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- See keeping warm. Content from this page should be moved there.
“ Heat people, not places.[1] ”
Many RVers snowbird to get away from temperature extremes, but others enjoy the cold or sometimes get caught in it. The method one uses for staying warm will depend on whether or not one has "hookups" (grid connection).
TL;DR: heating an RV from batteries/solar is impractical, with the exception of contact heating. We generally use propane or diesel.
“ Fear of propane will be expensive.[2] ”
Space Heating
Fuel-consuming heaters create air-quality issues, including decreased oxygen and increased carbon monoxide. This is why we ventilate.
Here’s an overview of the amount of toxic byproducts introduced into the RV by a properly functioning appliance:[3]
- electric heaters – none
- vented heaters – none
- catalytic heaters – some
- open flame heaters – more
When shore power is available electric space heating may be preferable for air quality reasons.
Diesel heaters
Diesel heaters (also known as Chinese diesel heaters/CDH) are a very popular way to heat your vehicle while it is parked. The least expensive heaters cost ~$100, and they use very little fuel. Unlike portable propane heaters, another popular heating option, diesel heaters don't create condensation in your living space. All diesel heaters must be vented to the outside of the vehicle and should be permanently installed for best results.Continue reading …Gasoline heaters
Gasoline heaters (or petrol heaters) are parking heaters that may be used as a heat source while living in your vehicle. They are less popular than diesel heaters, but may be a viable option depending on your vehicle and usage.Continue reading …Propane heaters
Propane heaters can either be an installed and ventilatedparking heater, or a non-ventilated portable heater such as the popular Mr. Buddy brand. The portable propane heaters are relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain and use, but they create a lot of condensation in your living space which can be a significant issue. The ventilated heaters are less popular than other parking heaters, but they may be the right choice in certain places and situations.Continue reading …Candles
Candles are an oft-discussed source of keeping warm. A candle will put out something like 240 BTU (70w equivalent) of heat. They also give off light and can be used as a lantern. Downsides include soot, tipping hazard, air quality degradation, and lead content in some wicks. Using candles in a lantern fixture may be safer. In terms of cost, most other heat sources are more economical.Continue reading …Electric Heating (while on shore power)
When on unmetered shore ("mains") power electric heating is a practical solution and will conserve propane. The efficiency of electric heaters is the same (3.41 W / W or 3412BTU in a 1000W heater)[4] so your choice will be made on other features.
Space Heaters
[[https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/617OHfYSDVL._AC_US160_.jpg (external image)]] The most common type of space heater is the resistance wire heater with forced airflow.
Note: high-amp draws like electric space heaters may trip your converter's breakers. Here is a tip for finding a 110v outlet in your RV that does not go through the converter:
“ With shore power connected go to your main AC breaker box and find the breaker for your inverter, it is usually 30 amps, and open it. Now check all receptacles for power. If you find one that has power it does not go through the inverter.[5] ”
Another note: it has been reported that some RV parks do not allow space heaters.[6]
Resistance wire heaters
The simplest and cheapest space heaters are resistance wire heaters with a fan blowing over them. The wire is like that found in a toaster or hair dryer. The traditional design is a ["milk house" utility heater] that looks like it was first made in the 1940s.
Ceramic heaters encase the resistance wire in a ceramic matrix. The increased surface area means the wire can be run at a lower temperature, reducing fire hazards. It also has more even heating than the bare wire models since the ceramic adds thermal inertia. This type of heater is the most popular space heater on Amazon, with over 10,000 reviews.
Micathermic heaters encase the heating element in a mica matrix, yielding similar results as the ceramic heater but often requiring more frontal area cases. Mica heaters can be made quite thin.[7]
Personal heaters
Inexpensive, low-wattage (200w - 250w) "personal" heaters have recently come to the market with prices as low as $10. Intended to be used at/under a work desk in an office, they deliver 675 - 850btu/hr. 'Dwellers with excess solar power or access to shore power could use these without affecting the bank.
Radiant heaters
Radiant heaters are intended to generate infrared heat directly onto the target. These are highly directional and could overheat some nearby materials.
Oil-filled heaters
These heaters are similar to residential radiators; they provide steady and silent heat, gently heating the space through convection. These work best when the area is already warm and they can be left on for long stretches of time. Due to low temperature these may be the safest space heaters. You can also dry socks on them, which might end in tragedy with other kinds of heaters. :-)
Contact heating
Applying heat directly is much more efficient than heating the surrounding space[8] and may be powered by solar or battery power. Examples of contact/direct heat include:
- heating pads
- heated vests, gloves, insoles, etc.
- heat packs
- 12v electric blankets
- electric mattress pads.
- USB handwarmers
You can also DIY heated gear with carbon heat strips.
Note: a quirk of electric heating is that the heaters typically don't run at varying power levels for varying heat levels; they vary the ON/OFF duty cycle. So maybe 100% duty cycle at 100w on HI (average 100w) and 10% duty cycle at 100w on LO -- on for one second and off for 9 seconds (average 10w). For this reason you may not be able to run a 300w electric blanket on LO (30w average) from a 200w inverter.