Propane vs. Electric Heat on a Cold Night in the Camper

Cold nights mean heat, and most campers have choices. Here's how they compare.

01The RV furnace (propane)

How it works: burns propane, vents the exhaust outside, blows warm air through ducts.

Good: heats the whole rig, including (on many rigs) the underbelly where the tanks and pipes are. Vented outside, so no combustion gases inside.

Not so good: uses a lot of propane in cold weather, and the blower fan runs on your 12-volt battery. On a cold night with no hookup, the fan can drain a small battery.

02Electric space heater (shore power)

How it works: plugs into an outlet, usually 1,500 watts on high.

Good: "free" if electricity is included at your site. Quiet. No propane. No combustion.

Not so good: only heats the room it's in, and doesn't warm the underbelly. Draws a lot of power, so on a 30-amp site you can't run much else. Not practical on battery. See a power station for a CPAP, not a space heater.

03Catalytic or "buddy" style propane heaters

How it works: burns propane inside the camper, without a vent.

Good: no electricity needed, quiet.

Not so good: puts combustion byproducts and a lot of moisture into the camper. Needs fresh air, and you need a working CO alarm. See tent heaters: what's safe.

04A common combo

On shore power, many campers use a space heater as main heat and set the furnace thermostat a little lower as backup. The space heater does most of the work, the furnace kicks on if it gets too cold, and the furnace keeps the underbelly from freezing.

05Moisture

Breathing, cooking, and unvented propane heaters all add moisture. On a cold night, it shows up as condensation on windows.

06Safety

• A working carbon monoxide alarm and smoke alarm. Test them every trip.
• Never use a grill, camp stove or unvented heater meant for outdoors to heat a camper.
• Keep space heaters away from bedding and curtains.
• Crack a vent or window when using any unvented heater.

Warm is good. Safe and warm is the goal.

Photo: Pebbles has had a tiring day. by andreboeni, BY 2.0.

Related: Fall Camping: How to Stay Warm When Nights Drop Below 40