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Old 12-10-2018, 07:23 AM   #1
TK1
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Fireplace Heat?

Hi,
We are leaving Saturday for a two week visit to the Naples Florida area in our 3400RL w/artic pkg. and it looks like the overnight night low temps may drop into the 50's. Has anyone had experience with the electric fireplace as heat source, or should I be prepared to use the furnace?
 
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Old 12-10-2018, 08:56 AM   #2
rmthelen
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With temps in the 50's, the fireplace is more than adequate.
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Old 12-10-2018, 08:59 AM   #3
DQDick
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In the 2010 the fireplace did fine even in the 30's until I ran the furnace to protect the pipes. With the 2017 the heat pump does it all until we get in the 30's and then the fireplace gets the call until it gets below freezing.
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Old 12-10-2018, 09:57 AM   #4
TK1
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Fireplace Heat

Thanks for the advice we have been trying to run everything on shore power and avoid using propane whenever possible.
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Old 12-10-2018, 02:39 PM   #5
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Agree, more than adequate for temps described.
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Old 12-10-2018, 06:34 PM   #6
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Presently 51 here in South Central Florida and Fire Place is running keeping us warm. We have a Rear Living floor plan, so we close the door to the bedroom as we prefer it cooler for sleeping.
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Old 12-11-2018, 03:17 PM   #7
TLightning
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We have two Lasko towers to supplement on board heat. Just remember all electric heaters, including RV fireplaces, can put out a max of 1,500 watts.
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Old 12-11-2018, 04:50 PM   #8
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I have been in Naples over 4 years now and have never ran our furnace once. I use the fireplace at night but it gets warm during the day.
Where in Naples are you staying?
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Old 12-11-2018, 05:23 PM   #9
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We are near Tampa and have run the fireplace all night a few times in the past few days. It has been in the forties. In the fifties we would not bother. At that temperature you could also consider the heat pump. We have found it to be quite effective.
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Old 12-16-2018, 01:36 PM   #10
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We run the Electric Heaters at night in the morning I turn the stat up 2 degrees on furnace stat and run for one cycle warms the floors<
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Old 12-16-2018, 03:26 PM   #11
TK1
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I have been in Naples over 4 years now and have never ran our furnace once. I use the fireplace at night but it gets warm during the day.
Where in Naples are you staying?
We are staying at Lake San Marino on Wiggins Pass road. Just arrived and set up but so far it looks like a nice park.
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Old 12-16-2018, 03:43 PM   #12
Virginia Young
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Thanks for the advice we have been trying to run everything on shore power and avoid using propane whenever possible.
In 3 1/2 years with our Big Sky, we only had 3 propane tanks filled. We used the heat pump, the fireplace and ceramic heaters. I also used a portable induction cooktop. Never used the stove. Used water heater on electric. The refrigerator used propane in the road. Other than that, I think the furnace was turned on three times and one of those was by accident. The other two times it was only left in long enough to warm it up, then we went with electric options.
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Old 12-16-2018, 04:24 PM   #13
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We found the fireplace to be adequate in the 40s and 50s. Used the furnace in the 30s to keep tanks warmed. Someti es ra Used an auxiliary ceramic type instead of the fireplace to preserve the fireplace, and place it more flexibly.
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Old 12-17-2018, 05:26 AM   #14
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The fireplace to the 40s will keep the LR plenty warm enough. It wont do much for the bedroom we have found. We rely on a low buck cube heater if needed in the BR (or the famous arm-strong heater we used as teens).



If you aren't running the futnace, you may want to block off any air return grilles that lead to the basement too (built into the stair risers) so you don't try to continually heat more cool air.
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Old 12-17-2018, 05:45 AM   #15
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get another small electric heater and it will help out if necessary, no furnace noise.


as for the 'artic package' it is a marketing tool, all trailers are not very well insulated.
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Old 12-17-2018, 01:46 PM   #16
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Heat Source

At temperatures down to the low 30's the heat pump handles my needs fine. Lower than that we use the fireplaces in the evening and the furnace overnight.
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Old 12-18-2018, 08:54 PM   #17
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...At temperatures down to the low 30's the heat pump handles my needs fine.... .
You must have the most potent heat pump around. We've had a number of HPs, none worked below 40, some wouldn't work that low.
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Old 12-19-2018, 07:47 PM   #18
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I work for Sun RV Resorts. I am at Lake San Marino about once a week. Maybe I will see ya there.
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Old 12-19-2018, 10:17 PM   #19
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You must have the most potent heat pump around. We've had a number of HPs, none worked below 40, some wouldn't work that low.
Don't know if you meant only RV heat pumps or not. I had a home heat pump in 1977 in Iowa. It put out 'heat' down to around 25-30 degrees. Of course it was 68 degree heat. That is why I moved to Arizona in 1986!!
I assume heat pumps have gotten a lot more effecient by now tho. Although we have had temps as low as 17 degrees here one time and I didn't freeze, so I guess I answered my own question.
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Old 12-20-2018, 08:28 AM   #20
TK1
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I work for Sun RV Resorts. I am at Lake San Marino about once a week. Maybe I will see ya there.
That would be great if it would work out, we are on lot 12
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