ladydode100 Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 Can anyone tell me if they have a cold caravan when set up, because it appears to blow cold air out ? Thanks Dode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulR Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 Not sure on this one, when first arrive the heater blows cold and gradually gets hot takes a few minutes but not that long. It's just got to warm the ducting and components first. Hopefully this answers your question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydode100 Posted December 23, 2013 Author Share Posted December 23, 2013 Thanks Paul, our seems to take forever, we are freezing for a good while, well we would be if we didn t have a portable, once it starts getting thru its great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulR Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 If your system has external pipes it will take longer, yes we also use a small fan heater with the van heater on gas to help get the van warm quicker during winter months. If its really cold I drop the bed flaps and point the fan heater in to help get warmth in the bunk and up the walls. Bit of a faf on but does work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl250 Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 (edited) We too use a small electric fan heater at first to take the chill off. In cold conditions we then start off using the gas on the caravan heater - but we do not switch the fan on for a good while until the heater is producing lots of heat. If you turn the fan on before the heater has warmed up then as you have found out, all you will feel is cold air being blown about ! When the caravan has started to warm up we will turn the caravan heater onto electric too (turning the small fan heater off first) and eventually turn the gas off. On the first night on site it always takes ages to warm up, but after that it won't take so much heat to keep it toasty so just the electric will be enough. .... depending on just how cold it is outside of course !!! Edited December 23, 2013 by Shirl250 Quote 2007 Bailey Series 5 Senator Arizona (4 berth, rear bathroom, side dinette) towed by a 57 Kia Sorento XS Auto with Kumho KL17 tyres, Reich Mover, Kampa Rally 390, Caravan Tyres : GT Radial Maxmiler CX 185/80 R14 102R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardr Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 we tend to pre-heat our van the night before we travel and find this makes a big difference when we get on site, it needs a lot less time to warm up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerbyClubman Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Good advice there from Shirl - no point putting the blower on until the heater itself has got hot - and even then when the blower is on it will take a little while to blow out the cold air first to let the hot through. In our old van the vent in the end washroom never did really get hot as by the time the air got there, it had cooled down. Our new van has Alde heating whcih we haven't used yet - anyone any idea how quick that will be to get up to a decent temperature? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamD Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Good advice there from Shirl - no point putting the blower on until the heater itself has got hot - and even then when the blower is on it will take a little while to blow out the cold air first to let the hot through. In our old van the vent in the end washroom never did really get hot as by the time the air got there, it had cooled down. Our new van has Alde heating whcih we haven't used yet - anyone any idea how quick that will be to get up to a decent temperature? Really depends on 'energy' input. If you have a 16 amp supply and put the setting on 3Kw AND Gas, then it will get the heating fluid up to temperature very quickly. Once the fluid is up to temp, the gas will turn off automatically and 3 Kw will be enough to keep it at that level. This happens well before the van is up to temp. so not expensive for the odd start-up. I find that there is little difference in time between the 2 systems but the blown air type does have the slight advantage of being able to directly warm bums even though the van is still cold! Quote Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BothyBob Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 When we arrive on site and set up we switch on fan heater then go out for a bar lunch On return the van is as warm as toast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerbyClubman Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Really depends on 'energy' input. If you have a 16 amp supply and put the setting on 3Kw AND Gas, then it will get the heating fluid up to temperature very quickly. Once the fluid is up to temp, the gas will turn off automatically and 3 Kw will be enough to keep it at that level. This happens well before the van is up to temp. so not expensive for the odd start-up. I find that there is little difference in time between the 2 systems but the blown air type does have the slight advantage of being able to directly warm bums even though the van is still cold! Thanks Sam - probably Easter before we get chance to test it. At the moment I'm looking out at blue sky and warm sunshine from the office window - hopefully this will continue for those who are going away with their vans over the holidays. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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