Freezin our butts off!!

[Licreek]

Hello all, spending our first winter in our 36' Damon pusher. Our furnace is busted and I'm trying to heat with space heaters. The heater in the bedroom works great but I can't seem to warm the living and one super slide. I bought what I thought was a large space heater. It got down to 24 degrees last night and it was really COLD in here. Is there such a thing as a high output electric space heater? I know the max output for the heaters is 1500 watts but wondered if there is one that is more efficient? Which one puts out the largest volume of heat? Any suggestions? Thanks, Lee

[Goldencrazy]

Cover windows. Use incandescent light bulbs that give off heat. Lap robes and head and shoulder covers. Good luck.

[rgatijnet1]

Some inverters have a "pass through" current limit. In other words if all of the heaters are plugged in to circuits fed by the inverter, you may trip an inverter circuit breaker before you trip one of the circuit breakers in the main panel. Maybe plug one of the heaters in to your microwave outlet if it is not fed by the inverter.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

A fan based one with thermostat from Walmart. $9.99 1500 watts.

Be careful if you have not replaced the "stab" connector outlets in the RV. It may be better to run several heaters on different circuits at lower wattage until that has been done.

Licreek wrote:
I do have 3 good circuits and 50a service so I'm gonna try the 3rd heater. Any ideas on what electric space heater to get? Do a get a great big thing with a big fan or a small radiant heater like a dish shape?

[DutchmenSport]

2oldman wrote:

DutchmenSport wrote:
turn on the 3 burners on the propane stove top. Your camper will heat up in no time.

Without a fan blowing the heat away, my range hood would get dangerously hot. My oven heats up the place pretty good too.

Agree 100%. My hood gets hot too. We have fans too.

[2oldman]

DutchmenSport wrote:
turn on the 3 burners on the propane stove top. Your camper will heat up in no time.

Without a fan blowing the heat away, my range hood would get dangerously hot. My oven heats up the place pretty good too.

[DutchmenSport]

I got criticized for suggesting this last year, but I'm going to repeat it again anyway. One of the easiest and fastest ways we've found to heat the camper, even better than the furnace or electric space heaters, is to simply turn on the 3 burners on the propane stove top. Your camper will heat up in no time.

If using the stove top for heat is so WRONG, then it's WRONG to use it for cooking also. Now, folks will criticize because it produces condensation, and it probably does. But the fact is ... if you are freezing, it works!

I would NEVER suggest sleeping with the gas stove lit. Don't do that while sleeping. But during the time you are in the camper, and right there, it's a fantastic heat source!

The other option, if you want to be a bit safer, is to turn the oven on and leave the door open. This will also generate a BUNCH of heat! It's great in a pinch, and great when the camper is bone cold. Once the camper warms up, then we turn the stove and oven off, furnace will keep up just fine then.

There again, if this is unsafe because of fumes, or whatever, then the stove is unsafe to use for anything ... including cooking! Be smart, it's still an open flame.

[CA_Traveler]

You can use more than 3 space heaters if you have separate circuits. I added a 2 outlet circuit that plugs into the 20A block heater outlet. Usually I run one heater on high and one on low on that circuit. With a 30A connection I can connect that circuit to a 20A pedestal plug.

And yes, bring in the slides and insulate doors, windows and ceiling vents.

[time2roll]

Licreek wrote:
Any ideas on what electric space heater to get? Do a get a great big thing with a big fan or a small radiant heater like a dish shape?

All provide same BTU.

Fan is good if you need to move air to a remote corner. Could make some noise when sleeping. Some like that.

Radiant is better if you want to feel heat direct on you very quickly. Not the greatest while you sleep. Might be good first thing in the morning.

Radiator warms the air and circulates by convection. They seem to start off slow but after an hour they provide good warm air. Usually the quietest and is my favorite choice.

As long as you are running three get one of each.

[Chrisatthebeach]

Get in touch with Colaw's Salvage. Quite a few years ago my furnace went out in the middle of the winter in Ohio. I got a used furnace within 2 days and when I looked it over before installing it had never been used. Call them and give them the make and model number of the one you have, they will get you a replacement on the way.

X2 on the advice to get a third electric heater, if you have 50 amp you can run 3 and that will do the trick. I am speaking from 4+ years of full timing.

You do need the furnace to be working when it gets real cold to put heat into the basement compartments.

[Licreek]

I do have 3 good circuits and 50a service so I'm gonna try the 3rd heater. Any ideas on what electric space heater to get? Do a get a great big thing with a big fan or a small radiant heater like a dish shape?

[MrWizard]

consider pulling in that super slide
thats a lot of exposed area with little to no insulation in the floor
and NO 'dead air' space that is the basement , protecting the floor from the outside air temp

replace/repair the furnace is the best option for staying warm

get a "Wave 8" 8000 BTU catalytic heater
install in the kitchen area with the optional legs and hose
so you can turn it where you want the heat pointed

[Acampingwewillg]

Yep, three electric heaters should do the trick. When I was in similar weather in our 37' MH, it kept the temp just about right. I hardly ever use the "Webasto" diesel fired heater even though it work's great.

[RLHAMILTON]

Consider purchasing and installing Cheap Heat (electric) system. It pushes heat through existing vents. Works great! Good luck!

[rgatijnet1]

If you have the money, about $300, buy single hose portable heat pump. Ours draws about 9 amps and produces 9000 BTU's of heat. Electric resistance heaters will draw over 12 maps to produce 5100 but's of heat.
Since the entire unit is inside the RV, it will work in low temperatures, as long as the room itself does not get below 40 degrees.
We have used ours for several Winter seasons out West in temps as low as -5 degrees.
Also you may consider a low voltage electric blanket for those chilly nights.

[time2roll]

You need one more heater. Hope you have 50 amp RV and 50 amp service. Only one heater per branch circuit so you may have to use the microwave outlet. Otherwise as said they are all 5100 BTU and 100% efficient. I like the radiator style.

Good time to call a mobile RV repair guy.