Blue flame heaters?

[Tommyjay]

Last winter when we were having problems with our dometic furnace in AZ, we were looking for other options just to bypass the furnace altogether so we could add warmth to the chilly nights. Since we are boondocking, running the generator all night with an electric heater wasnt an option.

One of the local RV stores was selling radiant and blue flame heaters that appeared interesting. After talking with folks, I figured the blue flame heater would be my best option. When we got a tech to fix our furnace, I asked him about them, and he stated that he had one of these types of heaters, and really liked it. His note of caution was to keep a window or two slightly open to keep the trailer well ventilated. OK, I understood that and other safety precautions, so its a good idea.

This was one of the types that the RV dealership was selling:

https://www.totalhomesupply.com/p/he...liquid-propane

After reading the literature, and asking some questions to online vendors, it appears that you need at least a 100 lb LPG tank to run these things. Unfortunately I have two 30 lb tanks, so apparently it wont work for me....or will it?

Does anyone own one of these heaters? Are you able to get it to function properly on a 30 or 20 lb tank?

[RetiredOne]

I think you need to be really, really careful with those vent free propane heaters. First of all, the combustion air and exhaust fumes stay INSIDE the rig. Even with a window cracked, you're putting a lot of faith that it works correctly when you're sleeping. Plus, burning propane inside like that gives off tons of humidity and water, so everything can get "wet" inside.

There's a reason why your built in propane furnace gets it's combustion air from outside and exhausts the vent gases outside, and your inside heat comes from a heat exchanger. If these vent free heaters were so great, the RV manufacturers would be installing them at the factory..... but they're not...

[Riich]

I have to agree, I wouldn't use one of those in my camper. I have an 18,000 BTU unit in my basement that I installed to have an emergency backup in my house. It works incredibly well and with minimal odor, but still, as mentioned above, it uses inside air for combustion. In my house and being monitored, I have no issue with it, but in my camper, I doubt I could sleep at night with it running. And they do produce some condensation, and in a camper being heated there is already a condensation issue. I don't think you would be happy with one of these, I really don't.

[finalcountdn]

I would just fix or have my furnace fixed. It is designed for what you are doing. Even then, make sure you have a good working Co2 detector.


As a note if it come to it, a new furnace is around $600 or so depending on the size.

[Marcm157]

I used one in my garage for less than a season - I did run it off a 30 pound tank but it did consume quite a bit of fuel. BUT, on several occasions it did set my carbon monoxide detector off. I moved away from it as a result.

That was in a 1,000 square foot garage. I would never want to run it in the small space of a camper.

[Tommyjay]

Thank you everyone for all of the reply's. I was just looking for an alternative/back up for my current dometic furnace, which I did have repaired when I was in AZ.

These were heaters I saw being sold by RV lifestyles in Quartzsite AZ. They highly touted them....even by the repair manager who also stated that the current deep cycle batteries werent made to keep up with the amps needed by RV furnaces (yet we never had a problem with that in any of our trailers). Heck, even customers I talked to in the store loved them. Not sure why they would sell something that could be a liability.

Ill just keep my current 1500 watt back up electric heater that works well powered by our generator, and ditch the blue flame.

[Seann45]

I have a "big Buddy" heater.. beats the heck out of the furnace.. I looked at the blue flame type heaters and they were just too much money for me..
I dont see why you think you would need a 100 lb tank.. the people I know that have one use the regular 20-30 lb tanks. they all operate with the same "inches of water column" (pressure).

[RetiredOne]

Originally Posted by Seann45

I have a "big Buddy" heater.. beats the heck out of the furnace..

Does it vent and exhaust to the outside, like the furnace?

[Seann45]

Originally Posted by RetiredOne

Does it vent and exhaust to the outside, like the furnace?

NO