Cold Weather Heating Question

[Mr_D]

Don't the heat pumps automatically shut down and the furnace take over when the temps get too low? Ours do and did on the previous DSDP too.
The air from the heat pumps won't feel warm to you as it's cooler than body temperature. Only way to really tell is to use a thermometer in the outlet vent.

[jerichorick]

Originally Posted by Cat

We added heat strips to our 2 coleman 13500 heat pump-A/C. What happens as per airxcel (Coleman AC people). If you have selected electric heat your heat pump will turn on to maintain the temperature. If the heat pump will not keep up the inside temperature to what you set thermostat , once the temperature is 5 degrees below the thermostat it turns on the gas heater. Once the temperature is back up to the set point then the gas heater turns off. If you have heat strips in your heat pump AC . Once the outside temperature drops to low for the heat pump ( freezing) the controls will automatically shut the heat pump compressor off and turn on the heat strips, if the temperature inside the motorhome drops 5 degrees below the thermostat temperature it automatically turns the gas heater on until the temperature rises then it shuts the gas heater off. This is the operation of the Coleman AC - heat pumps with the Coleman wall thermostat in a 2007 MH. Not sure how it works on older or newer or for different manufactor.

This is the best research information I have seen on Coleman. I had no idea about the heat strips or that airxcel was the principle.

Now the question is where do you get the strips? I have had so many bad experiences with bad advice and misinformation from dealers that I am gun shy about approaching any of them. Any hard facts from you posted here will save many of us much time and avoid dealer produced goose chasing. Thanks for jumping in.

[Cat]

For information about heat strips and what you'll need- go to rvcomfort.com and then to the contact drop down. You will need your air conditioner serial number and the control box serial number for them to give accurate information. At least that is what they asked me for. Hope that helps.

[bgsc]

The heat pumps do not work when the temperatures are below 40 we use 2- ceramic electric heaters in our coach (use the parks power) not your propane. We set the furnace thermostat for about 65 and normally the propane furnace never comes on, we also cover the front door with the windshield sun shield material we buy at the $ store and duct tape together to fit the door opening

[Jimooo]

You may want to have evaporator coil checked for air flow on your heat pump for maximum heating with your heat pump.
You should have at least 1 heat strip that comes in while compressor is in defrost mode reversing freon through evaporator coil. If not you can add heat strip and replace board and t-stat with electric heat selection.
Your air temp while on heat pump should be at least 80 degrees minimum coming out on vents which feels medium warm not hot .
When it gets real cold like 35 degrees we put on stove top burners for a short while to help strip heat to catch up and maintain 70 degrees .
Heat pumps spend more time in and out of defrost cycles when temps drop below 35 degrees that they can't maintain selected temps so either your gas furnace will come on or heat strips will stay on until desired temps are met.

The freezing sensor on the condenser coil is designed to lock out compressor from coming on when coil freezes up.
Regardless of temp and humidity levels but it is generally in the 30s temp.

Good luck ,

James

[Cat320]

Originally Posted by JohnFreyja

One or the other but typically the heat pumps aren't capable of working much below 40 degrees.

Yep, those HPs are great when it's in the 50s, but not much colder. If we have AC power, we have two Lasko tower heaters we use. We'd rather use the CG's electricity than our power.

[okiejim]

So many options, I chose the CheapHeat add-on. It uses the existing duct work in my coach and also supplies the basement with heat. No worries about falling over and running out of propane in the middle of the night. If I loose shore power I flip my swtich from electic to gas very simple and reliable. This is going to be my second winter using it.

[jerichorick]

The comment about turning on the stove burners is not a great practice, though I have been known to do this in my popup trailer in the years of my youth.

Heat pumps do work into the high 30ies. Your heat or cool will be drastically affected by dirt, leaves and junk in the heat exchange fins. Pulling the cover off the units a couple of times a year and cleaning them, including racking the bent fins, is a great way to get the max from your units.

Supplement heaters are a good way to go. One friend of mine even put a gas heater in his rig. But he wintered in NM.

[wyorancher]

Do you mean putting several holes in a 3 lb coffee can with the old style beer can opener and turning it upside down on a burner doesn't work any more? Been there done that. Probably not safe. Especially now that I am older and wiser. It does work though.

[chboone]

The coffee can on the stove still works, just remember to open a window to replace the oxygen. If you don't you may not hear the CO alarm sound when it goes off.

Chuck

[Snomas1]

We use heat pumps all the time above 38*. If the temp is to go below that when we retire to bed we turn on the gas furnace for the night (set @ 68 degrees). Down comforter is the greatest for cold nights.