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07-20-2015, 02:47 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 982
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Upgrading to a Vent-Free Propane Heater
Heating our 30' MH quickly uses up our 17 gallon propane tank. We're going to install a 20,000 BTU Vent-Free Propane Heater because of the inefficiency of RV furnaces in terms of propane use and battery power consumption,
Some common brands are Kozy World, Empire Comfort Systems, ProCom, and Mr. Heater.
Does anyone have an idea which of these brands are most reliable and are of the best quality. Also, it would be great if you can share your experience with any of these Vent-Free Propane Heaters.
Thanks
__________________
2023 Winnebago Travato 59K
Previous Rig: 2012 Itasca 30'
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07-20-2015, 03:58 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: winter in Fl. 34957 summer Mi.48755
Posts: 116
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I am not a fan of the vent free heaters. The better ones have a oxygen depletion sensor but because the old, very young or heart problem people can be effected by low oxygen they are scary. I was would be ok with using heater with windows cracked open as per manufactures instructions when awake maybe use it to knock the cold out and switch over to vented heater when going to bed.
Forget it if under 5 or over 65 in motor home/ trailer.
stay safe TJ
__________________
2005 Winnebago Adventurer 35A
Toad 2016 Equinox
W-22 GM 8.1 gas
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07-20-2015, 04:01 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
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I would avoid these products in an RV
Why: Well there was a graphic on Facebook last week, something like I like oxygen with my coffee or the other way around.
I posted that I like Oxygen with my coffee, and without it too and ventless heaters suck up a lot of that.. Now good ones have sensors that shut down if too much O2 is sucked,, but frankly I do not like to trust my lift to technology unless I have to. and this is one case where I do not have too.
I read often about people who disagree with me, and do trust their life to such devices... In the obituaries.
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Home is where I park it!
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07-20-2015, 04:18 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 513
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I wouldn't recommend vent free to anyone I liked. Even in the shop, vent free units build a great deal of moisture (product of combustion of course) and the smaller the space, the greater the build up of CO. Please don't do it.
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07-20-2015, 05:20 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 758
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I have used both a Mr. Heater Big Buddy and a Coleman ProCat Catalytic heaters in my 35' motorhome.
There is one BIG problem with the Mr. Heater Buddy heaters. They have the oxygen depletion sensor, so, they naturally stop working at elevations higher than 4000 ft. above sea level.
The Good:
- They are both very inexpensive.
- They both can reliably heat the motorhome if left on long enough.
The Bad:
- They MUST be used with a window and/or a ceiling vent open to prevent condensation from forming.
- If you close all your vents and windows, the condensation may form mold inside your walls, inside cabinets, mattresses, pillows, blankets, clothing, carpets, etc..
- The thin luan wood and cardboard in your ceilings and walls may absorb the condensation and warp readily, if you do not sufficiently prevent all condensation from forming.
- They will consume available oxygen, so leave a window or vent open.
- The Coleman Procat has been discontinued, and is hard to find.
- I would not sleep with the Big Buddy on overnight, it may melt stuff.
- The Big Buddy radiates heat for almost two feet, and anything in that range may burn, melt, or get damaged.
- The Procat is much smaller and takes much longer to heat an entire large motorhome.
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07-20-2015, 06:09 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Spring Valley AZ
Posts: 1,226
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My 2 Mr. Heater Buddys work just fine at 7100ft, don't know how much over that.
__________________
Don, Mary and Spooky
'00 Bluebird Skoolie Conversion
Geo Tracker/Dodge Neon/Aprilia Scooter towed
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07-20-2015, 06:19 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Newcastle West, Ireland
Posts: 396
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It's interesting that they are all banned from indoor use in almost all countries but the US, why is that?
__________________
'98 Southwind 34L, too many cameras, old hat, young heart.
May the light be with you.
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07-20-2015, 06:29 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 244
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Having read the negative posts (with which I agree), I would suggest you invest in a couple of electric heaters. We have two and use them whenever we're in a camppground with electric hookups. They're much safer, and they're also pretty efficient, bringing the temp up faster than the furnaces.
