Advantage of heat pump vs. propane in a travel trailer?
- Thread starter SailorDon
- Start date
While portable electric space heaters will work in any temperature, the heat-pump distributes the heat throughout the coach (from the AC vents) from a single heat source.
That said, having heat come from the ceiling does not make for the warmest floors. On a cold morning after an night of heating with the heat-pump, I'll usually turn the fireplace on high to heat the lower portion of the living room a bit more. I still prefer the heat-pump over hauling and refilling 40# tanks through.
While Heartland does not put them in (yet), check out Cheap Heat. That looks like a cool product. Not cheap to have installed but the cost could be made up over a few years. I'd like it just to have the heat come from the floor registers, have warmer floors and always be putting heat in the underbelly.
That said, having heat come from the ceiling does not make for the warmest floors. On a cold morning after an night of heating with the heat-pump, I'll usually turn the fireplace on high to heat the lower portion of the living room a bit more. I still prefer the heat-pump over hauling and refilling 40# tanks through.
While Heartland does not put them in (yet), check out Cheap Heat. That looks like a cool product. Not cheap to have installed but the cost could be made up over a few years. I'd like it just to have the heat come from the floor registers, have warmer floors and always be putting heat in the underbelly.
dave10a
Well-known member
The latest issue of Trailer Life(http://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-...ems-electric-element-can-lower-heating-costs/) explains how to install "cheap heat" into the propane furnace. I have not worked out the numbers to determine how long it would take the purchase price to off set the propane savings, but it is an interesting product. I would be even better if the furnace mfg's incorporated in the design and made it an option. That could make it more cost competitive.
That is a neat solution to the electric heating issue. It makes sense if you have access to unmetered electricity.
And you have a propane furnace already installed.
The initial cost is high compared to a plug-in space heater.
.
1500W plug-in electric space heater in Wilderness 2175 RB
This morning, I checked to see if a 1500W electric space heater would heat my Wilderness 2175 RB.
For better results, I kept the slide out unit "in".
Kept the bathroom door closed.
Closed the curtain to the bedroom.
Basically reduced the volume to heat to minimum living/dinette and kitchen area.
Here's the setup:
The space heater is placed next to one of the ducted outlet vents of the standard propane furnace.
Outside temperate 40 degrees
Starting inside temperature 40 degrees
After 1 hour of space heater on "HI", inside temperature 63 degrees
I estimate the propane furnace could do that in 1/2 the time.
I conclude that the 1500W space heater is more than enough heating capacity.
If I have unmetered electric, I can save my propane for cooking.
.
This morning, I checked to see if a 1500W electric space heater would heat my Wilderness 2175 RB.
For better results, I kept the slide out unit "in".
Kept the bathroom door closed.
Closed the curtain to the bedroom.
Basically reduced the volume to heat to minimum living/dinette and kitchen area.
Here's the setup:
The space heater is placed next to one of the ducted outlet vents of the standard propane furnace.
Outside temperate 40 degrees
Starting inside temperature 40 degrees
After 1 hour of space heater on "HI", inside temperature 63 degrees
I estimate the propane furnace could do that in 1/2 the time.
I conclude that the 1500W space heater is more than enough heating capacity.
If I have unmetered electric, I can save my propane for cooking.
.
TravelTiger
Founding Texas-West Chapter Leaders-Retired
Re: 1500W plug-in electric space heater in Wilderness 2175 RB
Don, as long as the temps don't fall below freezing, this is a good way to conserve propane. However, the furnace heats the enclosed underbelly (if you have that feature) and thus keeps pipes from freezing up!
Don, as long as the temps don't fall below freezing, this is a good way to conserve propane. However, the furnace heats the enclosed underbelly (if you have that feature) and thus keeps pipes from freezing up!
Re: 1500W plug-in electric space heater in Wilderness 2175 RB
My Wilderness 2175 RB underbelly is insulated, but I don’t think the propane furnace provides any heat to the underbelly to prevent freezing pipes.
There are 3 outlet ducts for the propane heating system. One I was able to easily trace by removing the drawers under the kitchen sink. The flexible duct does not go below the floor. The propane furnace is located under the refrigerator and one duct comes out at floor level into the cabinet under the kitchen sink as show in the photo below.
![](http://[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii518/SailorDon/TravelTrailer/IMG_4068_zps0e58c28d.jpg%5b/IMG%5d%5b/URL"][FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii518/SailorDon/TravelTrailer/IMG_4068_zps0e58c28d.jpg)
[/URLhttp://s1257.photobucket.com/user/SailorDon/media/TravelTrailer/IMG_4068_zps0e58c28d.jpg.htmlhttp://s1257.photobucket.com/user/SailorDon/media/TravelTrailer/IMG_4068_zps0e58c28d.jpg.htmlhttp://s1257.photobucket.com/user/SailorDon/media/TravelTrailer/IMG_4068_zps0e58c28d.jpg.html]
That duct goes up and over the hot water heater (in the white Styrofoam insulating jacket) and exits into the cabin as shown in the photo below.
