500 watt Oil Filled Radiator or not?

[Teddy B]

I have had a Motorhome for 3 years.
I was wondering does anyone put a Small Oil Filled Radiator in their Motorhome while it is parked up during the winter on their drive to keep it at a static temperature?

My wife says it’s not needed, your thoughts please?

 

[PhilandMena]

Nope! never have done. Just make sure you have a couple of roof vents cracked open so there is an air flow through the van. The further apart the vents the better.

 

[Northernraider]

Not needed it needs air circulation regularly and not heat.

Ideal if you can remove soft furnishings otherwise just prop cushions up on ends , leave cupboard doors open , all vents clear etc and aire on drier days.

Heat just causes condensation and costs money.

No owners manuals will tell you to heat it just air it

 

[hilldweller]

If you put oil filled in the search box, top right, you'll be mighty confused by the time you have read some of the past opinions.

 

[scotjimland]

As above.. no need..

another thing to consider.. before you use one.. ask your insurance company if they cover the use of portable electric heaters left unattended..

I'm betting they won't

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[Northernraider]

If you put oil filled in the search box, top right, you'll be mighty confused by the time you have read some of the past opinions.

Most of those are for when the van is in use though not for leaving over winter

 

[cruiser]

I put a small one in my van. Have done for about 15 years. Keeps mine nice and warm and dry.

 

[two]

sorry to tell you...
...she's right!

 

[Geo]

If you do, put it in a catch tray they do leak occasionally

 

[Just smiffy]

How old are you...? You should know by now your wife is always right......

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[Lenny HB]

The boss is right, warm air holds more moisture the last thing you want.

 

[Feltwell]

Stopped bothering using mine even when I'm in the van, let alone when I'm not in it!

Not necessary, as others have said a bit of ventilation works wonders.

 

[PeteH]

I do use one 2Kw, but on a low temp setting, Usually put it on a couople of days before we need the van. But I find putting the De-Humidifier in overnight is as/more effective, surprising just how much moisture it removes. AND ALWAYS use an RCD trip. Even though the M-H trip (and the garage trip) should work if owt went wrong!.

 

[Northernraider]

I do use one 2Kw, but on a low temp setting, Usually put it on a couople of days before we need the van. But I find putting the De-Humidifier in overnight is as/more effective, surprising just how much moisture it removes. AND ALWAYS use an RCD trip. Even though the M-H trip (and the garage trip) should work if owt went wrong!.

Probably cause of all the vents in the van your dehumidifying the atmosphere all around the outside of it too

 

[jezport]

Heat in a cold parked van will just make condensation.

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[PeteH]

Probably cause of all the vents in the van your dehumidifying the atmosphere all around the outside of it too

It is possible, but on ballance all that moisture is better off removed, ventilation works, but if the outer air is damp no amount of ventilating will reduce the moisture, and IMV Mould which breeds in moist conditions is as greater threat

At the moment we are living periodically in the van on the driveway. (we have had a major water leak and currently have no floors in the bungalow!) I note that the amount of Condensation on the windows in a morning is actually less IF I have run the de-humidifier the previous day?.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Our previous van, I could just leave it and it was fine inside. However with the present one, I found I had running condensation on the washroom walls and cupboard fronts even though I tried all sorts of ventilation efforts including leaving the bottom doors open to lockers with floor drops, cranking open the roof light and so on.
The mains dehumidifier worked but I use that in house so I have found the method that works best for this van is a small dimplex fan heater set on frost setting.
Over the worst of the cold weather last winter, the min thermometer read + 0.5 C for those nights when the temperature really went below freezing. I think for the small amount of electricity used to keep it above freezing it’s worth not having the damp condensation inside.

I tried two winters of other methods before settling on this as it does go against the advice and experience of many funsters some of whom have replied above.

What I am saying is, that you may have to find the best method for your particular MH.

 

[Northernraider]

It is possible, but on ballance all that moisture is better off removed, ventilation works, but if the outer air is damp no amount of ventilating will reduce the moisture, and IMV Mould which breeds in moist conditions is as greater threat

At the moment we are living periodically in the van on the driveway. (we have had a major water leak and currently have no floors in the bungalow!) I note that the amount of Condensation on the windows in a morning is actually less IF I have run the de-humidifier the previous day?.

Yes unfortunately when living in it condensation is almost impossible to avoid.
But the op was asking about when it's parked up and not In use and that's when it's best just ventilated.
Living in it in cold weather is a different nightmare as even boiling the kettle fills the van with condensation

 

[franknjan]

If you must heat the van, why are you considering buying a 500w heater?Just set the heater that's fitted in your van to the 500w setting and save the cost of purchasing for running costs.

 

[jezport]

You only get condensation where hot meets cold. if the van is kept the same temperature inside as outside there wont be condensation. But heat the van up and where the cold from outside meets the warm air or surfaces from inside you will get condensation.

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[PeteH]

You only get condensation where hot meets cold. if the van is kept the same temperature inside as outside there wont be condensation. But heat the van up and where the cold from outside meets the warm air or surfaces from inside you will get condensation.

Which is fine in theory. But does IMV have drawbacks if you want to use it at short notice. I have kept ours vented and heated as I did with all my caravans an R-V's since the early 80's. Makes a great difference when yo have to pick up and go in short order. We also use ours as overflow accomadation as we do not have a spare bedroom and family who live away. We often get asked can we stay over. Heating the van is far cheaper than moving house,!

In the end it comes down to the old adage what suits one is not necessarily the answer for another.