3 Best RV Heater Options
The purpose of a recreational vehicle is to allow you to travel to places unexplored on your vacations. Some of these places have mild climates, while others have extreme ones Either freezing cold or burning hot. If you are traveling on a winter season or you are visiting a place that is unusually cold as compared to what you are used to, you would need a heating system that will allow you to stay warm and comfortable during your recreational time. This is where finding the best RV heater comes into play and here comes our article to become useful for you.
Best RV Heaters
Most RVs of today come pre-built also with a propane heating system. However, many RV owners opt to switch to heaters that run on electricity because that’s not needed to be carried around. There are also those who have custom-built their RVs, so they don’t have a pre-built heating system in it. If you are among those who need help finding the right heater for their vehicle to either replace the current heater or to get a supplementary one, this complete guide can help you alot about it.
If you are not sure about the power supply in your RV, the Camco Olympian will heat up your space without consuming a single volt of electricity. This unit uses propane as its main source of power supply.
The first thing that we like about the Camco Olympian is its capability to heat up our RV fast. Even though this is only intended to be used as a secondary heat source, it works awesome in a motorhome as it provides 4,200 to 8,000 BTU. This can warm up 100 square feet to 350 square feet of space very easily.
Another benefit that I tremendously enjoyed about this RV heater is that it doesn’t make much noise unlike others. Unlike other RV heaters that clatter when being used, this one is as silent as the night which makes it so good to be used. You can actually enjoy a good night’s sleep without being awakened by some weird noises coming from your heater.
One drawback is that this RV catalytic heater only uses HD-5 propane gas and not any other source of energy. Although HD-5 is the most common type of propane gas distributed in the US, you should be careful about not accidentally using HD-10 (which is common in California) and can cause trouble. It’s very little but it’s one more thing to always remember about its usage.
What I love about this product is that it is a wave heater, so it produces comforting radiant heat all around the room. It warms up objects, walls, floors, and people first, instead of the air, so you will immediately feel the warmth and comfy. You can position it on the floor or you can also mount it on the wall as per your own comfort.
Pros
It doesn’t burden your electricity supply from your RV
Can be wall-mounted so no need to stoop down always you have to adjust heat levels
Has an auto shut-off valve present
Cons
No thermostatic control present
The Handy Heater is one of the smallest heaters I’ve seen according to its name. It is 6.2 inches high and 3.3 inches thick and enclosed in a metal casing to protect. It’s an electric heater that uses only 350 watts of power, which means its power consumption is very less noticeable. You can bring it anywhere as long as there’s a plug or an outlet for it to connect.
The temperature controller or thermostat is a little bit harder to push when we crank up the heat a little, though it could be because it’s brand new. One thing I like about the Handy Heater is the automatic timer, which is pretty useful for those who are forgetful and want to be careful. It has high and low settings and you can program it for up to 12 hours whatever time you want.
What I don’t appreciate in this RV electric heater is you have to set the temperature and other settings manually every time you need to use it. Think about it turning off in the middle of the night and you have to get up and manually input the settings according to you. It can be very annoying. It should have some sort of presets so you won’t need to input everything every time you use it.
Keep in mind that this will only heat up a small space, not really 250 square feet as advertised, but it can work for 100 square feet easily. I’ve tried and it warmed up the room in a matter of minutes Whichs quite quick. I also like that you can easily unplug it when moving to a different room.
Pros
Very compact and small
durable material used
Easily heats up a small room
Cons
No safety feature for preventing accidents or fire
You still need to manually press the buttons each time you want to adjust the settings even in the middle of night.
Most RV heaters that are sold in the market these days have digital settings controller present
; Lasco CD09250 is going against the tide by utilizing knobs. However, I find the two manual controllers very convenient for users to operate. Those who like it old-school will be much fond of this heater.
One knob has three modes: high heat, low heat, and the last one, fan. The other controller gives you more control over how warm you want your room to be (essentially, it’s a thermostat). It’s very easy to use and straight to the point.
The outer casing is made of thick plastic, and Is cool enough to touch even while the heater is operational. This is a nice feature to have if you want to move it around in that place. It uses an adaptable ceramic element which regulates the temperature on its own and is not manual.
I am happy that this ceramic heater for RV has a fan option that previous heaters did not have. Once my space is toasty enough for my liking, I can switch to fan mode to save energy and be comfy as well. It also automatically shuts off whenever it detects overheating. I was disappointed that it does not have a tipping safety feature in case of higher voltage.
Since it uses a ceramic element, you can’t use this heater in areas with high humidity, such as the bathroom and other wet places. However, it is still a very good choice for a portable RV heater. And for the price, I can say it is worth it.
Pros
Automatic overheat protection given
Very portable and can be strategically placed where you need it.
The controls are easy to operate
Cons
Some people may not like the given manual knobs
Does not automatically shut-down when tipped
