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.

[johnwen]

12 hours ago, dhaig said:

@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.

Good to know, Don.  I have to call Oliver today about a new bolt for my entry steps so I think I'll add a regulator to the  order.  I've often thought what a pickle we could find ourselves in during winter in the boonies.  Thanks for pushing me over the edge on this :)

John

[jd1923]

23 hours ago, Dennis and Melissa said:

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?

Your worry is certainly correct! I’ve read threads here re frozen pipes and my is space heaters!

For me it’s like having a generator, I won’t carry or make space for either of them. 😎

We all learned when young that heat rises. The space heater will ONLY heater your inner-upper hull. No heat to the lower-inner hull and none to your basement, plumbing and tanks!

Dry electric heat at head height is also not good on your sinuses, for us not good for sleeping. And our pup Charley appreciates having the furnace running as his bed is a cushion on the floor between the air and return ducts! 🤣

Edited October 6 by jd1923

[Dennis and Melissa]

Apparently I am an idiot 😱

But a lucky idiot 😂

Yesterday was travel day. Moving from one FHU campground to another, with a boondocking night in between. Everything went exactly as planned. Beautiful in fact. 
 

It has been cold so I’ve been in the daily habit of using the electric space heater during the day and saving our propane for nights below 40.  I’m super happy with the results we’ve had doing this with electric hookups.  But last night was just battery. And I didn’t pay attention. 😳
 

i used so much battery before switching over to propane at 10 pm that the batteries hit 10% sometime around 5 am.  When that happened EVERYTHING shut down. Including the propane furnace 🤪

I’m extremely lucky it wasn’t just a little colder, so nothing froze. Also lucky that the sun rose brightly (despite a weather prediction of rain), so the solar recharged the batteries to a usable level by 8 am.  
 

My takeaway: Never use the electric space heater on batteries below 50%

[jd1923]

1 hour ago, Dennis and Melissa said:

But a lucky idiot 😂

Lot of us in that club, I’m a regular member! 🤣

Like if our furnace went out, I’d have no backup. When we upgrade the A/C, then we’ll have a heat pump for backup. I dislike carrying stuff not used.

It’s been lows high 30s here in SW CO, running the furnace overnight, thermostat at 65F, it runs every so often in the AM hours.

We live by our Ruuvi sensors. One is positioned right on the incoming water lines, lower back wall of the basement, likely the coldest spot between the hulls and the first area water would freeze. Living SW we winter camp often, and I only blowout the water lines when needed, several days below freezing. We don’t winterize or do storage, but keep an eye on freezing temps.

[SeaDawg]

Those questions totally depend on where you camp, and local weather .

 

Edited October 20 by SeaDawg
Spelling

[ScottyGS]

I have been using a Sensor Push (https://www.sensorpush.com/) for some time now.   I keep it under the port side bunk near the controls for the outside faucet. 

There have been times when I did not winterize because our trailer is kept inside a large unheated garage.  Temps rarely go down below freezing but to be safe we use a large oil filled heater with the hatches blow.  I have also monitored the temp without the hatches blown and was surprised to find the difference in temp was only about a degree or two.  This would be inside the trailer vs. in between the hulls with temps close to where you would worry about freezing lines. 

So my conclusion would be that even down to the 20's using a cube heater you should be fine.   "SHOULD BE"....  I would still monitor and use the on board heat if the between hull temps started to show a drop. 

When I first got the ceramic cube heater and I wasn't familiar with it I woke up around 3am and the temp inside was 85 degrees.   Not fun but no broken pipes. 

The Sensor Push has provided a LOT of peace of mind for the last few years. 

Of course all the other advice like pulling in the outside faucet and insulating the inlets apply. 

YMMV... Good Luck

Scotty