Help taking trip Heater Question?

[Scubawise]

I have seen many posts where our heater will not work if temps below 40 degress? What is the story? thanks

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by Scubawise

I have seen many posts where our heater will not work if temps below 40 degress? What is the story? thanks

Heat pump on AC unit, if equipped, will not work ( heat) below 40 degrees. Have to use the furnace instead.

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by Scubawise

I have seen many posts where our heater will not work if temps below 40 degress? What is the story? thanks

I proof tested the 35,000 btu Dometic/Atwood propane furnace last month during the Texas Big Freeze. The furnace kept the coach at a toasty 72 F degreese when the outside temps dipped to 9 degrees. It is good to have a 20 gallon tank. (91,500 btu per gallon)

[powerboatr]

LP heater will work fine,



our heat pumps have pumped in hot air with outside temps in lower 30S and very dry air.


but like mentioned, heat pumps tend to drop off below 38 to 40F range


BUT our rv garage heat pump mini split kept us at 65F with out side temps at 1-3F during the freeze here in north east texas last month


makes me wonder why this technology is slooooow to the rv world

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by powerboatr

LP heater will work fine,



our heat pumps have pumped in hot air with outside temps in lower 30S and very dry air.


but like mentioned, heat pumps tend to drop off below 38 to 40F range


BUT our rv garage heat pump mini split kept us at 65F with out side temps at 1-3F during the freeze here in north east texas last month


makes me wonder why this technology is slooooow to the rv world

Your mini-splt draws 30 amps @ 240 volts during the defrost cycle. My 36,000 btu heat pump draws 50 amps @ 240 during the defrost cycle. Absolutely no reason a 15,000 btu heat pump could be built and work for a 50 amp coach wired for 240 volts. Most avoid 50 degree or lower temperature in an RV, so I doubt there as any sort of market. I suspect any good heat and air tech could modify a standard RV heat pump to contain a defrost cycle using a 40 amp @ 120 volts defrost cycle. All the parts exist in a mini-split heat pump.

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by Beau388

I proof tested the 35,000 btu Dometic/Atwood propane furnace last month during the Texas Big Freeze. The furnace kept the coach at a toasty 72 F degreese when the outside temps dipped to 9 degrees. It is good to have a 20 gallon tank. (91,500 btu per gallon)

We were in that deep freeze too. Propane furnace worked great although it’s a hog. We used the generator mostly. Ran two space heaters during the day and stayed toasty warm. Didn’t want to run the generator at night so set the furnace to 50 degrees and threw a second comforter on the bed. We were low on propane when we got there and I planned to fill up at the campground before we set up. Alas, the park had neglected to renew their license so could not fill us up. We figured we’d be fine with our two space heaters not knowing that the power would be off for 72 hours and the highs would be in the teens in south Texas! Lesson learned....keep the fuel and propane tanks full.

[Scubawise]

yes after every trip we dump, fill propane and gas tank so that we never have to think

[taylorbob1]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

We were in that deep freeze too. Propane furnace worked great although it’s a hog. We used the generator mostly. Ran two space heaters during the day and stayed toasty warm. Didn’t want to run the generator at night so set the furnace to 50 degrees and threw a second comforter on the bed. We were low on propane when we got there and I planned to fill up at the campground before we set up. Alas, the park had neglected to renew their license so could not fill us up. We figured we’d be fine with our two space heaters not knowing that the power would be off for 72 hours and the highs would be in the teens in south Texas! Lesson learned....keep the fuel and propane tanks full.

What Pete’sMH said. The Atwood furnace really guzzles propane.

That’s why if you’re staying put somewhere without electricity...the extended stay propane attachment is a must.
You can use as much propane as you need with the external tanks

[The Gritz Carlton]

We use one space heater and turn one AC to "Fan Only". I keeps the heat circulating and works like central heat. If no power, I always carry a backup Honda 2000 which will run the space heater overnight. The 2000 and a 5 gallon jug of gas fits in one of the storage bays just fine. Its also nice to use for lunch breaks or to make coffee in rest areas or use the microwave without having to fire up the 6000 Onan for such a short amount of time. We Harvest Host a lot and the 2000 works great in those environments...unless I need A/C's.

[PictureTheSouth]

Side note to this question: de-winterized our rig last Friday and filled water tank, on a record high (83f) day. Planning to dry camp in in-laws driveway this weekend for Easter, and expecting record low temps. Mid to low 20's for two consecutive nights, and several hours below freezing each night.

We have no heated tanks. Unresolved exhaust leak from furnace means we'll be dependent on blankets, body heat and a space heater inside.

Will this turn out to be an expensive repair job from burst pipes if we go through with this plan?

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by PictureTheSouth

Side note to this question: de-winterized our rig last Friday and filled water tank, on a record high (83f) day. Planning to dry camp in in-laws driveway this weekend for Easter, and expecting record low temps. Mid to low 20's for two consecutive nights, and several hours below freezing each night.

We have no heated tanks. Unresolved exhaust leak from furnace means we'll be dependent on blankets, body heat and a space heater inside.

Will this turn out to be an expensive repair job from burst pipes if we go through with this plan?

Can you put a 100 watt bulb in your wet bay?

I normally don't winterize my RVs here in north Florida unless it's predicted to be in the teens for more than 3 hours or unless it barely climbs above freezing during the day.

Tanks should be OK, pipes inside the RV will be fine, the biggest concern is the hard plastic PEX fittings and pump in your wet bay.

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by PictureTheSouth

Side note to this question: de-winterized our rig last Friday and filled water tank, on a record high (83f) day. Planning to dry camp in in-laws driveway this weekend for Easter, and expecting record low temps. Mid to low 20's for two consecutive nights, and several hours below freezing each night.

We have no heated tanks. Unresolved exhaust leak from furnace means we'll be dependent on blankets, body heat and a space heater inside.

Will this turn out to be an expensive repair job from burst pipes if we go through with this plan?

I wouldn't chance it but the chances your PEX pipes will be ok, but some fittings and clamps will probably fail. I burst a gray water drain pipe (1.25") because I did completely empty the gray water tank before adding a couple gallons of antifreeze, while camping in the mountains for Christmas (low at the night 11 F degrees). When it going to below 20 degrees (with heated tanks), I drain all the tanks and water lines and add 2 gallons of antifreeze to the gray tank and one to the black tank, just because. We carry 3 to 10 gallons of water stored in the sink or shower just encase. I have never had a gallon jug burst, yet, but I suspect it will happen eventually.

[PictureTheSouth]

Can possibly get a bulb into the bay - not sure how much outside power is available at their house. Will need one outlet for powering space heater - and sure I'll blow that breaker as soon as grandkids switch on TV in the middle of the night

Should have plenty of fuel for the genny as a backup; but it's a quiet residential neighborhood. Not -quite- ready to burn bridges with the neighbors on a holiday weekend.