awning heater

[andrew_374241803]

hi,

what type of heater do you recommend in the awning, fan heaters, halogen or flat panel. bearing in mind i have small children and would't want them getting burn't.

 

[CarolineSimon]

Hi Andrew,

We have two very young children so if we need to heat the awning for our van (we don't have a vent from the blown air in the awning)we prefer to use an electric fan heater with a thermostat and auto cutout if it gets turned over/blocked/overheated etc for safety.

Very occasionally we have used a gas heater at night when they have gone to bed if we aren't on hook up.

Hope that helps,

Caroline

 

[LMH]

Hi Andrew

I use a halogen heater in the awning for the dogs. It has a safety device which I believe all new halogen heaters have which will switch off if knocked. It provides instant directional heat. I do leave mine one pointing at the dogs cages during the night in the awning if it is cold.

I also use a 2kw fan heater which has a cut out if it over heats. This is useful for airing damp clothes etc as the heat rises rapidly. Obviously, do not hang clothes etc in close proximity to the heater. It is more heat efficient (heats the inside of the awning at a steady flow). The halogen is more directional.

I have seen people use a blow gas heater (can't remember what they are called at the mo) and they do appear to becoming popular. These do generate a significant amount of heat but should not be used near children in my opinion. I would not recommend the use of these in an awning or enclosed area (unless it is a permanent structure such as a garage etc) for fire safety reasons. Coming from a fire safety background myself, if I was pitched next to someone using a gas heater of that type in their awning, I would move my outfit as I believe they are dangerous in that environment.

Regards.

Lisa

Lisa

 

[LMH]

Sorry -to clarify - I don't use the halogen and 2kw heater at the same time as obviously, it would blow the electrics!

Sorry - been a very long day today.

Regards

Lisa

 

[Oldfogey]

In the awning I now use a vertical oscillating fan, of this type; /www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0520975.htm. (But cheaper, from Lidl)

I like this because it rotates to spread the heat, the hot bits are well off the floor, and it will run cold in hot weather. 2kw keeps a 12' awning cosy.

In the van I use an electric radiator, 1Kw, thermostatic. This is very compact, and safe to leave on all night if necessary.

This is all the heating I have.

 

[andrew_374241803]

In the awning I now use a vertical oscillating fan, of this type; /www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0520975.htm. (But cheaper, from Lidl)

I like this because it rotates to spread the heat, the hot bits are well off the floor, and it will run cold in hot weather. 2kw keeps a 12' awning cosy.

In the van I use an electric radiator, 1Kw, thermostatic. This is very compact, and safe to leave on all night if necessary.

This is all the heating I have.

thanks o,f.

thanks for reply, do you find 2kw gives off enough heat as we have large awning with annexe or shall we go for 3kw

 

[jinty0_0]

the best radiator we used was an oil filled radiator (a little clumsy) but gave off great heat and didnt have to worry about anything catching fire kept it at low for the sake of the kids and power supply

 

[Oldfogey]

Andrew, our unit is only 12ft, so not really fair to compare.

3Kw is getting a bit close to the 16Amp that is the most available to you - doesn't leave much spare for any other use.

If I had a really big space to heat, I think I might go for 2 heaters, at lower power each, in order to spread the benefit around.

 

[trucker]

awning heaters???????

and I thought I read in pc this month that caravanning was green,

trying to heat an awning not very green me thinks

 

[paul_374300602]

Well said Kevin. My thoughts exactly. If it's too cold in the awning go in your van. That's what it's for.

 

[Oldfogey]

Sorry, but the awning is the lounge of our van. The style is closer to camping than caravanning.