RV Furnace vs RV Heat Pump BASICS Explained 🔥 in 101 Seconds

[@user-xf8qo4sk1i]

Thank you! Drilled down explanation. : )

[@garybriggs1231]

This was very helpful, thank you

[@ALittleBitUnhitched]

Of course!

[@Joe-cu4hi]

We LOVE! You guys! Watch most if not all of your high energy vids/topics. We have a 1999 Bambi that has an itsy-bitsy little heat-strip build into the A/C, we love it, it keeps us toasty down to the high 20’s. We have also seen other Airstreamers with RV specific pellet burning wood stove heaters. May we request an episode on how your drop dead gorgeous Tundra tows your Burrito. Thanks again!

[@ALittleBitUnhitched]

Joe! You are making both us and our Tundra blush! Thanks for introducing yourself and for watching. We really appreciate the positive feedback. Sounds like you have an awesome rig and a highly functional heat setup to boot! Love the video idea! We put it on our list and we will get it done in the next couple months. Let us know if you ever want us to cover anything else! Happy trails :)

[@wanderingwanda9869]

Good explanation, Thank you for sharing.

[@ALittleBitUnhitched]

Of course! Glad it was helpful 😎

[@FloatingIdeasonanarrowboat]

Add alternative ducting for winter! Heat pumps are usually much better than a two times advantage over conventional electric heaters.

[@Lolaandcassidyadventures]

We have a leisure travel van it has heat pump/ac and propane furnace. It’s nice to have options.:)

[@ALittleBitUnhitched]

Isn’t that just the truth! Happy trails out there! ✊

[@camrodger5381]

If you are using the heat pump, then you are connected to pedestal power. Let’s compare the function, complexity, and comfort of the heat pump to a $40 ceramic forced air heater. The heat pump uses a compressor, evaporator, condenser, reversing valve, fan, thermostat, wall and ceiling wiring, and refrigerant. Replacement is north of $2000. The floor heater uses a ceramic element, fan and thermostat. Replacement-$40. If those facts alone don’t convince you that a heat pump is the crappiest way to heat an RV, let’s consider the resulting comfort provided by each system. The heat pump pulls heat from the hottest area of the RV and discharges into the hottest area of the RV. The ceramic floor heater pulls cold air from the floor level and circulates it, resulting in total room comfort. And the ceramic floor heater functions in temps as cold as we will ever experience. If it can’t keep up, then supplement with the furnace. So, to sum up, the ceramic heater is more efficient, quieter, provides better comfort, and is much less expensive to service or replace. There is simply no case for a heat pump in an RV.

[@ALittleBitUnhitched]

Hey Cam, thanks for your response! We totally agree with you on a few things here, especially the replacement/repair costs for the heat pump and periodic lack of effectiveness of most built in heat pumps. Sam knows that eventually he will have to replace our Dometic AC/Heat pump and he said I quote, “not looking forward to it”. 😂 The reason we don’t use an electric floor heater mostly comes down to safety and their continuous amp draw. We typically play it cautiously with hazard control because Fenton, our pup stays inside during the day when we are away at work. We also have a custom thermostat so we can monitor and control temps while we are away using our furnace, AC and heat pump. Like we said, multiple different ways to heat your rig and everybody has to choose what works best for them. Maybe we will get a supplemental portable floor unit for when we are home. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge Cam, cheers!

[@user-ki5hp1ng4n]

which ceramic heater would you recommend?

[@6464aj]

If your using your unit off grid your still burning something to run a generator. Solar and batteries maybe but they usually need to be charged at some point.

[@ALittleBitUnhitched]

Thanks for the comment! You are very correct, boondocking changes this. We were referring to when you are connected to shore power… but in hindsight we could have made that more clear! Thanks for keeping us honest and thanks for watching!

[@6464aj]

@@ALittleBitUnhitched ahhhh. Got it

[@richardjohnson1420]

Happy Thanksgiving y-all. #escape pod is doing well in Louisville. Man, did it get cold. I must not have turned off the furnace, but luckily the gas was off. It took over an hour after watching your video that the furnace kicked in automatically because it was below 45 then the heat pump kicked in over 45. Thanks again you guys.

[@richardjohnson1420]

This weekend will be heading your way and stopping in Aiken, SC.

