Cheapheat ???

[Field Trip]

We are full timing now in our 2016 ES Houston! With winter coming, we are considering adding Cheapheat to our unit. Thoughts?

[RustyJC]

As I responded to your same question on the SOITC forum, the CheapHeat system on our furnace in conjunction with the fireplace has kept us toasty down to 30 degF - the lowest temperature we've been in with this MS. Even at 30 degF, there was reserve heating capacity as the furnace and fireplace were both still cycling on and off.


Rusty

[Fred g]

The best feature of the Cheap Heat system is that it uses the ductwork that is already in place. Thereby heating the basement and water lines that would be at risk for freezing. The use of portable heaters does not heat these areas.

Fred

[Cummins12V98]

Bottom line it's just damn nice to turn it on and not have to deal with propane or little space heaters!

Works great! Well worth the $1,200.

[Glenn West]

as long as you are not boon docking

[Cummins12V98]

Originally Posted by Glenn West

as long as you are not boon docking

If you want to burn propane with your gen then it would work! Not the smartest thing to do tho!

[RustyJC]

I don't know of anyone who has recommended the CheapHeat system for boondockers. Certainly not me! Of course, switching between electric and propane operation of the furnace is as simple as flipping a rocker switch.

Rusty

[Fred g]

Cheap heat is definitely not for boondocking. But having said that, it could come in real handy. Lets say you are boondocking and run out of propane. I would start the gen and still have heat. This would only work if you have a gas or diesel generator on board.

Fred

[Tneagle]

Is propane is cheaper to run (for the furnace) than say gas thruogh the generator if you are boondocking?

[RustyJC]

Depends what you're paying for propane and gasoline, as well as the relative efficiencies of the furnace on propane and the engine/generator/electric furnace heating elements on gasoline/CheapHeat. The gasoline engine on the generator probably isn't more than 30-32% efficient, tops, so my bet would be on propane unless the price paid for propane were ungodly expensive.


Rusty

[Dan9841]

Be careful with this modification.

"The use of an electric heating kit (ie. RV Comfort CheapHeat) with any Atwood furnace may result in damage to components or furnace. Atwood’s warranty states that any modification to Atwood product voids the warranty. This includes the addition of an electric heating device like the “RV Comfort CheapHeat” electric heating kit."

Don't know if this helps but I will not do it.

[Steadfast]

Originally Posted by Dan9841

Be careful with this modification.

"The use of an electric heating kit (ie. RV Comfort CheapHeat) with any Atwood furnace may result in damage to components or furnace. Atwood’s warranty states that any modification to Atwood product voids the warranty. This includes the addition of an electric heating device like the “RV Comfort CheapHeat” electric heating kit."

Don't know if this helps but I will not do it.

Suburban brand furnaces in DRV products.

[Dan9841]

Thank you for the correction. I looked on their warranty page and it didn't say it as clear as it did with Atwood. I'd still call to confirm.

[GeorgiaHybrid]

There is nothing in the Cheap Heat system that can cause a problem with a furnace. The heating element is downstream of the furnace in the duct work and the only other addition is the control circuit that calls for the furnace to come on or off is routed to the furnace to command the burner on or off or to a relay that turns heating element in the Cheap Heat system on or off.

There are no modifications to the furnace itself at all, it just acts as a blower without running the propane burner when the Cheap Heat is selected.

[RustyJC]

I'm sure some vendors will use any excuse possible to weasel out of a warranty obligation. Realistically, though, I've been RVing in 5th wheels since 1996 and can't recall ever using a furnace warranty. That notwithstanding, as has been mentioned, the CheapHeat system installs strip heating elements in the plenum downstream of the furnace proper. It only uses the furnace fan to move air and adds a selector switch for either electric or propane heating. I really can't see how it could negatively affect the furnace if installed correctly. Ours has never given any problem whatsoever.

Rusty

[Fred g]

I think you would be protected under the Federal Warranty, the Magnuson-Moss Act. Which basically states the modification would have to be the cause of the failure for the warranty to be voided.

Fred

[Dan9841]

You folks are absolutely right. I will be a RV owner starting on Saturday but won't be actively involved with it until December. As soon as I start living in it I will start tearing things apart to learn every aspect of the unit. This forum has helped me tremendously with my purchase and I am looking forward in sharing my experiences. Modifications should not be an issue for me. I am a handyman and probably have enough tools to get any job done on the unit.