efficiency. The bad sign is when you can hear the burner cycle during the heating process. This indicates the firebox is overheating due to lack of airflow. Need to fix the existing vents or add some additional vents to get more air.

My floor floor vents ducting was installed very poorly. Tried various improvements and finally just added two more ducts. Made a huge improvement and no more cycling against the high limit switch. Tons of heat now and less 12v power required.

[D_E_Bishop]

While I cannot vouch for any safety in using these, they are the only two brands listed in my RV Accessories catalogs.

Olympian Wave = priced from $360 to $570 and rated at 4.2k to8k BTUs, 3.2k to 6k, 1.6k to 3k btus.

Mr Heater = 4 to 9k at $120 and up to 18k at $170.

other models(not brands) using 1lb canisters.

I'd find out how to live with electric or my furnace.

[DutchmenSport]

noplace2 wrote:

DutchmenSport wrote:
I have found that simply turning on the gas stove top does pretty good for heating the camper up.

There are those who frown on using the stove top to warm up the camper, arguing the fumes and monoxide potential.

To us the issue is not what you stated, but the immense amount of moisture created by burning LP. Been there. Not worth the heat, even over a very short period. YRMV.

Propane is propane and a flame is a flame. What's the difference between the flame coming out of a Buddy Heater or the stove top? Both are propane, both are fire, both create moisture?

The reason you don't get moisture from your furnace is because the flame is vented outside the camper and only heat inside the camper.

If the flame is inside, regardless of source, wouldn't it (all) cause the same moisture problem?

[azrving]

.

[mchero]

Noplace2 you parked in an RV park? What do you do for heat?

[noplace2]

DutchmenSport wrote:
I have found that simply turning on the gas stove top does pretty good for heating the camper up.

There are those who frown on using the stove top to warm up the camper, arguing the fumes and monoxide potential.

To us the issue is not what you stated, but the immense amount of moisture created by burning LP. Been there. Not worth the heat, even over a very short period. YRMV.

[mchero]

Thanks for the post Dutchmensport. Good suggestion for someone liky yourself who does not live in your rig full time like us.
Not going to be wanting to get up at 2am and light the stove. A vetless propane heater with thermastat is what Im looking for.
Don't have to worry to much about oxygen depletion or carbon monoxide poisoning, these rigs with all the slides and such are not very air tight. Plus the heaters are highly regulated. Will still crack a window or two open though. Thanks for the post.

[DutchmenSport]

I have found that simply turning on the gas stove top does pretty good for heating the camper up. I do this when traveling, and the camper is cold. It warms up the camper much faster than the furnace. Well... now that I've figured out how much heat loss I'm getting under the floor, I sure understand why now.

There are those who frown on using the stove top to warm up the camper, arguing the fumes and monoxide potential. But, don't we all use our propane stoves inside the camper to cook with too? What's the difference then?

Apart from having an open flame, this is another potential for a heating source, in a pinch or if you need a fast warm up.

[mchero]

I'm sorry for the confusion. I should have mentioned that I am off grid full timer.
Very aware of the heated basement and know all about winterizing. We lived in New Hampshire for 20 plus years.
Out here in Quartzsite I'm not worried about black/grey/water tanks freezing, does not get that cold.
Need suggestions for ventless propane heater. Not a portable with a small tank.
Current furnaces extremely inefficient with both DC and propane!
Going to connect external tank and going to plumb a portable ventless heater.
Would like to hear from other full timers that winter in their rigs.
Thanks for the replys

[azrving]

Get a buddy Heater.

[RoyB]

I think your furnace is also heating your basement area where if you just get a Electric Heater or portable gas heater you may open yourself up for freezing your tanks and water lines. Perhaps worth checking into before stopping the use of the propane furnace.

Electric Oil Filled type heaters works great for us in our OFF-ROAD POPUP. We will use the Mr Buddy heater when off-grid. The propane furnace in our case is way too big to use in our small footprint floor space. It runs us out of there with too much heat no matter where you set it and sleeping with the loud blower motor just a few feet away from the beds wakes me up everytime it turns on...

I have been thinking about replacing my propane furnace for a Hydronic type hot water system heat source.

Roy ken

[Tom_M1]

I use a Buddy propane heater from Mr. Heater. It uses no electricity and is completely silent. I removed the regulator from the heater and using a hose plumbed it into the low pressure line that feeds my cooktop.