heater thoughts December 20, 2018, 10:36:54 am After watching this video by Bob Wells Cheap Heat for Van Living I got to thinking ( look out I can run down some very strange trails). First some numbers and general thoughts on this issue.....1 gallon of propane contains about 91,000 BTU A Mr. Heater Portable Buddy can burn at 4000 to 9000 BTU per hourWave 3 can burn 1600 to 3000 BTU per hourColeman 1lb Propane Cylinder from $2.75 to $5.25 (Propane 1 Pound = 0.236 Gallons or about 21,000 BTU1 gallon bulk at retail stores from $1.76 to $3.12Wall Furnace 20,000 to 30,000 BTUCooking Stove one 9,000 BTU and two 6500 BTU burners - seems there is no official specs on or about oven BTUObservation and question .....It take not a lot of brain power to see that running off the main tank in the LD is head or heels more cheap than running from the 1 lbs green bottles. Many have solved the 'problem' by installing a either a Wave 3 or 6. My question is what is the downside from just turning on your stove top (up to 15,000 BTU) or oven? I know about burning anything that is carbon based in a closed space. It will produce water vapor and carbon monoxide. With proper ventilation both issue can be addressed.
Re: heater thoughts Reply #1 – December 20, 2018, 11:52:16 am Quote from: colddog - December 20, 2018, 10:36:54 am My question is what is the downside from just turning on your stove top (up to 15,000 BTU) or oven? I know about burning anything that is carbon based in a closed space. It will produce water vapor and carbon monoxide. With proper ventilation both issue can be addressed. When I was a kid in my mom and dad's 16ft Terry that's what they always did and what we did for twenty years in our slide in camper. Just cracked a window or two for fumes to escape. Only down side is it only warms the air from the elevation of the stove up. Floor area stays cold.
Re: heater thoughts Reply #2 – December 20, 2018, 12:18:40 pm Poor heat distribution would be the biggest disadvantage, and CO production would be much higher than heaters designed to minimize it. Since the furnace produces about as much inside heat with much better heat distribution, requires no ventilation where heat is lost, and no CO, hard to see a rationalization for using the stove. Better off using a portable propane firepit on the floor, with all the windows open....(NOT recommending this!)Steve
Re: heater thoughts Reply #3 – December 23, 2018, 03:18:35 pm Hey All,Our first Lazy Daze a 17' ('73?) had a combination Stove/Oven/ Heater. When in the heating mode with the oven door shut, a fan ran and the heated air was directed into the coach through a vent in the stove. The oven burner vented to the outside. This was also the days of no holding tanks and a PortiPotti/WetShower bath. Things have changed a lot since then.RonNow on our third LD
Re: heater thoughts Reply #4 – December 23, 2018, 03:32:50 pm Quote from: terrasailor2000 - December 23, 2018, 03:18:35 pmWhen in the heating mode with the oven door shut, a fan ran and the heated air was directed into the coach through a vent in the stove. The oven burner vented to the outside.Not familiar with such an appliance, but it would appear it is a furnace, with a heat exchanger, if exhaust vented to the outside. This would be relatively safe, but still intake is from inside the rig, so air flow implies an open window or vent for safety, just as when using the oven or stove.Steve
Re: heater thoughts Reply #5 – December 23, 2018, 11:22:56 pm "Things have changed a lot since then."Boy, I'll say they have! Never seen one like that. But, the oven burner still vents to the outside but how many know this or even how to turn the fan on? Those that know don't like the noise the fan makes.
Re: heater thoughts Reply #6 – December 24, 2018, 03:59:46 am Hi Steve; for both your safety and others here, the stove oven does not vent to the outside. On my '99 the oven vents just behind the cook top cover, near the hinges. While hot air (exhaust containing CO) does rise, and the vent does draw some of that air when the vent fan is on, there is no assurance that it will go out that vent. It should be noted that there is an internal flap that won't open unless that noisy fan is on. On two occasions I have had the CO alarm go off when I've been cooking, and neglected to open a vent. That is the hard way to test the alarm. In addition it clearly states on multiple stickers not to use the oven for heating purposes. My first truck camper, vintage 1967, had a propane light inside, unvented that generated CO, used up oxygen, and exposed one to asbestos and radioactive thorium. Glad those days are over. Wiki states that the radioactivity didn't amount to much of a hazard. See the warning at the bottom of page one on the left; https://liferebooted.net/life-rebooted-rv-files/owners-manuals/Atwood%20LP%20Range%20Cooktop%20Installation.pdf RonB
Re: heater thoughts Reply #7 – December 24, 2018, 02:02:54 pm Just to be clear, back in the early 70's the combination Stove/Oven/Heater was what LD used in most of their rigs. It was properly vented to the outside and was safe. Of course, the newer Stove/Ovens should NOT be used for heating the coach. They are not designed for this. Ron
Re: heater thoughts Reply #8 – December 28, 2018, 10:32:24 pm Please heed all of the warnings!!! No heating with the stove or oven. My parents did it too, in our old shasta trailer. I'm lucky to be alive. Also, make sure you have a CO detector that is working in your rigs. I'd hate for some nice L.D'er to wake up dead some morning. 2 Likes
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