[@ALittleBitUnhitched]

Happy Thanksgiving Richard! Safe travels back down south friend 😎

[@steiner1942]

Are you plugged in for your heat pump to work or does your heat pump run off you battery?

[@ALittleBitUnhitched]

Great question. You’ve gotta have shore power for the heat pump to work. When no shore power is available, we use the furnace. 😎

[@vickylehman7245]

My propane locked out ram furnace first time temp dropped slightly, how do you unlock it

[@markj10]

Space heater is another Environmentally option. But’s good job on trying to explain “heat pumps”

[@ALittleBitUnhitched]

Thanks Mark! Definitely another option. We have have gone back and forth about getting a supplemental floor heater to use when we are home but with Fenton (our pup) we have to be pretty conservative with it. Obviously some hazards there. Do you typically stick with the portable electric and furnace (as needed) combo Mark?

[@markj10]

@@ALittleBitUnhitched normally set the main furnace at 68ish and use the space heater for areas around the dining table to keep feet and legs toasty. Lived 3 years in Colorado through the winter and that seem to be the best solution. Not a fan of the heat pump because of the noise.

[@ALittleBitUnhitched]

We are originally from Colorado so we can appreciate what that means Mark! We’ve spent a cumulative 30 years on the Front Range. Definitely would be a furnace winter back there. Now being in South Carolina it’s a little bit different… keeping the Airstream cool in the summer is the bigger challenge!

[@charlie63-p2u]

Could the EV heatpumps be utilized well in a camper setup?

[@ALittleBitUnhitched]

Definitely an intriguing idea here. I’m assuming as the new wave of EV campers start to come out you will see this as an option.

[@RedBatteryHead]

Any data on the kWh the heat pump used over a certain period with your situation?

[@ALittleBitUnhitched]

Last winter in South Carolina we predominantly used the heat pump for the month of January and our total usage was 582 kWh. Compare this to July where our usage was 978 kWh with the air conditioner running the whole time. Since this video was published we’ve begun to supplement our winters with a small electric heater to try to prolong the lifespan of our heat pump/AC unit. Obviously you have to use these personal heaters wisely. Very cold nights require the furnace. Hope this helps. Thanks for the question Jeff!

[@RedBatteryHead]

@@ALittleBitUnhitched thx. Great info! Helps me with some estimates. Enjoy your trailer! .

[@randygammelgard7235]

Really enjoy your channel! Question unrelated to the topic...can you share where you got your custom "burrito" screen door guard? I want one for my Airstream aka "Shiloh".

[@ALittleBitUnhitched]

Thanks for the compliment Randy! We had that custom made through Weathered & Worn. You can find them on Instagram or at their website down below. Happy trails to you and Shiloh! weatheredandworn.design

[@randygammelgard7235]

@@ALittleBitUnhitched Got it...Thanks!

[@johnhines3591]

Heat pump you need to be on shore power. Furnace you do not.

[@ALittleBitUnhitched]

If we didn’t say that we probably should have! Thanks for keeping us honest John!

[@CT9905.]

RV heat pump's are not very efficient in below freezing environment's.

[@ALittleBitUnhitched]

Yup! We usually switch to the furnace when it hits 40 degrees F 😎

[@cbdane]

However… If you compare the heat pump efficiency to an electrical space heater, the latter absolutely wins, hands down. An electric space heater is 100% efficient since potential inefficiencies (such as the electric blower motor mechanical/electrical losses) turn into (drum roll) heat! Even resistive losses in the cord and wall plug; yep, you guessed it, heat! The electric heat pump can’t begin to compete with efficiency of a cheap little space heater.

[@ALittleBitUnhitched]

We certainly can't disagree! We have a little space heater that we use quite a bit because it is efficient! This video was more so looking at what came with the trailer in regards to pros and cons of each!

[@TurboSpeedWiFi]

Actually a heat pump is significantly more efficient than a resistance heater in all but the very coldest weather. A heat pump doesn't make heat but rather absorbs heat from the outside air and transfers the heat to the inside. A good quality heat pump can deliver 2.5 - 3 times the heat per watt consumed as a electric space heater. Yes, a space heater is 100% efficient but a heat pump typically has a coefficient of performance of 2.5 - 3 which could in essence be said to be 250% to 300% efficient.

[@user-ki5hp1ng4n]

the woman's voice is irritating