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12-15-2014, 09:38 AM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member
benicia
, California
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 110
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Is using the furnace while we sleep dangerous?
My brother-in-law, owner of an SOB, says I should not use the furnace as it runs on propane while we sleep due to possible carbon monoxide leaks. He says to buy a small electric heater. The AS has a propane leak detector but not yet a CO leak detector. Does anyone use a portable electric heater instead of their furnace?
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12-15-2014, 09:49 AM
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#2
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cantdrv55
My brother-in-law, owner of an SOB, says I should not use the furnace as it runs on propane while we sleep due to possible carbon monoxide leaks.
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As long as your furnace is in good working order, it is every bit as safe as a natural gas furnace in your home. Maybe even safer. The key feature of an RV furnace is that— just like the water heater and a Dometic refrigerator— the fire is outside the trailer. Heat is transferred to the interior air through a heat exchanger, and no propane exhaust comes inside the trailer except through a window.
If you feel the need to crack open a window for air exchange— to prevent the buildup of carbon dioxide, not carbon monoxide— then open a window on the opposite side of the trailer, so that the chance is minimized that propane exhaust from outside will come in through the windows.
And of course make sure your carbon monoxide, smoke, and LPG detectors are all in good working order.
But the potential for carbon monoxide buildup is why you should not use your propane stovetop or oven as a heat source overnight, because for those the fire is inside with you.
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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12-15-2014, 09:56 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1966 22' Safari
Hilltop Lakes
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,767
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Battery-powered CO detectors are cheap and easy to install. Available at Home Depot. We have three of them in our Airstream, since we're still using the original furnace and it's pretty old (although thoroughly checked-out).
An electric heater has the advantage of running on power you've already paid for as part of your RV hookup rental instead of propane you have to pay for elsewhere.
Standard fire safety precautions regarding electric heaters should be followed carefully!
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12-15-2014, 10:00 AM
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#4
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4 Rivet Member
2014 27' FB Eddie Bauer
Mobile
, Alabama
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 321
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And change batteries every time you change the time on your clocks for daylight savings.
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12-15-2014, 10:00 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2020 28' Flying Cloud
Upper St Clair
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,943
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Run ours a lot in both SOB MH and AS. Have two CO2 detectors. Never had an issue. If still concerned open a bedroom window slightly,
__________________
2020 28' Twin Flying Cloud
2021 F350 6.7 King Ranch
USAF Master Training Instructor (TI) & (MTI)- 68-72
Volunteer K9 Rehabilitator & Trainer
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12-15-2014, 10:20 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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We use the furnace without concern when boondocking, but prefer the Dyson electric heater (se Avatar) when with external power. It's quieter and keeps the heat more even and right where you set it. Good down to near freezing outside, then need the furnace.
The Airstream has smoke/CO1 alarms. We always crack the bedroom roof vent enough to control condensation but I doubt that is protection from carbon monoxide in the trailer, so it's important to maintain the detector(s).
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles
The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
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12-15-2014, 11:10 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
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Being in a mild climate and having heat pumps we don't get to use the furnace very often. I have used the furnace on 3 trips and didn't worry about it. It sure is warm and cozy. I think campers are so drafty anyway that we are getting enough fresh air.
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
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12-15-2014, 11:13 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
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I was visiting friends in their home Saturday evening. They had an Eden Pure endorsed by Bob Vila they bought mail order. It kept their 25' x 25' den very warm and toasty and it does not get hot to the touch. I want to see about getting one for the Airstream. Maybe they have a smaller size, as this one was quite large. It would go under the dinette so it wouldn't be in the way.
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
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12-15-2014, 11:28 AM
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#9
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Moderator
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Alamo Heights
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,696
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m.hony
I was visiting friends in their home Saturday evening. They had an Eden Pure endorsed by Bob Vila they bought mail order. It kept their 25' x 25' den very warm and toasty and it does not get hot to the touch. I want to see about getting one for the Airstream. Maybe they have a smaller size, as this one was quite large. It would go under the dinette so it wouldn't be in the way.
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Watts are watts, there's no magic in Edenpure or "Amish Heater" or whatever. The Dyson everyone raves about is probably only more pleasing because it has a proper thermostat and perhaps different airflow characteristics than most. Other than the quality of the thermostat and differences in sound (fan vs. convection, loud fan vs. quiet, etc) you're going to get a very similar amount of heat from any 1500w electric heater.
__________________
— David
Zero Gravitas — 2017 Flying Cloud 26U | WBCCI# 15566
He has all of the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire. — Sir Winston Churchill
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12-15-2014, 11:32 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2009 23' FB Flying Cloud
Canmore
, Alberta
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,762
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We leave our furnace on at night, but lower the thermostat to about 60F. If we're on shore power, we'll supplement with a 1500 watt heater.
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12-15-2014, 11:41 AM
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#11
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Len and Jeanne
2005 16' International CCD
2015 19' Flying Cloud
Creston Valley
, British Columbia
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,793
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If you camp with nights below freezing temperatures, a good reason to leave the furnace on is because it heats under the floor where the pipes are located.
We travel with a small electric heater that we use on cold nights where we have hookups, but the furnace is pretty much it for boondocking.
