4K Space Saving Whale Underfloor Heating

[Mikeborntobike]

Hi,

New here, have introduced myself in the new members section!

We have the opportunity to buy a 2013 Elddis Avante 576. I'm investigating reviews and have found lots of negative comments about the Whale underfloor blown air heating being noisy and not that effective. I'm not looking to revisit the arguments I've already read but was wondering if anyone has had a positive outcome with this heating?
As we use our van all year round this is really a deal breaker for us.
Thanks in advance.
Mike

 

[ProfJohnL]

Sorry I have no experience of this model.

 

[Martin24]

It is reasonably noisy but we've got used to it cutting in and out in the night, under our bed. Our twin axle has never felt cold though.

 

[chrisbee1]

I concur with Martin. I have a 2013 Avante twin axle and find the heating relatively efficient although somewhat noisy on full power although once the 'van is warmed up, which doesn't take very long, you won't need that level. At night, if we have it on at all, it's on the lowest (500w) electric setting. The fan is just a background hum and you soon get used to it. It certainly doesn't wake us up cutting in/out during the night but of course that could be due to advancing years and declining hearing.

 

[RayS]

My 2013 Avante has this system and I'm generally pretty happy with it. It warms up quickly particularly on gas and on the 500 and 1000 watt electric setting is acceptably quiet. While not a year round user I do about 160 nights/year including some pretty cold stuff on the Spanish plateau.
I have found it a bit susceptible to very strong winds onto the side having the intake and exhaust pipes - usually the offside of the caravan - but this may be due to poor installation where one pipe was shielded by waste pipes such that there was a differential pressure as seen in the heater. some gentle bending solved this problem.
I had a problem with the control unit too but under warranty Whale supplied new PCB free of charge and this has cured it. If you can check the caravan out before purchase, run the heater on electric, shut it down on the control - take a couple of minutes, then on gas and shut down, then disconnect the mains EHU, reconnect and see if you get a red flashing light on the control. The whale website is pretty good and you can download all the set up and operating instructions.
The system seems to accumulate far les dust than did the older Truma system in previous caravans and the space saved in the caravan is very useful - as I'm sure you will find for year-round use.