Oil filled radiator and electric blanket (1 Viewer)

[42208]

It is forecasted to be cold on Tuesday night. If I leave the van for a few hours I often leave the oil filled radiator and the electric blanket on low, however, on Tuesday I will be out all afternoon and evening until around 11pm. I obviously want to come back to a warm van and as I am on electric hook up don't really want to leave the Webasto pumping away. Both radiator and blanket are in good working order yet something is nagging in the back of my head. Do others often leave them on unattended for what will be 10/11 hours?

 

[Alistair33]

Can see why not

 

[Scattycat]

You can always put the electrics on a plug-timer and set its on and off settings as required

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[tacr2man]

Why not they don't know if you are there or not

 

[Podney]

Personally,I’d be very happy to leave the rad on,but not the blanket. Think they are less likely to cause problems but don’t have any hard facts to back that up. You could always put blanket on for 20mins when you return,if needed.

 

[PeteH]

Wus!.. Cold showers. Early morning Run, lots of Hot porridge!.. Who needs Heaters and Blankets!

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[rosalan]

Another thumbs -up for the oil rad, they do not draw too much electricity and should be safe to leave on all night/day. Over the years many people have used them and I have not yet heard of any problems, provided they are in good condition.

 

[grasscutter]

Leave the rad on and pull the covers back on the bed.

 

[CazPaul]

I would leave the Webasto on a low setting and forget the other 2, that's what it is designed for, much safer too.

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[davejen]

We always leave our oil rad on, never had a problem. (probably will now!! )
Cheers, Dave

 

[42208]

Wus!.. Cold showers. Early morning Run, lots of Hot porridge!.. Who needs Heaters and Blankets!

Sussed me out there!

 

[scotjimland]

Both radiator and blanket are in good working order yet something is nagging in the back of my head.

Insurance cover perhaps ?

as far as I know, portable heaters, which would include electric blankets left unattended are not covered by van insurance , in the event of a fire, however unlikely, insurer won't pay out.. Read instructions on both.. many portable heaters say not to be left unattended..

If in doubt.. ask insurer


Would I do it.. no.

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[filopastry]

Nothing is 100% safe but I recon an oil filled radiator must be pretty close. Gas powered heating systems surely have more chances of going Kerboom we all leave our houses with various heating/warming/ventilation/chilling/freezer and goodness only know what else running why would an electric item be any greater risk in a MH..... BUT.... still I PERSONALLY would not use an electric blanket as I have had personal experience of one going pop and setting fire to my bed at home. See .......contradictions everywhere .... you pays your money and you takes your chance !!

 

[Allanm]

Is your Webasto heater ducted inside the van and does it have a timer?
If it’s ducted, it’s going to much more efficient than an oil filled rad, if it has a timer, set it to come on an hour or so before you get back to the van.
If neither apply, leave it on low, you can always turn it up when you get back.
And what’s an electric blanket?

 

[two]

If you have to ask, maybe it'd be safer not to as you're likely to end up worrying about it. Shame, because I'd leave them on.

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[audlin]

I can't stand the cold so when it's cold I leave my oil filled radiator on 24/7 and never had any problems though I always check that nothing could fall on it. I only put my electric blanket on when I'm in the van.

 

[42208]

If you have to ask, maybe it'd be safer not to as you're likely to end up worrying about it. Shame, because I'd leave them on.

That's a very good point and my own motto as it happens, no point having a night out and constantly thinking about it, however, on this occasion if it's forecast cold on the day it's staying on

 

[two]

That's a very good point and my own motto as it happens, no point having a night out and constantly thinking about it, however, on this occasion if it's forecast cold on the day it's staying on

Good for you. I hope you keep nice 'n cosy!

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[Brian and Jo]

Yep when ours is at home between trips in the winter we leave a small oil filled Rad on all the time
Brian & Jo

 

[Rapphil]

Nothing is 100% safe but I recon an oil filled radiator must be pretty close. Gas powered heating systems surely have more chances of going Kerboom we all leave our houses with various heating/warming/ventilation/chilling/freezer and goodness only know what else running why would an electric item be any greater risk in a MH..... BUT.... still I PERSONALLY would not use an electric blanket as I have had personal experience of one going pop and setting fire to my bed at home. See .......contradictions everywhere .... you pays your money and you takes your chance !!

