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Hello Pippi!
I ran across your site a few months ago after I started investigating living in an RV. I am moving into a 35ft. fifth wheel while I attend grad school. I will have electricity, solar, and propane,however, I want to save money on propane heating costs and I want to purchase a ceramic heater. I would appreciate any suggestions for heating with a portable heating unit ( I have seen the kind that have a fireplace look and I like those) that is economical,yet heats good. I will be living in the Texas hill country, so the winters are usually mild. I will have propane back-up if I need it. Thanks for the great videos and the forum site!Hi Lisa, sounds like a great plan and exciting, too! When I moved into my RV I thought electric heating would be cheaper as well. I brought in my portable oil heater that I used in my apartment and where it seemed I was getting a low electrical bill, about $70 per month.
Once in my RV, when the colder nights hit I started using my oil heater which worked fabulously. In effort to try and reduce costs and because day time temps in southern California did not really permit the use of a heater, I’d turn the heater off during the day. My first electric bill shocked me with the price of almost $200! I’m guessing it is because of turning it on and off.
So my first recommendation is if you’re going electric, to leave the heater on and let it do it’s business. Open door and windows if necessary during the day. Although this was just my experience with a particular electric oil heater. Others may not be as draining.
My second advice would be to actually test out the efficiency of your propane heater before writing it off. I now only use my propane heater. It’s incredibly efficient and heats up quickly. Mine runs on a thermostat so I turn it on at night and set it to about 60. If the temps cool down to that it turns on for a little bit.
I remember when I moved into my RV I thought I would plow through my propane but surprisingly I can make it last for months.
Have you watched my propane video yet? It talks about how much propane I spend in different seasons, how to calculate how much you will spend and also how to refill without moving your rig.
Best of luck with your move and with grad school. I love the Texas hill country by the way! 😀
The propane heater in the YarrVee is surprisingly efficient, as well.
We had a cold snap here in Denver in November (I’m a poet and didn’t know it) and the daily HIGH temperature was 15, and lows were well below zero.
The Propane furnace was set to 55 (as low as it would go), and while the interior hovered around 38 degrees¹ (I’m VERY glad I was still transitioning from the apartment to the RV that week!), 20 gallons of propane lasted over a week, and was only $50 to refill. Even with typical Denver December weather (highs in the upper 40’s, lows in the teens), that refill has lasted a month. I need to go this week, as I’m back down to 1/4 tank.
-Jon
¹ The water bay with a 100 watt lightbulb was honestly warmer!
Helo Pippi!
Thanks so much for the advice. I am moving to my RV in January – I think I will try the propane as you suggest. Thanks for reposting the video.
Hi Jon,
So, you’re saying that it cost $50 a week and your heater was set at 55 degrees? Holy Moly – that is way too expensive ( and cold) for me. I like a toasty 70 degrees! Now, I am really confused.
-Lisa
I think RV’ing must be something like motorcycling. You are willingly subjecting yourself to the elements. The loss of some comforts bring other freedoms and rewards. If you don’t like being cold, you’d probably be best moving that rig somewhere warmer during the cold months. No RV is going to be energy efficient compared to an insulated house. I can imagine that keeping an RV at 70º in a Colorado winter would be quite expensive.
If you are at a park with electricity paid..use a Delonghi oil heater
!!! They are awesome but cost a boatload of cash on the E bill. Iam now at a park with a meter so its propane, and I set the Stat at 59. My trailer is well insulated, well its a cold weather Pacific coachworks that was ordered by a Canadian customer. Happy Trails!!! Beautiful night in Palm Springs!!!!
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