![](http://[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii518/SailorDon/TravelTrailer/IMG_4066_zps56f5c1c4.jpg%5b/IMG%5d%5b/URL"][FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii518/SailorDon/TravelTrailer/IMG_4066_zps56f5c1c4.jpg)
[/URLhttp://s1257.photobucket.com/user/SailorDon/media/TravelTrailer/IMG_4066_zps56f5c1c4.jpg.htmlhttp://s1257.photobucket.com/user/SailorDon/media/TravelTrailer/IMG_4066_zps56f5c1c4.jpg.htmlhttp://s1257.photobucket.com/user/SailorDon/media/TravelTrailer/IMG_4066_zps56f5c1c4.jpg.html]
The other two ducts are below the refrigerator and I can’t easily see their path, but it doesn’t look like they have room to go below the floor and resurface at the heater outlet grills, one in the bathroom and the other under the refrigerator.
Heat from inside the cabin will probably penetrate through the floor and get “trapped” by the insulation below the floor where the plumbing (including propane pipes) and wires are located. It would make no difference whether this cabin heat comes from the propane furnace ducts or from the electric space heater. The floor will still get the same amount of heat.
The worst case would be a heat pump where the heat comes from the ceiling. That could result in a cold floor that might be subject to freezing under the floor.
My Wilderness 2175 RB underbelly is insulated, but I don’t think the propane furnace provides any heat to the underbelly to prevent freezing pipes.
There are 3 outlet ducts for the propane heating system. One I was able to easily trace by removing the drawers under the kitchen sink. The flexible duct does not go below the floor. The propane furnace is located under the refrigerator and one duct comes out at floor level into the cabinet under the kitchen sink as show in the photo below.
[/URLhttp://s1257.photobucket.com/user/SailorDon/media/TravelTrailer/IMG_4068_zps0e58c28d.jpg.htmlhttp://s1257.photobucket.com/user/SailorDon/media/TravelTrailer/IMG_4068_zps0e58c28d.jpg.htmlhttp://s1257.photobucket.com/user/SailorDon/media/TravelTrailer/IMG_4068_zps0e58c28d.jpg.html]That duct goes up and over the hot water heater (in the white Styrofoam insulating jacket) and exits into the cabin as shown in the photo below.
[/URLhttp://s1257.photobucket.com/user/SailorDon/media/TravelTrailer/IMG_4066_zps56f5c1c4.jpg.htmlhttp://s1257.photobucket.com/user/SailorDon/media/TravelTrailer/IMG_4066_zps56f5c1c4.jpg.htmlhttp://s1257.photobucket.com/user/SailorDon/media/TravelTrailer/IMG_4066_zps56f5c1c4.jpg.html]The other two ducts are below the refrigerator and I can’t easily see their path, but it doesn’t look like they have room to go below the floor and resurface at the heater outlet grills, one in the bathroom and the other under the refrigerator.
Heat from inside the cabin will probably penetrate through the floor and get “trapped” by the insulation below the floor where the plumbing (including propane pipes) and wires are located. It would make no difference whether this cabin heat comes from the propane furnace ducts or from the electric space heater. The floor will still get the same amount of heat.
The worst case would be a heat pump where the heat comes from the ceiling. That could result in a cold floor that might be subject to freezing under the floor.
Georgia_Biker
Well-known member
Re: 1500W plug-in electric space heater in Wilderness 2175 RB
Don-
Excellent comment - I have a H 3610RE how would I find out if my underbelly is heated?
Don-
Excellent comment - I have a H 3610RE how would I find out if my underbelly is heated?
Re: 1500W plug-in electric space heater in Wilderness 2175 RB
You can check it out at
http://www.heartlandrvs.com/index.p...BH&i=BH+3610RE&view=floorplans&fcmd=showfplan
.
I'm not sure about "heated" underbelly, but according to the Specifications, the floor is insulated to R-38.
You can check it out at
http://www.heartlandrvs.com/index.p...BH&i=BH+3610RE&view=floorplans&fcmd=showfplan
.
Re: 1500W plug-in electric space heater in Wilderness 2175 RB
But the heat is provided by a heat hose off the furnace plenum. I don't think it is real effective in severe cold.
Some people have made modifications to make the airflow to the under belly more efficient.
It does dump warm air down there however.
Peace
Dave
Your Bighorn does have the underbelly heat.
But the heat is provided by a heat hose off the furnace plenum. I don't think it is real effective in severe cold.
Some people have made modifications to make the airflow to the under belly more efficient.
It does dump warm air down there however.
Peace
Dave