Had same experience with a blanket at home some years ago so a no from me.
Rad should be fine though.

 

[PeteH]

Sussed me out there!

We used t` scrape t` frost off t` inside ot` bedroom winders as kids!. Run 5 miles to school in`t bare feet, et` bread an`t dripping for dinner, Our mum did 10hr shifts down`t pit and then kept `uose. Eh! lad! thee dint nor the is barn to-day!. (apologies to Tony Capstick)

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[scotjimland]

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/a-word-of-warning.44621/#post-534476

 

[Shrimp]

We use an oil filled rad but no leccy blanket!
We often leave the rad on when really cold, I wouldn't leave a leccy blanket on.
When we were living in our house, one time there was smoke coming out of next door house, called fire brigade. Chap,living on his own, had left blanket on and it set fire to inside of house!

 

[shawn&emma]

Personally We don't leave any heating on when we leave the van, and yes it is bloody cold when we get back to it, Friday last arrived back around midnight -2 out and only 6 in. Turn the furnace straight on and by the time we've boiled the kettle for hot water bottles its already starting to warm up. No heating on over night then first one who wants the loo in the mornings hits the furnace again then half hour later were all toasty.

I know when we are paying for hookup you sort of think I'm going to get my moneys worth (rightly So) but it used to drive me insane when I worked on a campsite and on the evening walk rounds there'd be so many empty vans (to be fair mainly caravans) with electric heaters on full running in awnings.

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[Shrimp]

Personally We don't leave any heating on when we leave the van, and yes it is bloody cold when we get back to it, Friday last arrived back around midnight -2 out and only 6 in. Turn the furnace straight on and by the time we've boiled the kettle for hot water bottles its already starting to warm up. No heating on over night then first one who wants the loo in the mornings hits the furnace again then half hour later were all toasty.

I know when we are paying for hookup you sort of think I'm going to get my moneys worth (rightly So) but it used to drive me insane when I worked on a campsite and on the evening walk rounds there'd be so many empty vans (to be fair mainly caravans) with electric heaters on full running in awnings.

We've worked on campsites and yes it's amazing the amount of heaters left on in awnings!
One we saw was a seasonal 'resident' & he left his heating on all winter-he wasn't there just a nice cosy awning!

 

[Jim]

One we saw was a seasonal 'resident' & he left his heating on all winter-he wasn't there just a nice cosy awning!

Think I’m going to go for 2 amp hook ups

 

[42208]

We used t` scrape t` frost off t` inside ot` bedroom winders as kids!. Run 5 miles to school in`t bare feet, et` bread an`t dripping for dinner, Our mum did 10hr shifts down`t pit and then kept `uose. Eh! lad! thee dint nor the is barn to-day!. (apologies to Tony Capstick)

Love the narration, begining to feel a bit nesh, pampered and spoilt. Love coming back to a warm van though so might just live with the feeling one more time. looks like radiator on low and leccy blanket 20 mins before bed wins the day and an apology to site owner for abuse of power supply.

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[Lenny HB]

We don't leave any heating on when we are out, with most vans having a 6 kw heater it only takes a few minutes to warm up, never use heating at night either. We do set the timer to so that we have hot water for a shower and a warm van when we get up.

 

[Lenny HB]

Gas powered heating systems surely have more chances of going Kerboom.

If anyone is worried about that, just never ever use the heating when you are in the van, far better for it to go Kerboom without you in it.

 

[MitchandJenny]

You can buy temperature operated plug-in switches, into which you can plug your heater etc.
I set mine at about 6 to 8 degrees and I have a 4 foot long tube heater mounted on a non flammable piece of board that I plug in.
This prevents any freezing and only uses 40 watt per foot of tube.
Works for us.
Mitch.

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