Cheap Heating Options?

[Trebor English]

A hundred years ago a bed might be warmed with a coals powered warmer.  Think of a big cast iron frypan with a hinged metal lid.  Add a 4 foot broomstick to the handle.  As the fire in the fireplace is fading, put some coals in the pan, close the lid.  Then slide the pan around under the blankets for a few minutes to heat the mattress and the blankets.  Keep it moving to avoid overheating a spot.  The only one of these I have seen was polished brass.  I expect actual use would make it not pretty and shiny.  I have never used one.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

The World Health Organization considers candles to be indoor pollutants.  A paraffin wax tea candle emits H2O, CO2, Formaldehyde, Acetaldehyde, Acrolein and soot.  Imported tea candles can also have lead in the wick.  Beeswax and vegatable wax burn cleaner but still emit toxins and don't deliver as many BTU.

A tea candle contain 250 - 300 BTU and burns for 4 to 6 hours, so release 75 BTU/Hr or less each.  Your body generates ~ 300 BTU/hr at rest.

Paraffin is approximately twice as expensive as propane per BTU.

There are cheaper, healthier, and safer solutions for heat.

 

[highdesertranger]

I have said this many times. GET A SLEEPING BAG THAT WILL KEEP YOU WARM AT THE LOWEST TEMP YOU EXPECT. do not rely on a artificial heat sources to stay alive, they can fail. I am not saying don't use heaters but don't rely on them. candles are worthless for heat, but are nice for ambience. highdesertranger

 

[lenny flank]

I have three different sleeping bags in the van, all rated to a different temp. By layering together as needed, I'm good from 110 all the way down to around zero. (But since I hate cold weather and I move south where it's warm every winter, I only rarely face anything below 40 or so.)

PS--it just got effing cold in Tennessee. It was low 90s just 2 days ago, and now is 60s during the day and upper 40s at night. Brrrrrrrrrr. Hadda break out the winter sleeping bag.

 

[DannyB1954]

How much heat you need depends on how much insulation you have. In an uninsulated van a Mr. buddy type heater may be necessary, in a heavily insulated van, it would be way too much. I have a minimum 3 1/2" in my walls. where the body protrudes outwards there may be 5". There is a 1 1/2 of foam in the ceiling. A heavy curtain seals off the drivers compartment and it's windows. I also put in a wall across the back to make a small garage area and it also is insulated. I framed my interior with 2 x 4 because the people that did my van conversion hacked out most of the frame supports for fancy picture windows. Video here if you are interested.

 

[maki2]

You could use one of the "12v car back seat warmers" if you are sleeping solo. Not the kind that have both a backrest and the area you sit on, but the type that only has the pad you sit on. Those cost less than a twin size heated mattress pad. They won't put out as much heat but it will help warm you up inside of a sleeping bag.

 

[lenny flank]

How much heat you need depends on how much insulation you have. 

Yep--insulation works by trapping heat. It doesn't do very much without a heat source. 

The best insulation for sleeping is a good winter sleeping bag (in which YOU are the heat source), unless it is really necessary to heat the entire vehicle interior for some reason (if, for example, you have stored items that you do not want to get frozen or cold) or if you are in an area that is lethally cold and a sleeping bag won't do the job. I suspect that a lot of people who have insulation, though, don't really need it. That whole "heat the entire interior" idea comes from still living in a "house" mindset.

 

[max+sophia]

"The world is not perfect, and neither am I. Get over it already."
How do you know you're not perfect?  How many people have you asked?  I'm a mess, but my late husband thought I was perfect. Go figure.

Where can we find your future videos, after the one you posted?

 

[DannyB1954]

How do you know you're not perfect?  How many people have you asked?  I'm a mess, but my late husband thought I was perfect. Go figure.

Where can we find your future videos, after the one you posted?

I could give you a list of people for un references. I have been lazy with the video camera. I added a cabinet and a heavy curtain to separate the drivers area, that is about it. I just bought a one ton dually for pulling a travel trailer. I may take it on a maiden voyage to maybe Lake Havasu. in a day or two. I have all winter now to work on projects.
I don't know witch video you are referring to, but they are all here.

 

[SimpleSafari]

It may have a several hundred dollar up front cost, but I like the idea of a wood burning stove. Once you have it installed, you can burn what you find in the area. There are a few options out there and they vary in price. It's also a dry heat, unlike propane.

Also, I've heard the military modular sleeping bags are warm to somewhere below zero. It's 3 bags in one.

 

[Seminole Wind]

It may have a several hundred dollar up front cost, but I like the idea of a wood burning stove. Once you have it installed, you can burn what you find in the area. There are a few options out there and they vary in price. It's also a dry heat, unlike propane.

Also, I've heard the military modular sleeping bags are warm to somewhere below zero. It's 3 bags in one.

the ONLY reason a wood stove is "dry heat" is that you are venting the combustion gasses to the outside. vent the combustion gasses from propane to the outside and you have "dry heat"

it is not the fuel that determines dry vs wet heat, it is where you vent the combustion gasses ie exhaust. inside = wet, outside = dry

i took a small really cheap "wood stove" and mounted a propane burner inside and ran the stovepipe to the outside. easily adjustable heat, Dry heat. also radiant heat, much less heat stratification. much less fire danger as no sparks or coals to fall out and set stuff ablaze. and when i want to turn it off, just turnthe knob and the fire is out. no worries of leaving an unattended fire while youre gone. there are also many over wintering places where fuel is not available to gather either because it just is not there or regulations prohibit it.

