How long would a gas bottle last to keep chill off

[DiggerDogs]

Hi
I was wondering, ignoring the potential fire risk and insurance implications, how long a 15kg gas bottle may last if used at position 1 to keep the van slightly warm whist parked up. I have had it on the drive for a week or so and when I went into it it felt really really cold and a tad humid. Rollerteam 707 LoLine 2016

 

[Richard n Ann]

Hi
I was wondering, ignoring the potential fire risk and insurance implications, how long a 15kg gas bottle may last if used at position 1 to keep the van slightly warm whist parked up. I have had it on the drive for a week or so and when I went into it it felt really really cold and a tad humid. Rollerteam 707 LoLine 2016

Top of my head guess 2 to 3 weeks if on low.
Our 2 x 6kg lasted 2 weeks in Scotland in a cold August (2014)

 

[Gaston aires]

If it’s parked on your drive couldn’t you put a small oil filled radiator on low
Phil

 

[Stealaway]

Heating the van could encourage more condensation. Just open a couple of the vents. Ventilation will stop being damp.

 

[pagey]

remember gas heat is a damp heat

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[cmcardle75]

remember gas heat is a damp heat

Agree, unless you have a room sealed flued gas heater, the water from gas combustion ends up as water in the air.

Electric heating is far preferable for this, as it adds no water, reducing relative humidity.

 

[Just smiffy]

It wasn’t heated when it was on the dealers forecourt for 6months.....

 

[denisejoe]

We never heat our van when it's sitting on the drive. Seems pointless, as Just smiffy said above it wasn't heated when it was on the dealers forecourt!

 

[Lenny HB]

No need to heat an empty van, warm air holds more moisture which equals more condensation.

 

[cmcardle75]

No need to heat an empty van, warm air holds more moisture which equals more condensation.

Warm air *can* hold more water. It doesn't mean is has to. For a particular slice of air, heating makes no difference to the amount of water in that air, but enables it accept more. It reduces the chance of any of the water condensing out and increases the chance that the air can accept evaporation from wet surfaces.

Non-sealed gas heaters end up with too effects. The air is heated, so it can take more water, but the combustion products itself include water, so the overall effect can be negative.

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[peterc10]

Why not plug it into the mains and use the heater in the motorhome on a low setting.

 

[Eddystone]

Why not plug it into the mains and use the heater in the motorhome on a low setting.

Perhaps on a timer for over night?

 

[tonka]

Why not plug it into the mains and use the heater in the motorhome on a low setting.

I am not in the "keep it warm" camp but a comment I read, maybe even on here.
A cheap stand alone heater costs a lot less if it goes wrong than having to repair something like a Truma / Alde if that fails. Makes sense I think.

 

[Googlebot]

remember gas heat is a damp heat

In a motorhome, this is wrong. The gas combustion chamber is room sealed and only vents outside, you only get dry heat inside.

I wouldn’t heat it either though as others have said, ventilation is your friend here.

 

[bexleyjohn]

Hi, this is the first time I’ve been able to join any conversation as only just paid full whack - I know, I’m a tight-fisted.b******.

Anyway, I bought a brand new Dethleffs in May 2016 (from Pullingers who are fabulous) with a 95amp AGM leisure battery (no idea what the engine battery is) and keep it on my driveway. Every year when the temperature begins to drop towards freezing I plug it into the mains and put an oil-filled radiator inside. I have never used gas for this purpose.

Three massive gains - it NEVER gets below 10 degrees, the batteries remain fully charged and I’ve never had any condensation. (I also put internal reflector shields on the front screen and door windows). I have read so much about having batteries on charge all the time and there are so many contradictions which confused me even more.

In 4 years I have had no problems whatsoever with either battery and if I have to replace either of them within the next 6 months (unlikely) I wouldn’t be too disappointed after over 4 years of all-year round use.

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[Tom G]

We dont put heating in, but a couple of damp crystal trays, surprising how much water collects in them. Usually clean out and top up with new crystals about twice during the winter months. Never seen any damp/mould, so works for me in the PVC

 

[Otter Spotter]

deleted

 

[tonyidle]

What happens in an unheated van is that a drop in temperature causes different parts to cool at different rates. Materials that conduct heat best cool first so condensation forms on those parts. These tend to be hinges, catches, screws, etc. Some of these can and do corrode as a result. It requires very little heat to prevent it happening.

 

[Rayb182]

Ventilation is the key, ours is in storage, open the windows on top one notch.

 

[bilM]

When am not on EHU 11kg does me a week in winter. Thats heating and gas cooker and hot water.

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[denisejoe]

We dont put heating in, but a couple of damp crystal trays, surprising how much water collects in them. Usually clean out and top up with new crystals about twice during the winter months. Never seen any damp/mould, so works for me in the PVC

Your only collecting the water that replaced the water you removed the first time
when we had a caravan always put bowls of salt around always collected water once stopped never had any damp

 

[Duck Truck]

I make my wife sleep in the van
she complains of the cold but it does raise the temperature a tad when she is swearing

 

[two]

Just open the top vents a bit and save your gas for when you're in it.
If you have blown air (as most do) there would be a significant drain on the habitation battery to power the fan.

 

[Geordie and the Dragon]

As others have said cheap oil filled radiator does the trick, I still have my 2008 MH parked out front each winter I connect up from the house just above between 0-1 keeps pipework from freezing, it has two 85amp original gel batteries which are still going strong. When there is a power failure I just move into the van using trusty Gaslow 2 x 11kg (happy 79yr old)

 

[Ian Bosman]

Top of my head guess 2 to 3 weeks if on low.
Our 2 x 6kg lasted 2 weeks in Scotland in a cold August (2014)

We have got into the habit if on EHU to use small fan heater rather than the gas assuming the connection has the rating. Don't however use one for unattended heating, small oil-filled heaters are best in that area.

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[poppycamper]

When there is a power failure I just move into the van

Trying to remember last time we had power failure.... stayed here for 35years and can only remember one and that only lasted 3hrs.
Certainly not enough to keep van warm..."just in case"

 

[steve69]

My van is parked on the drive over winter. I leave it hooked up and on a timer (1hr a day). This also helps keep the battery topped up.

 

[Duck Truck]

Geordie just fire up the dragon a bit of fire breathing works

 

[Duck Truck]

power cuts had 4 yesterday
that's the North for you

 

[DIY campervan]

Agree, unless you have a room sealed flued gas heater, the water from gas combustion ends up as water in the air.

Electric heating is far preferable for this, as it adds no water, reducing relative humidity.

Yer 750watt little oil heater. Ideal

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