Winter heater for motorhome (1 Viewer)

[sewinlynne2]

Hi. Would like to know what types of mains electric heaters funsters use for keeping out jack frost and connie densation from their 'homes over the winter please. Ours does have its own but I would prefer to use a 'stand alone' over perhaps a lengthy period. Thanks in anticipation.

 

[Speve]

We have a small fan heater thermostatically controlled set low but use our van most of the year but still useful on hook up as it heats very quickly. Just a word of warning if you have a drop down bed lower it slightly as if it's tight to roof you can get condensation which we learned at our expense on the roof causing black mould spots on bedding.

 

[Badknee]

Hi. Would like to know what types of mains electric heaters funsters use for keeping out jack frost and connie densation from their 'homes over the winter please. Ours does have its own but I would prefer to use a 'stand alone' over perhaps a lengthy period. Thanks in anticipation.

Heat inside a cold box causes condensation as the warm air comes into contact witch the cold surfaces. Ventilation is the key with a proper drain down and remove all your bedding. Ice cream tubs filled with salt will attract any moisture that's around.

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[funflair]

I assume you want some heat in there so you dont have to drain down over the winter, in which case make sure it can get all around the van as its the pipework that will freeze up and that could well be tucked away closest to the coldest spots.

If all drained down, as post above "dont bother"

Martin

 

[Cal54]

Agree with @Badknee , if you are not using for sometime. However if you do use the van through winter and just want to take the edge off the cold then either a convector heater or oil filled radiator on a timer would be my recommendation. The usual caveat applies however re electrical accessories.

 

[sewinlynne2]

Bit of everything I suppose. Don't want to fully drain down unless we get one of those Siberian winters-definitely want to keep condensation away so heat and vent. Yes, leaving all 'closures' open around the van will help on both counts. Don't really know whether closing blinds, curtains would be any good but suspect not. Keep them coming please its all very good!

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[Badknee]

As Martin says, keeping the inside warm and toasty may be fine but if the pipe work is slung under the van it's not going to work.
I've been climbing all over our recently purchased Hobby and there's not a thing under the floor or indeed in any of the outside lockers. All the pipe work and heating ducts run inside away from the cold. The first few seconds worth of cold water coming out of the taps/shower taps is decidedly warm but, if you are heating the "box" the pipes won't get any heat without running the Moho's heating which would be more expensive that an oil filled rad.

 

[MC 55 FUN]

Hi. Would like to know what types of mains electric heaters funsters use for keeping out jack frost and connie densation from their 'homes over the winter please. Ours does have its own but I would prefer to use a 'stand alone' over perhaps a lengthy period. Thanks in anticipation.

Last Feb' & March we used a De Longhi oil filled rad' on a timer for a few hours overnight, in conjunction with regular ventilation, to good effect.

As @Badknee states, the salt in a tub works very well.

 

[sewinlynne2]

We've got an underfloor 100l freshwater tank(empty of course) and the grey water tank(also empty)but everything else, apart from waste pipes, appears to be indoors-unless someone knows differently. Boiler and pump etc. are in floor locker(left open-boiler and locker)

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[MC 55 FUN]

We've got an underfloor 100l freshwater tank(empty of course) and the grey water tank(also empty)but everything else, apart from waste pipes, appears to be indoors-unless someone knows differently. Boiler and pump etc. are in floor locker(left open-boiler and locker)

The inside temp' of your MoHo can go below zero - as we found out whilst in Llandovery last March

A complete drain down took us just 10 mins' the other day - better to be safe than out of pocket we think

 

[Lenny HB]

Like others say waste of time heating an empty van only encourages condensation. Always drain down the fresh tank after every outing, wouldn't want to be drinking water that's been in there more than a few days. It only takes a minute to open the boiler dump valve and the pipe drain tap to fully drain the system.

 

[pappajohn]

The indoor air moisture content WILL ALWAYS balance to that outdoors via vents in the van so dehumidifier etc won't work.
As you dry the air more moist air will enter to replace it....Only thing it will do is increase your electric bill.

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[two]

Remove all liquid, including any bottled in cupboards as a minimum. Open vents and all cupboards to encourage circulation. Take in cushions if you can, else turn them on end. Don't forget to drain your boiler (Easily overlooked)!
If you really want to remove chill with an electric heater, get a thermostatically controlled greenhouse heater but that's an unnecessary expense. Use the thermostat rather than a timer.

 

[sewinlynne2]

Sounds good to me @rogher as that's all I really want to do. A set of fridge winter covers is on my list too.

 

[two]

The main benefit of winter fridge vent covers is to keep the spiders out and avoid your burner getting blocked.

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[hilldweller]

I would prefer to use a 'stand alone' over perhaps a lengthy period..

Just be advised, I mentioned this to our insurers and the reply was "any damage would not be insured, it is a departure from the standard spec of the vehicle, you are covered if you leave the standard heating on".

Like most others, we take the risk. Just choose the safest heater.

 

[pappajohn]

If you do use an oil heater stand it on a tray as some have been known to leak.

 

[sewinlynne2]

Thanks @pappajohn but I definitely won't be using an oil one. Thanks @hilldweller - we have got a Whale system that has a 'frost' setting for use on mains electric so, I think on balance, we will use that.

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[jdk62]

We have an Alde system which can be set up to kkep the heated on Electric, but do not want the circulating pump constanly on the go, so we use an 800W oil filled rad on timer - Works a treat. We also open cupboards, lift mattress and cushions etc.

 

[two]

It should be obvious that you don't the circulating water from a 'wet' heating system as it already has antifreeze in it. You should drain the boiler of the domestic hot water, though and the Adle will be fine to run like that, for heating.
The Alde pump does not run continuously, only when the thermostat deemed necessary, so it's much better than a secondary heat source as it's more evenly distributed. If you leave the pump on continuous, the pump will fail prematurely, and they're expensive to replace.

 

[Kevan]

Alde pump can be on all the time, or thermostat only, my heating runs on heat Exchanger from engine when traveling so pump needs to be running

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[BusyBuilder]

We use one of those tube heaters on really frosty nights only 80 watts, not much more than a light bulb.

 

[sdc77]

We us our throughout the year and between trips an oil filled rad takes the edge off. this year we will be using the van over the entire Christmas and possibly whole winter period. if we put the awning out we stick the oil filled rad in that.