 

[SimpleSafari]

the ONLY reason a wood stove is "dry heat" is that you are venting the combustion gasses to the outside. vent the combustion gasses from propane to the outside and you have "dry heat"

it is not the fuel that determines dry vs wet heat, it is where you vent the combustion gasses ie exhaust. inside = wet, outside = dry

i took a small really cheap "wood stove" and mounted a propane burner inside and ran the stovepipe to the outside. easily adjustable heat, Dry heat. also radiant heat, much less heat stratification. much less fire danger as no sparks or coals to fall out and set stuff ablaze. and when i want to turn it off, just turnthe knob and the fire is out. no worries of leaving an unattended fire while youre gone. there are also many over wintering places where fuel is not available to gather either because it just is not there or  regulations prohibit it.

Um, ok? Thanks for schooling me.

Every application I've seen with propane produces condensation and wood stoves do not. What difference does it make that they both can be dry heat if properly vented when in most all practical applications propane produces condensation? That's rhetorical, I'm not looking for an answer.

And since they make wood stoves for marine and RV applications I can only assume they've perfected the technology to be safer for the environment it will be in. Anytime you have a flame you have a greater fire danger than when you don't. And you can source wood anywhere, even if it's the store. Where there is a will there is a way.

Obviously you didn't like my answer, and that's your prerogative. Note to self. Over and out.

 

[AJ452]

RV furnaces burn propane and are considered "dry heat". This is because they vent combustion gases, including generated water vapor, to the outside.

I don't think any insult was meant by trying to correct that the misunderstanding that propane is inherently "wet" when burnt. Wood also produces water vapor when burnt. But it also produces a bunch of smoke and soot and so it is generally vented.

 

[WanderingRose]

Cuddl Duds microfleece are pretty inexpensive at WalMart, and are incredibly cozy and warm, worn alone or as layers.

Especially for sleeping, being sure to also have your feet covered.

 

[max+sophia]

It may have a several hundred dollar up front cost, but I like the idea of a wood burning stove. Once you have it installed, you can burn what you find in the area.

 I agree Safari.  Even if it's not one's only source of heat, it is one that can be fed most anything, when the world goes crazy, as I think it will.  Having experience heating a large house with a Walton's style kitchen stove, makes me like having the same in a smaller dwelling.  I've seen rigs with a tiny box on a countertop, burning wood.

 

[SimpleSafari]

 when the world goes crazy, as I think it will.  

Such a key phrase, and many don't see.

There is a stove called the Kimberly, which is ridiculously expensive, but is cool when you touch the sides and it burns the wood gasses too. Perfect for a small application, if it weren't so dang expensive. And you can cook on the top of it. 

That's the other advantage to a wood stove, not only does it heat your space, but you can cook on them too.

 

[_KJ_]

I admit I did have trouble finding a hot water bottle- the pharmacist at W/M in Parker looked at me like I had 3 heads when I asked for one. The assistant there just laughed at him - he was too young to know what a hot water bottle even looked like.

 
Now imagine the look on their faces when I ask for a hot water bottle cosy COVER! Haha
I asked about them at a thrift store and the older lady scoffed at me and said ‘nobody uses hot water bottles anymore’ 
I said: “I do” “when I camp and don’t have access to electricity I can always heat water on my little stove” she looked very embarrassed. 

Anyway They are even better if you cover them with something, I can’t find any covers and I can’t knit, so I need to find a knitter and beg for two covers for my hot water bottles!! 

Seriously they stay warmer for longer and you can put boiling water in them and use hold them immediately if they have little knitted sweaters, I’ve been improvising with polar fleece neck warmers from thrift shops but hey are usually too big around and not wide enough.

 

[maki2]

 
Now imagine the look on their faces when I ask for a hot water bottle cosy COVER! Haha
I asked about them at a thrift store and the older lady scoffed at me and said ‘nobody uses hot water bottles anymore’ 
I said: “I do” “when I camp and don’t have access to electricity I can always heat water on my little stove” she looked very embarrassed. 

Anyway They are even better if you cover them with something, I can’t find any covers and I can’t knit, so I need to find a knitter and beg for two covers for my hot water bottles!! 

Seriously they stay warmer for longer and you can put boiling water in them and use hold them immediately if they have little knitted sweaters, I’ve been improvising with polar fleece neck warmers from thrift shops but hey are usually too big around and not wide enough.

Go to the Etsy website, (lots of hand crafted items)  and search for hot water bottle covers. You will find a lot of people who are making and selling that item. Knitted ones, fleece, sports themed, wool plaid, ones shaped like dogs, cats, racoons, bears, etc. When you want something that is "old fashioned"  a vintage item, a hand crafted one, or someone who does custom knitting just head to Etsy.  https://www.etsy.com/search?q=hot water bottle cover

 

[_KJ_]

Thank you!!!

 

[WanderingRose]

 
Anyway They are even better if you cover them with something, I can’t find any covers and I can’t knit, so I need to find a knitter and beg for two covers for my hot water bottles!! 

Seriously they stay warmer for longer and you can put boiling water in them and use hold them immediately if they have little knitted sweaters, I’ve been improvising with polar fleece neck warmers from thrift shops but hey are usually too big around and not wide enough.

Might pick up an on-the-thick side hand towel, new or at a thrift store, fold it in half and sew up two sides so you can just slip the HWB inside.

If you had access to a machine, this would go quickly, but could also do it by hand with a needle and double strand of heavy thread.