Retaining Heat in caravan

[Lee_374375561]

Hi All

I have been caravaning since very young with parents but only recently taken it up myself, I am off to the lake district in 2 weeks time and would like to know your "hints & tips" on how to warm up and keep the caravan warm during winter caravaning.

I have a 98 swift with the normal blown heating and the likes, but "do you" find other appliances more effective, also is it advisable to cover vents on caravan door?, use fridge vent covers?

All advice appreciated as i dont want to be put off winter caravaning by the cold

many thanks

Lee

 

[waffler]

We're out all year- coldest to date -9 degrees. Leave all vents open to ensure free ventilation. Fridge vents on though once it drops to 10 degrees. If you have a porch awning use it as this offers some protection. Get the fire hot before putting on the blown air. You might need both gas and electric if it is very cold. (Modern vans will maintain 20 degrees above outside with the gas fire.) Once van is warm keep heating on low and fan on low all the time so preventing the van getting cold. Put bedding out to warm up.If it is going to freeze bring aquaroll inside and remove drain pipes and empty. Don't forget you need propane as butane liquefies at 4 degrees. If it is a dry night take a walk late to see the stars- enjoy yourselves.

 

[JTQ]

I can only add to pull the window/skylight blinds early as soon as any gain from the sun has gone.

 

[Jennifer2]

Your van is the same age as the one we sold earlier this year (a Sterling so also Swift Group). They have a lot more ventilation than more recent vans, a lot more than is needed too.

We used to put duck tape over the vent on the inside of the door, and tape up the vent in our end bathroom. This still left plenty of ventilation.

The blown air is ok, we also took a small 1 or 2 kW fan heater with us just in case, and for extra heat in the end bathroom. Never exceedind 3 kW in total of course.

We never had fridge vent covers, we should have, we have bought them for our new van!

At night, how about an electric blanket? Lovely and cosy!

 

[Gafferbill]

Lee

I would not recommend blocking any vents in your 98 Swift.

Fridge vent covers are useful at below or near freezing outside temperatures.

An electric 2 kw convector heater that has frost protection, a thermostat and 2 heat settings is useful when hooked up to the mains supply.

See this example :-

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/catalogId/1500001151/partNumber/4150729.htm
They are silent in use and can be set to maintain a background heat.

They will fit infront of your fitted Gas/blown electric fire.

As others have said your water supply can freeze as can your waste drainpipes.

These may need to be lagged.

I am going to lagg my waste draipipes under my van using 22mm pipe insulation as I have experienced these freezing before causing a blockage.

 

[Guest]

Most modern vans have very good heating systems, however the van itself will heat up quickly but also cool down as quick as soon as the heat is off. If you look under the seats/beds etc you will find holes through to the outside that should not be sealed. Similarly the heater itself probably has a channel to the outside. Many vans have the fridge incorrectly installed with huge air channels there. The roof vent has a permanent connection to the outside to avoid any chance of air not being allowed to enter the van. So considering all this you are probably losing a high percentage of the heat output.

So to keep warm during the night you either accept this and keep the heating system on all night, or wrap up under a good duvet.

There is also the possibility of sandwiching yourself between 2 young 'hot' ladies but probably the wife may have something to say about that one.

 

[Lee_374375561]

Most modern vans have very good heating systems, however the van itself will heat up quickly but also cool down as quick as soon as the heat is off. If you look under the seats/beds etc you will find holes through to the outside that should not be sealed. Similarly the heater itself probably has a channel to the outside. Many vans have the fridge incorrectly installed with huge air channels there. The roof vent has a permanent connection to the outside to avoid any chance of air not being allowed to enter the van. So considering all this you are probably losing a high percentage of the heat output.

So to keep warm during the night you either accept this and keep the heating system on all night, or wrap up under a good duvet.

There is also the possibility of sandwiching yourself between 2 young 'hot' ladies but probably the wife may have something to say about that one.

Thanks soctch lad......

I like the sound of the 2 hot ladies idea !!!!!!! i'll run that one by the mrs and see what happens, after all it is a more efficient form of heating......

thanks

Lee

 

[ProfJohnL]

Most modern vans have very good heating systems, however the van itself will heat up quickly but also cool down as quick as soon as the heat is off. If you look under the seats/beds etc you will find holes through to the outside that should not be sealed. Similarly the heater itself probably has a channel to the outside. Many vans have the fridge incorrectly installed with huge air channels there. The roof vent has a permanent connection to the outside to avoid any chance of air not being allowed to enter the van. So considering all this you are probably losing a high percentage of the heat output.

So to keep warm during the night you either accept this and keep the heating system on all night, or wrap up under a good duvet.

There is also the possibility of sandwiching yourself between 2 young 'hot' ladies but probably the wife may have something to say about that one.

Hi Lee

It's no that its more efficient heating its just that you're distracted from feeling cold!

 

[Jennifer2]

If you compare similar layout pre and post about 1998 vans you will see that the newer ones do not have nearly so many vents. They still have vents for the heater and oven, and vents under the seats, but the door and other fixed low level vents are gone.

This was apparently essential to be able to achieve a warmer van for year round use, so I think it is ok to cover over one or two of these vents in the older vans, as long as you leave the rest.

 

[Guest]

Unfortunately hot air rises and cold air is pulled in. Modern vans have gaps under the seat fronts so connection to the under locker area is always present. I suppose we can blame it all on our 'Elf and Bleeding Safety' buddies, but I still think you are always fighting the heat loss.

I am too old and get cold too easily so tend to do my caravanning in the summer and preferably near the Med where staying cool is the main issue. In the UK we use a small fan heater to take the chill off in the mornings.

 

[Auvergne]

We found the Lunar van we had extremely draughty through the gaps in the seating cushions. We suffered freezing backs as we were sitting watching TV as the cold came through the vents under the seats. We bought a couple of fleecy throws and put them over the cushions which stopped all the draughts whipping up, made a huge difference. We've just returned early from Suffolk and it was absolutely freezing outside but it wasn't the cold that beat us, it was the rain and mud!

For the first time ever the bottom half of our gas bottle frosted over - we use the red gas whatever that is - does anyone know why this happened?