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Ed [N4RWU] Taylor (Becky), Mistie (4 legger)
2014 Thor Tuscany XTE 40GQ
Former Thor Palazzo 33.2
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07-20-2015, 07:42 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Today? Clayton, North Carolina
Posts: 5,093
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Upgrading to a Vent-Free Propane Heater
Quote:
Originally Posted by BeachDude
.....
There is one BIG problem with the Mr. Heater Buddy heaters. They have the oxygen depletion sensor, so, they naturally stop working at elevations higher than 4000 ft. above sea level.
- They MUST be used with a window and/or a ceiling vent open to prevent condensation from forming.
- They will consume available oxygen, so leave a window or vent open.
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So I guess it's not really ventless.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BeachDude
....
- I would not sleep with the Big Buddy on overnight, it may melt stuff.
- The Big Buddy radiates heat for almost two feet, and anything in that range may burn, melt, or get damaged..........
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So I guess it's not really safe.
Let me make sure I understand this. You describe the indoor use of a "ventless" flame heater that requires venting, runs hot enough to melt things within two feet, and produces carbon monoxide, and you think the "one BIG problem" is that is doesn't work very well above 4000 ft in mountains.
Did I miss something?
John & Diane, Fulltime since '12
2002 DSDP 40, FL, Cat 3126
__________________
John and Diane (RIP Lincoln, 21 FEB 22) RVM103 NHSO
Fulltimers since June, 2012
2002 Dutch Star 40, Freightliner, Cat 3126, 2004 Element
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07-20-2015, 08:20 PM
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#10
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Registered User
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 7,114
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I use a Mr Buddy a lot for the same reasons. I modified it so I can plug it into the house propane instead of using the little 1 lb bottles.
Make sure you read and fully understand and mitigate the risks associated with using a vent-less.
Need good source of fresh air. We open the chassis vents.
Need to provide an exhaust. We leave one of the roof vents open about 1/2 inch
We have a CO (carbon monoxide) alarm. Get the kind that has a digital readout that shows current levels.
An LP alarm, This came standard on our Mirada.
When we operate it, we make sure nothing can fall on it (towels cloths, papers, etc) And make sure there is plenty of space around it so the radiated heat won't build up on anything in front of it.
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07-20-2015, 08:36 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Propane produces 91,330 btu's per gallon no matter what heater produces it. Some heaters don't need power to run them. But they still will produce the same amount of heat.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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07-20-2015, 08:38 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Quote:
Originally Posted by taylorgso
Having read the negative posts (with which I agree), I would suggest you invest in a couple of electric heaters. We have two and use them whenever we're in a camppground with electric hookups. They're much safer, and they're also pretty efficient, bringing the temp up faster than the furnaces.
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That's a good idea and one we subscribed to for years. May still keep one in the Magna but we have three heat pumps, two 2000 watt heating elements in the AquaHot as well as heated floors. Have yet to need anything but the AquaHot though.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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07-20-2015, 08:52 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 27
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Electric heaters are fine but not practical if you are boon docking.
The furnace is easiest to use but again, unless you are in a campground connected to electricity the furnace uses a lot of battery.
I use a Olympian Wave 8 catalytic heater in a 32 foot class A. I previously used a Wave 4, but the 4 was way too small.
The heater stands on legs and can be moved to where heat is needed. I use a cover and store it in the shower when not in use.
I use a hose with a quick connect on each end ( one approved for propane ) attached to my RVs copper propane line with a T near the stove.
The Wave 8 increases temperature 10 to 15 degrees in the RV. It is nice to sit in front of it in the evening because the infrared heat keeps us warm.
When sleeping in cold weather ( 30 degrees ) we use lots of blankets and set the RV furnace thermostat at 50 degrees. The furnace rarely kicks on when the Wave 8 is running.
The catalytic heater is good heat supplement for us when boondocking. It saves on batteries and propane and we don‘t have to run the generator.
I open a window about 1/2 inch and also a roof vent about 1/2 inch.
I put in 2 carbon monoxide detectors. One in the front and one in the back. Neither one has ever sounded an alert.
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07-20-2015, 08:57 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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Big Buddy here. Connected to main propane tank. Open multiple windows to provide ventilation. Works well.
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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