Like the others have suggested, it is important to make sure the furnace and CO detectors work properly. Also, you can leave one of the roof vents or windows open just a tad for ventilation.
We also keep the thermostat at a low setting, and pile on extra bedding during cold nights.
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12-15-2014, 11:53 AM
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#12
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2 Rivet Member
1988 34' Limited
1972 21' Globetrotter
Duxbury
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 28
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Should be very safe, but just like at home, don't use it without a functioning CO detector.
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12-15-2014, 12:00 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,711
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DKB_SATX
Watts are watts, there's no magic in Edenpure or "Amish Heater" or whatever. The Dyson everyone raves about is probably only more pleasing because it has a proper thermostat and perhaps different airflow characteristics than most. Other than the quality of the thermostat and differences in sound (fan vs. convection, loud fan vs. quiet, etc) you're going to get a very similar amount of heat from any 1500w electric heater.
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Agree...and IMO, the Dyson "magic" is the way they move the air throughout every (rounded) corner of the AS, without a chilly draft. Watts is Watts.
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
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12-15-2014, 12:13 PM
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#14
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4 Rivet Member
1987 25' Sovereign
Oregon
, Ohio
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 491
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12-15-2014, 12:21 PM
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#15
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Moderator
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Alamo Heights
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,696
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Oh, and I neglected to answer the original question while climbing on my soap box about overpriced "miracle" heaters.
My WBCCI unit does a fair amount of boondocking, and in Texas what passes for winter is great time for that, but it does occasionally get cool at night. I ALWAYS have a CO detector in the trailer (just like at home) and run the furnace when it's cold. I've also camped with power a couple of times when it was cold enough to warrant using the furnace for tank heating.
__________________
— David
Zero Gravitas — 2017 Flying Cloud 26U | WBCCI# 15566
He has all of the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire. — Sir Winston Churchill
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12-15-2014, 01:14 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2013 31' Classic
billings
, Montana
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,616
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I would be more worried about who I was sleeping with than the furnace
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12-15-2014, 07:48 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari
St. Augustine
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,731
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Absolutely not. First, your furnace does not put out carbon monoxide. The only way that happens is if the propane is not burning completely at the flame- yellow flame. That is why there is a gas LP detector in the coach and it is to be replaced about every 7 years. When they start intermittently beeping you know that it is either a low power situation or a failure of the sensor. Mine went bad while at a Rally in Feb a year ago. It was beeping every so often. What we do not need in a trailer is the CO detector as we do not have a gas engine or generator on board like a motorhome. They come with LP/CO detectors as most CO poisonings come from people running their generators while asleep. I use a portable heater for its electric use versus propane not for safety but for the use of electric when I am hooked up and paying for it rather than pay for electric AND propane.
__________________
WBCCI 8653/AIR 60240
2022 Ford F150 PowerBoost Platinum w/7.2KW
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12-15-2014, 08:46 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2002 30' Classic S/O
Fleming Island
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,750
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As previously stated, the furnace can put out carbon monoxide if combustion is incomplete. But, as others have pointed out, the combustion occurs outside the trailer and isolated from the interior unless the heat exchanger has rusted out. I'm going to try to figure out a simple test for leaks in the furnace heat exchanger like using something to puff smoke in the outside compartment while the blower is running and test for smell in the interior.
As for propane, four appliances use propane: stove/oven, refrigerator, furnace, and water heater. Only the stove/oven has the potential to leak propane into the interior in the event of only a leak in the appliance (single failure) because it is the only one that normally has propane in trailer interior. The furnace, refrigerator and water heater are installed in exterior compartments that are supposed to be sealed from the interior. The quality of this sealing job may vary, and years of vibration and/or modifications may reduce its effectiveness.
My trailer had only a smoke alarm and a propane detector. I replaced the smoke alarm when it failed and put a CO detector in the bedroom. I haven't replaced the propane detector even though it is probably original. The manual for it does not call for replacement at any interval, and I test it regularly by leaking a tiny amount of propane from a handheld tank near the detector.
We run the furnace at night and have not had any alerts from the CO detector.
Al
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“You cannot reason someone out of a position they have not been reasoned into"
Al, K5TAN and Missy, N4RGO WBCCI 1322
2002 Classic 30 Slideout -S/OS #004
2013 Ram 2500 Laramie 4x4 Megacab Cummins
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12-15-2014, 08:59 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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You better straighten out the CDC on this who put this foolishness on their website then:
"Every winter when the temperature drops, your furnace can become a silent killer. Gas- and oil-burning furnaces produce carbon monoxide (CO). CO is an invisible, odorless, poison gas that kills hundreds every year and makes thousands more sick."
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles
The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
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12-15-2014, 09:24 PM
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#20
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dkottum
You better straighten out the CDC on this who put this foolishness on their website then:
"Every winter when the temperature drops, your furnace can become a silent killer. Gas- and oil-burning furnaces produce carbon monoxide (CO). CO is an invisible, odorless, poison gas that kills hundreds every year and makes thousands more sick."
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Many home furnaces have the fire inside the living space, and carbon monoxide is a problem. It's a completely different situation than an RV furnace that has the fire outside. Apples, meet oranges.
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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