RV electric heaters

Electric heaters for your RV

The traditional RV was built with fine weather weekend getaways and family outings in mind, and are unsuitable for use in cold weather, as there are no built in heating systems. However, there are people who use RVs as their travelling home, and even need to endure the chilling winter months in their RV, despite it being not equipped for the cold.

But now, RV owners have the option to install heaters in their moving home, to keep themselves warm and comfortable throughout the winter. If there is access to a generator or a mains power source, portable RV electric heaters will work great for you, to warm up your motorhome to make it suitable for living and outings in the colder months.

Types of RV electric heaters

There is more than one type of RV electric heaters that you can consider to install in your RV. These include electric fan heaters, ceramic heaters, and convection heaters. Radiant electric heaters and oil filled column heaters are not recommended for use in RVs, as they are unsafe and use up a lot of electric current respectively.

• Electric fan heaters – Instantaneous heat can be supplied by this type of heaters. However, they are comparatively less economically efficient and less safe. Generally electric fan heaters are less silent, as noise is produced by the fan when it is running.


• Ceramic heaters – In the range of electric heaters, ceramic heaters are one of the most energy efficient varieties. Most models have a built in fan, in order to warm larger spaces effectively. In some models, there are also heat sensors to aid in maintaining the temperature in the space. But when looking for a ceramic heater, find one without radiant heating elements that are exposed and with safety features like tilt safety cut-off switches and thermostats. Ceramic heaters are also not suitable to be used with any extension cords.


• Convection heaters – Convection heaters, on the other hand are more for long heating periods rather than fast heating. They work based on natural convection, with its hot air rising and replaced by the cool air drawn over the heating element. Similar to electric fan heaters, their surfaces remain cool, reducing risks of fire or scalding. Convection heaters with fans are more effective, as they can disperse the heated air around the space. However, one downside of convection heaters as RV electric heaters is that they take up a lot of floor space, which is limited in RVs. Besides, some models can be a little noisy if they contain a fan within their body. Some convection heaters may also feature a timer, electronic thermostat, remote control, frost watch, and a thermal cut-out or tilt switch.

In conclusion, it should not be difficult to choose the electric heater that suits your needs, as different RV electric heaters have their own pros and cons. Nevertheless, no matter which heater you decide to buy in the end, it is a must to follow the safety precautions highlighted in your instruction manual, to ensure a safe warming experience.