Use space heater when below freezing???

[Dennis and Melissa]

We have a little DREO space heater that we use quite frequently. I love it. Works fast and extends the life of our propane.  And since we are often in sites with electric hookups, it’s “free” 😜
 

But I’ve decided against using it when it falls below freezing. 
 

I’m worried that the design of the Ollie relies on the propane heater to keep the plumbing from freezing.

What say you?

[topgun2]

1 hour ago, Dennis and Melissa said:

I’m worried that the design of the Ollie relies on the propane heater to keep the plumbing from freezing.

What say you?

Well - 

As long as you're sure that you will continue to have electricity to run that electric heater AND you open all of the "hatches" to the basement and other areas between the hulls, you should be OK without the propane furnace.  If you are in a situation where you need the bed areas and therefore could not open those hatches then you could always use a small fan on low speed in order to move heated air into the space under the beds.  Of course, you would also leave the bath door open.

Bill

[Dennis and Melissa]

I’m talking about when we are actually using the trailer.  So, Yes, we will be sleeping in those beds. 😀

I’m under the impression that those areas are sufficiently warmed on freezing nights when the propane heater is running (and water heater is on ECO)

[Steph and Dud B]

Yes, I prefer the propane furnace in below freezing temps because it adds heat between the shells while maintaining the double hull insulation in the upper half. Once you open all those cabinets and hatches you pretty much negate the whole double hull concept.

[Mike and Carol]

There’s a wide range of “below freezing”.  If it’s only down to the high 20s we still rely on our electric space heater (Vornado).  I can turn it so that some of the heat is directed into the vent under the bed with the water pump, water tank, etc.  We’ve never had anything freeze.  I figure if the outer hull is in 27 degree weather and the inner hull is in 68 degree inside weather then between the hulls will be something in between.  

Below mid 20s we do use the furnace.  That’s not been very often since we tend not to camp in very cold weather.  Mike

[dhaig]

@Dennis and Melissa, we have carried a small 120V ceramic heater when traveling during months when below freezing is possible.  I included this heater on our trailer delivery trip in February, 2022, based on recommendations I had read on this forum.  When enroute back to Dallas we encountered freezing weather and stopped for the night at a convenient RV park along I40, about an hour east of Little Rock.  The temperature was below freezing when we pulled in, about 10PM.  I had to chip ice off the water spigot to take on some fresh water.

We had the furnace running and the temperature inside the trailer was comfortable when we went to bed.  Several hours later, I awoke cold and the furnace was not operating.  Assuming we had exhausted the propane in one tank, I dressed and went outside to switch the regulator to draw propane from the other tank, which we knew to be full.  The outside temperature was in the low to mid 20s.

Long story short, we were unable to get the furnace to startup by drawing propane from the full tank.  I messed with the regulator, but could not get propane to flow.  I tried connecting the hose from the first (now empty) tank to the full tank, but still no flow through the regulator.

Consequently, I pulled out the ceramic heater and got It running on shore power.  The ceramic heater could maintain the temperature in the trailer at about 60 degrees.  I had no way to measure the temperature between the hulls, but I knew very little of the heat from the ceramic heater would benefit that space.  We decided to forego morning showers and prepared to get underway back to Dallas, where the temperature was likely to be above freezing.

Before departing, at 8AM Eastern time, I phoned Oliver Support and described our problem.  They suggested measures we had previously tried, and suggested trying to light the cooktop to determine if propane was flowing.  The cooktop would also not light.  Oliver Support suspected the regulator was faulty and committed to shipping out a new regulator the same day.  About two days later the new regulator was delivered to our home.  I installed the new regulator and the problem was solved.  All gas appliances now operated normally.

The lesson I took from this experience was to carry the ceramic heater as a backup to the propane furnace if traveling during months when freezing weather is likely.  So long as the propane furnace is operable and there is an adequate supply of propane I would rely on the propane furnace as the better protection from freezing water lines within the trailer.  I would turn to the electric heater ONLY as a backup to the propane furnace.  Especially at night I feel the safer option is to run the furnace, not knowing how low the outside temperature may drop to during the night.

We have had no further occasions when the furnace would not operate and have stayed in the trailer multiple nights in similar temperatures.