carver heater use at night

paul_374304277 · May 22, 2007

I have a Elddis Typhoon 1991 with a Carver Trumatic gas heater, having read through both the installation and user manuals, I cannot find any reference that identifies if the heater can be left running throughout the night, can anyone help

Paul

ProfJohnL · May 22, 2007

Hello Paul,

Every Carver and Truma caravan heater was manufactured using the 'Room Sealed' concept. Provide the heater was installed correctly, and has been maintained properly, then the design ensures that all flue gasses are discharged to the outside, so there is no danger of being overcome by fumes inside the caravan.

It is therefore a matter of personal preference whether you use the heater overnight or not.

colin(bridgend) · May 23, 2007

Further to John's reply there should be ventilation holes in the floor of the van at various places as carbon monoxide gas is heavier than air. I however never leave the heater on over night - a thicker continental quilt is cosier and cheaper in the long run and I can also use the cold nights as an excuse to snuggle up to the wife.

ProfJohnL · May 23, 2007

Hello Colin,

You are right of course about the ventilation holes, they are essential for other reasons, such as the cooker, and of course the occupants who have habit of breathing! They must be kept open.

But in the context of the original question about Carver heaters, All Carver (and Truma) models use the 'Room Sealed' process, and thus do not contribute in any way to harmful gasses build up inside caravans.

There are other makes of heaters which also use the room sealed principal, and the same level of safety can be assured. There is of course the rider that they must be installed and maintained correctly.

However there are also some models from other manufactures that are not room sealed, and these can of course represent a possible hazard.

rob_jax · May 23, 2007

Quote: "Further to John's reply there should be ventilation holes in the floor of the van at various places as carbon monoxide gas is heavier than air."

Sorry, Carbon Monoxide is neutrally dense compared to air - it won't sink out the vent holes.

Carbon Dioxide is heavier than air, as are the fuel gases Propane and Butane - these will tend to escape via the lower vent holes.

The main reason for upper and lower vents is to allow heated air in the caravan to escape via the upper vent - and this would take any Carbon Monoxide with it.

Robert

gary · May 24, 2007

If CO is truly neutral then by definition it surely has choice of which way it goes?

colin(bridgend) · May 24, 2007

I have always been given to understand that Carbon Monoxide was heavier than air and that is one of the reasons why the vents are in the floor. John please do not think I was having a go to your reply, I was just making an extra comment further to your reply. I will agree with you that all heaters should be regularly serviced but on older and second hand vans are they? I would not like to comment on this point but there is always that possibility that they are not serviced annually and they may be faulty. It is for this reason only that I do not leave the heater on overnight. The other reasons were just a bit of light hearted and, at my age, hopeful humour.

rob_jax · May 24, 2007

Colin,

Sorry no, you've been told wrong.

Carbon Monoxide has almost the same density as the Nitrogen and Oxygen that constitutes the bulk of the air we breath. And basically travels with the bulk movement of the air.

Carbon Dioxide is heavier than air, but this will also tend to move with the bulk flow.

Once mixed, gases don't usually partition into individual layers - otherwise the atmosphere would have a layer of Carbon Dioxide next to the ground, then a fat layer of Nitrogen, then a layer of Oxygen at high altitude. And that would make breathing quite difficult.

Robert

ProfJohnL · May 24, 2007

I have always been given to understand that Carbon Monoxide was heavier than air and that is one of the reasons why the vents are in the floor. John please do not think I was having a go to your reply, I was just making an extra comment further to your reply. I will agree with you that all heaters should be regularly serviced but on older and second hand vans are they? I would not like to comment on this point but there is always that possibility that they are not serviced annually and they may be faulty. It is for this reason only that I do not leave the heater on overnight. The other reasons were just a bit of light hearted and, at my age, hopeful humour.

Thanks, No offence was taken.

ProfJohnL · May 24, 2007

I concur with Rob on this one. Carbon Monoxide mixes easily with air, and that makes it so insidious and dangerous.

It has no colour, smell or taste, and so its presence is undetectable by humans. Some people claim they can smell or tatse it, but it is more liekly they can sense some of the other by-products of poor combustion, such as soot.

Because of Carbon monoxide's chemical make up it is very easily absorbed by the red blood cells, and so it fills up the red blood cells and prevents the proper take up of oxygen by the blood.

The symptoms of Monoxide poisoning are very similar to oxygen deficiency, which it effectively causes. Unlike a simple deficiency of oxygen it is more difficult to treat, because the monoxide has a natural affinity with the red cells and is reluctant to leave them, so rebalancing the full oxygen exchange can take a long time. Another effect is that the red cells should pick up waste products from the muscles, but because the cells are occupied with CO the full waste exchange is also compromised.

CO poisoning is a very serious condition and that is why the proper servicing and maintenance of gas appliances is so very important.

colin(bridgend) · May 24, 2007

Gentlement as you all ganging up against me I will bow to your superior knowledge and take defeat like a man. Serious now it would appear that I am in the wrong as a few differ from my given belief and if this is the case please accept my apology.

Andrew_5105555 · May 24, 2007

We use our carver heater on gas in the day,overnight we switch it onto electric operation.I wouldn't risk using gas at night due to not knowing the history of van/heater.

Andrew.

ProfJohnL · May 25, 2007

Hello all.

If a heater is defined as 'Room Sealed' and it has been installed and maintained correctly, then it is safe to use at night.

If you are unsure about its safety at night, then it is equally unsafe during the day, and should not be used until a competent fitter has checked it.

Carbon monoxide is not a vampire that only comes out at night, it is just as deadly during daylight hours!

chenzhen · May 19, 2016

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