Baja Man

Inland Empire, CA

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Thanks for the tips and suggestions!
1. Will only run propane heater while we are awake.
2. Dress warm!
3. I like the idea of a remote electric heater!
BTW...are electric heaters safe to run while asleep?
pianotuna:
Is the reason to change the 120V outlet where a space may be used to replace with a house grade or better quality one?
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midnightsadie

ohio

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Joined: 01/07/2008

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I run my electric heater all night plugged into the GFI outlet.
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toedtoes

California

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Yes, generally they are safe to run while sleeping.
Propane heaters, etc, are unsafe because they can create carbon monozide which can kill you while you sleep.
All portable heaters have a level of risk of starting a fire by tipping over or something flammable getting too close. It's a personal comfort level that will get strong opinions both ways, but in the end it's your own "feeling" about the risk that decides.
For me, it's part of why I like a remote controlled space heater. I can turn it on, get in bed, read for an hour or so as the heater warms things up, then turn it off when I'm ready to sleep. When I wake up, I turn it on and warm things up while I stay toasty in bed. When the RV is warm, I get up. But again, I have dogs and worry about a heater getting knocked over in small space. If I didn't have the dogs, I'd be more inclined to leave it on all night.
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MSchu

Texas

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We spent 3 days snowed in last winter in our trailer and were able to keep warm using 2 small ceramic space heaters. I carry a heavy duty construction extension cord so I can have the second heater plugged into the pedestal. There's no telling how much propane I would have used if I had to rely on the furnace.
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ktmrfs

Portland, Oregon

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toedtoes wrote: Yes, generally they are safe to run while sleeping.
Propane heaters, etc, are unsafe because they can create carbon monozide which can kill you while you sleep.
All portable heaters have a level of risk of starting a fire by tipping over or something flammable getting too close. It's a personal comfort level that will get strong opinions both ways, but in the end it's your own "feeling" about the risk that decides.
For me, it's part of why I like a remote controlled space heater. I can turn it on, get in bed, read for an hour or so as the heater warms things up, then turn it off when I'm ready to sleep. When I wake up, I turn it on and warm things up while I stay toasty in bed. When the RV is warm, I get up. But again, I have dogs and worry about a heater getting knocked over in small space. If I didn't have the dogs, I'd be more inclined to leave it on all night.
It's a misconception that CO is only an issue when you are sleeping. CO poisoning can and does get people when they are awake and active, it can hit fast enough that you don't know what is happening and then your gone. We have a friend who is a paramedic. Been to CO poisonng calls, it can hit way to fast and in strong enough concentrations a few minutes is all it takes before you may not be able to get yourself out of harms way.
Make sure you have a working CO detector in your trailer, even if your not using a unvented heater. your in a confined space and stove, oven can emit CO.
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Grit dog

Black Diamond, WA

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Pbutler97 wrote: I guess if you need squeaky clean holding tanks carry on, its your time and money. They'll at least be nice and clean until your next morning constitutional, then rinse and repeat.
2nd that. Akin to flushing before you go to the restroom.
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toedtoes

California

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ktmrfs - sorry I wasn't suggesting it is ONLY a danger when you are sleeping. Just that it IS a danger when you are sleeping.
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IAMICHABOD

Sunny So Cal

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As for the GEO method I always do it after each dump with about bowl full of water,without the chlorine,the tank sensors all work just fine on this 16 year old Former Rental.
I really did not like to sleep with the propane heater on,although I have done it. I preferred to use an electric heater but I did not like to run it off of the outlets in the RV as they are a bit flimsy for running something that uses that much power.
I decided to run an Extra circuit that I could plug in the outside pedestal just for that use,it has worked out very well.
I like the Vornado it is safe and also has a remote.
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pianotuna

Regina, SK, Canada

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My daughter is a CO survivor. I will NOT run an unvented combustion heater. I do not run a generator while sleeping.
I use an induction hob for cooking.
I prefer oil filled radiant heaters because their surface temperature is much lower.
Regards, Don
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spoon059

Just north of D.C.

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We cool and cold weather camp often. I have 2 small electric heaters with thermostats that we use with no problems in the camper. On cold nights, the camper is small enough that the 900 watt setting on most heaters works great. I put one in the front bedroom and one in the kids bunkroom. Set the T-stat for comfortable and go to sleep.
On just cool nights I'll set up one on 1500 watt setting with the T-stat for comfortable in the main cabin and turn on the AC fan. The heat rises up to the AC ducts and gets blown all over to warm up the whole camper.
Plenty comfortable. Modern space heaters have tip over protection and don't get hot enough to burn anything even if they fall. Takes less electricity than the AC in the summer and its already included in the cost.
GEO method, I've never done it. I usually flush out my tank a couple times a year if I have full hookups. If I ever got frustrated enough with the tank sensors I might consider a deeper clean, but I figure I'm going to poop in it the next morning anyways, so why bother...?
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