I think we to ask when was the caravan last serviced? If it is more than a year ago then I would only use EHU. Anyway using gas will cost you as you will use a lot of gas to keep the caravan warm.
We turn the thermostat down to 12 or 13 deg, so it’s only coming on when it’s needed. That’s on EHU or we’d get through the gas in no time. And put more layers on the bed.
By the way, I only ask as I do worry the system is safe to leave on during the night when we are asleep. They do seem to get awfully hot and worry about the whole caravan going up in smoke with us in it.
I have mentioned this before in previous posts but can't seem to trust it 100%.
I do however only use it on electric and never on gas.
Quote: Originally posted by NoviceNorris on 08/1/2022
They do seem to get awfully hot and worry about the whole caravan going up in smoke with us in it.
Its a heater, its going to get hot. If its been serviced regularly, and works fine during the day, its going to work fine during the night. The heater doesnt know what time of day it is. If we are away in colder weather, the heater is never ever off for the duration of our stay. So if we are there a week, the heater runs every second of it to some degree.
If you think about it, if your caravan is regularly serviced - electric/gas/water, how often are your house utilities 'serviced'? I would hazard that the electric system, at least, goes years and years without any sort of checks. Yet its 'on' day and night. Stop worrying, people.
I've never used my Truma Combi 6 blown air heating on gas in anger (but have used the water heater on trips when off grid), it's always tried out on gas to ensure it works OK (in case EHU should fail for any reason) when I know I'm in need of heating, and it's tried and tested as part of a service, but I've run heater on EHU continuously a number of times, including all night, subject to it tripping in/out on thermostat, last being for 10 days last Nov when temps were hovering just above freezing and I doubt that it tripped out very often.
My confidence/logic being (from an electrical engineers point of view) that it's from a reputable company, well proven, regularly tested, and don't think I've EVER heard of one catching fire. On the other hand, as to the much recommended oil filled radiator (has to be said, they do work really well in a caravan), they are often cheap Chinese unbranded/rebranded efforts from a nation who seem to hold electrical/fire safety in complete contempt and are found at fault far too often! - so that I would worry about far more, might be happier with a reputable UK/Euro brand not made in China!
Many comment on the blown air fan being too noisy to sleep with, mine doesn't seem to be intrusive, and on the low setting is virtually inaudible. On the subject of noise, I do use a small fan heater to get a rapid warming of a cold van or as a boost (and as a back up should the on board heater fail), but wouldn't really want the noise of that through the night.
Having been on off grid trips, where had no choice but run fridge on gas, day AND night, what's the difference with a heater! I would of course ONLY do it if the van had had a thorough gas safety (Carbon Monoxide build up level test) quite recently, and of course both Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors were present and functioning. Plenty of reason NOT to run on gas if avoidable though, cost (bottled LPG is an expensive form of energy), heavy use of gas meaning frequent cylinder refills, and LPG burners do tend to soot up and require occasional servicing.
As a last comment, I never store anything in the locker with the heater unit in it, so air circulation is as free as possible, and I do ensure there is no fluff/debris around the unit by regular hoovering.
Quote: Originally posted by NoviceNorris on 08/1/2022
They do seem to get awfully hot and worry about the whole caravan going up in smoke with us in it.
Its a heater, its going to get hot. If its been serviced regularly, and works fine during the day, its going to work fine during the night. The heater doesnt know what time of day it is. If we are away in colder weather, the heater is never ever off for the duration of our stay. So if we are there a week, the heater runs every second of it to some degree.
If you think about it, if your caravan is regularly serviced - electric/gas/water, how often are your house utilities 'serviced'? I would hazard that the electric system, at least, goes years and years without any sort of checks. Yet its 'on' day and night. Stop worrying, people.
Very true. I guess I am just a worrier about such things. Think I need more wine next time so I stop worrying and sleep better !!!🤣
If you’re that worried, just turn off the heating! Wear bed socks, a woolly hat, fleece jim jams & use a hot water bottle and extra blankets. It’s what we did winter camping in a tent before tents used EHU. Yes, you’ll laugh at how you look but at least you’re not fretting about blowing up, melting something, going on fire, dying of CO poisoning or whatever it is that’s a concern.
On the flip side, i have a mate firmly in your camp Norris. Before going out, whatever the temps, he goes round and switches absolutely everything off. But obviously, when they get back 2/4/6 hours later, the van and 'hot' water are clap cold. We always refuse to go back to theirs for the first hour if ever we've been out with them for the day, as our van is always toasty.
The heating is designed to be used, so why not use it? Considering the number of vans out there it would be major news by now if gas heating was that dangerous!
We are generally off grid so no EHU!
Never had a problem leaving the gas heater on low overnight. Turn the fan off to save on noise.
Turn it off when we go out. The van warms up a lot quicker on gas than electric.
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Topic: Blown air heating - safest method
via mobile 08/1/2022 at 8:37am
