Hi, I am in need of some experienced knowledge, what do people think of the hot air systems in caravans? How effective are they particularly in winter as I am considering purchasing an Elddis Avante 554 which has this type of heating. I know the Aldi central heating would probably be better but it's heavier and more expensive.
A lot depends on the size and layout of the van. If it's a big van with bathroom, bedroom etc it needs more heat than a small one. Duct runs will be longer with more heat loss even if they run internally.
Some layouts need the ducting to run under the van rather than through bed boxes etc. This loses heat.
More modern vans have much better insulation requiring less heat.
All seem to be limited to a 2kW heating element for electric which is plenty for a small well insulated van but not really enough for a big poorly insulated one.
So some good, some not so good.
To illustrate the point of heat loss in ducts, our Bailey 520/4 fixed bed with external duct, would only heat up if we turned the fan off allowing the heater to heat directly.
Our older 510/4 with all internal duct heated up fine.
We have the Tram blown air and it heats up our Lunar Quasar 544 just fine. We previously had a van with the Whale system ( now defunct I believe?) and it was good enough heat wise but incredibly noisy!
I'm really disappointed with our Aldi system. The Truma warm air system worked really well in our last van and was very quiet. Setting the Aldi system is not at all easy and the handbook leaves a lot to be desired. It heats up quickly but there is a constant clicking noise as the system heats up and the pipes expand. It wakes me up every time.
I love that system from the supermarket, oh no wait ours is an Alde system.
------------- XVI yes?
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Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
We have an Avante with the blown air heating and it works fine, you just have to remember not to put anything near the blowers when they are on full blast as they do chuck out a considerable amount of heat, enough to soften a plastic waste bin we once left close by in mistake.
Our blowers are in the lounge and one in the end bathroom, we also carry a small fan heater just incase our heating were ever to fail onsite like it once did on our old caravan, but have never needed to use it in this one so far.
We always run our heating off EHU, so cannot comment on how well it works on Gas, but we like it because its so simple to use, and heats the van up quickly even from stone cold. Yes, you can hear them when they cut in with a faint whirring sound, but not enough to wake us up during the night if the tempreture drops below the thermostat setting.
Julia
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As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
we have an Avante 624 with blown air & its virtually useless on electric alone ( Whale system I think ) we have resorted to using a digital ceramic fan heater from Aldi - bought during their camping & caravanning event and turning the onboard system off - miles better!
We have had the blown air and the ALDE system. Initially we did not like the ALDE system as no blown air around the caravan in the summer. Now we would not be without it as the current caravan has underfloor heating.
Ive got a small Elddis 304 and the blown air system works fair enough for the main living area, however the "bathroom" is another story. Its not that its cold, just that its cooler than the main living area.
I think the problem is that the ducting for the hot air isn't insulated, and over just the ten or so feet of ducting most of the heat from the air is lost.
I may look at sorting the ducting out by lagging it somehow, not sure how.
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Topic: Hot air system
