Winter Awning Heating

[Icaru5]

Considering the abundance of “patio” gas heaters and electric halogen heaters for both domestic and commercial use on a global scale, and especially considering the fact that those in commercial use are primarily there to facilitate addicts in getting their fix (i.e. smokers), not to mention those who sit at home all day with the heating on full blast whilst watching Jeremy Kyle at the expense of others, whenever I feel the need to take a little chill out of the air whilst making memories with family and welcome friends during a well-earned short break by switching on my 1KW electric fan heater in the awning, I for one certainly don’t experience any feelings of guilt for any reason whatsoever.

Staying on topic, as the Prof and others correctly say, an unregulated gas heater in a confined, enclosed space, irrespective of whatever ventilation there may appear to be is an absolute no-no.

Cheap electric fan heaters are available from most of the usual outlets, and more often than not are equipped with a “high” and “low” setting, in the form of an indicated 1 or 2 bars on the dial. On the unit I have, this equates to 1 or 2KW, i.e. approx. 4 or 8 amps. Considering the 10A limit of most on-site EHU facilities, I only ever have ours on 1 Bar to prevent overloading, and find that if carefully positioned this helps to take the chill away until even the last of the late stayers become in danger of outstaying their welcome.

Hope this helps,

Ic.

 

[emmerson]

In days gone by, when we were younger and fit enough to put up an awning,we used to use a free-standing gas heater, fed from the caravan gas system by a hose tapped into the gas pipe which ran from the bottle at the front to the cooker at the back. A simple t-piece into the line into a tap in the side locker, and bob's your uncle.
I've still got the heater somewhere, looked a bit like a fan, all made from shiny chrome. It worked very well, but we had to keep shifting the dog, as she sat so close that she used to singe!
You're probably all cringing at the risk that old heater presented, but used with care it never hurt us. The ventilation problem didn't arise because as been said, awnings aren't sealed, and the naked flame was behind an old style fireguard.
You probably wouldn't be allowed to use it nowadays, because the Elves would need Safety!
BTW, I am not suggesting that anyone uses this method!!!!!!!!!!

Then why mention it? :S

It's of no help to the OP, and yes it was actually more dangerous that you might have thought.

Whilst awnings are relatively draughty around the bottom, they can seal quite well above that level.

Consequently any open flame will produce hot products of combustion that will rise and collect at the top and will eventually start to displace the normal air. As the level of oxygen in air reduces, flames burn less well and start to produce a bigger proportion of Carbon Monoxide (CO) - the silent killer.

Even worse are the use of charcole BBQ's These produce large amounts of CO, and were the source that has caused some serious illness and deaths.

Its quite possible to achieve a few degrees temperature difference with the outside, Generally thick canvas will provide more thermal insulation than the lightweight polyesters and nylons. If you need awning heating, then electrical Infra red radiant heating is the most efficient, as it directs heat where you point it. The heat is only converted to convection when the radiation finds an absorbent surface.

Blown air extension systems are available but generally most UK users find them to be ineffective.

Prof, I put the caveat on the bottom for the same reason that you do; that heating system worked for me in past.
The purpose of the post was simply making conversation. I treat this forum as I do my local bar, somewhere to go for the "craic". Therefore I find your opening remark a little odd!

 

[Anseo]

How much ! hmy: we will look like a pair of Michelin couples sitting there dressed like that !

:lol: How much ! hmy: we will look like a pair of Michelin couples sitting there dressed like that

Me too Craig, I wouldn't wear them other than as underwear as intended, but I do wear the best thermal gear when conditions dictate, only the OP knows what will work or is needed for his needs.

As for cost, the items I linked to would be regarded as 'cheap' in today's terms, but for what they are, and assuming say 5 or more years service, not a relative lot in real terms.

If the OP suffers badly from cold then he might make consideration of investing in more than one option.

John.

 

[Grey13]

Thanks guys, apart from one very odd reply this has been informative and at least thought provoking. I am aware that if everyone on a site ran a 8 amp electric heater in the evenings that would probably trip most parks main supplies. Secondly an 8 amp heater is the equivalent of a simple kitchen kettle in power and probably will have very little affect in an awning with low outside temps. Then on the "gas" option the risk of co2 is large enough to deter me, so I am going to give this a lot more thought. My first option will be warm clothing as often suggested here, then I may look at an infrared heater. The advantage of that is it does not heat "all the air" in the awning but only items directly in the radiation path. This means you can get a much better "power" to effective use ratio. Thanks again!

 

[Parksy]

I must be missing something, but we rarely sit in the awning in cold weather.
Admittedly there are just the two of us but the caravan is very warm and comfortable, so why would we don layers of clothing to sit in a cold awning?
Whichever method one could use to heat an awning, it's never going to be as toasty as the caravan.

 

[LizziePope]

:huh: Its getting a a bit personal and aggressive now chaps, do you not think we should just keep it as a yes or no for heater and personal opinions put to the side.

Agreed. Please play nicely and have consideration for others.

 

[Grey13]

Hear Hear!

 

[Dustydog]

You going away this Dec Jan period at all. We have decided to try http://www.carnon-downs-caravanpark.co.uk/home.html for a week or so. Not far from Eden project for starters. My first winter outing experience. Considering most of my experience has been in hot sometimes desert / semi arid places in Africa it will be an experience.

.

We spent Xmas 2012 there. It was freezing. In fact all the water pipes were frozen and we had to walk 250 yards to the only working tap. No ones fault. The ground was very hard and it took a lot of effort to erect the porch awning.
To be honest if it wasn't for the dogs stuff we wouldn't bother with an awning in the winter.
Sorry to upset Grey but in 39 years I have never heated a tent or awning. If you must indulge make sure you use an electric infra red or fan heater with auto switch off if it gets knocked over. Have you ever seen how easily an awning can catch fire hmy: hmy:

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

Heating the awning in winter??? are you serious?
What a waste of energy! the only reason I use an awning in the winter is to protect us from the rain & snow & to give a protected space between the van & the inclement weather

 

[Hutch]

Heating the awning in winter??? are you serious?
What a waste of energy! the only reason I use an awning in the winter is to protect us from the rain & snow & to give a protected space between the van & the inclement weather

We are exactly the same.

 

[Damian]

Two postings have been deleted by myself tonight as despite Craigyoung, myself and Lizzie saying that enough was enough regarding the way the topic was heading, one poster decided that he was not going to adhere to that warning.
The second post was removed as it bore no meaningful meaning following the deletion of the main offending post.

BE WARNED ! Any more such posts will result in the whole topic being shut down and the writer of any such posting will be sanctioned.

 

[Craigyoung]

I think the awning heater question has getting as bad as the nose weight debate question !!

On a more serious note though the last time we set outside with awning heating on was when we had our smaller baileys orion , we would sit outside to get the kids settled to sleep because it was small , since getting our new one it has the screen that shuts off the back end between us and the kids and we can quite happy to sit at the front of the van now where the kids go to sleep with the door shut at the back end .

 

[Hutch]

4 to my msg being deleted . But will comply.
Best regards EH 52ARH.

 

[Icaru5]

Good points and questions raised Parksy and Craig ...

Why would you choose to sit in the awning when you have a van with heating ...

Absolutely. If it was just our immediate family, then there’s no way we’d spend the evening in the awning in the colder months, but we find that when we travel with friends, our van often becomes the social hub of an evening, in which case, the awning serves the purpose well. However, the little ones do seem to have a nack of crawling inside and onto the couches and beds with their respective devices as the night unfolds , only to be carried off without any recollection the following morning to their respective vans, campers and tents just before the last of the late stayers have outstayed their welcome B)

 

[Hutch]

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