Exploring Great Britain by camper or motorhome is an amazing experience. But those cold mornings and chilly evenings can definitely take the edge off.
That’s where an LPG gas heater comes in!
Adding heating and cooling to your motorhome, camper or van conversion adds a little bit of comfort that can transform the experience.
It can warm up the space in the early morning and keep you toasty warm in cooler evenings.
An LPG heater turns a warm weather-only hobby into a year-round experience and for that, we thoroughly recommend them!
What is an LPG gas heater?
An LPG gas heater for a motorhome or van conversion is a small heater fuelled by LPG (Liquid Propane Gas). Just like a heater at home, the fuel is used to create a flame that warms the air around it via a heat exchanger. The air warms and gradually spreads out across the entire van. LPG gas heaters can warm the air in the van or the water and air depending on the model you choose. As long as your vehicle has insulation, even a small LPG heater can transform the coldest interior into a cosy warm space. Unlike the gas heaters of the 1970s, newer LPG heaters used a closed system. There’s no naked flame, no open combustion and no risk. Everything happens within a sealed unit. That heat exchanger provides safe, clean heat with none of the downsides of LPG heaters of old!How do LPG gas heaters work?
LPG gas heaters for vehicle use are typically sealed units fed by a gas bottle. They can be installed wherever there is space with ducting to feed air vents. The heater usually looks like a rectangular steel box with a couple of nozzles for the ducting and exhaust. They can be much smaller than you think and fit into the tiniest space. Inside the steel box is the heater system that uses LPG gas to fuel a flame. That flame will heat air within a closed loop that includes a heat exchanger. That heat exchanger heats the surrounding air, providing heat to the van. Some heaters include a small fan to help distribute that warm air, like the one on top of a log burner. Other heaters depend on convection to spread their warmth.Safe heating for motorhomes and camper vans
LPG heaters are closed systems so they don’t need to be placed outside the van or be kept near the engine. They are perfectly safe, they keep combustion within the unit and won’t use up oxygen from within the van. They take air from outside the van, often from a vent in the floor. That air is heated using gas, which heats the exchanger. The exchanger warms the air and the exhaust gas is vented through an exhaust system outside the van. As long as the heater is installed by certified professionals, there is very little risk involved with using them. LPG is a safe fuel source, especially if you use a refillable system like Gas IT or Gaslow. LPG heaters will include a temperature control unit placed somewhere convenient so you can easily control the interior temperature of the van. If your heater also heats hot water, it will need connections to your water system, but is otherwise a very straightforward system.Pros and cons of LPG heaters
LPG heaters are an excellent way to heat a motorhome, camper or van conversion. They enable you to travel all year round and enjoy van life to the max. There are pros and cons to them though and we think it’s important you fully understand what’s involved. Pros of LPG gas heaters:-
- Efficient and relatively cheap to run
- Safe when installed by professionals
- Can be mounted anywhere, even externally
- Fast heating of the vehicle
- Can heat water as well as air
- Thermostat control
- Low maintenance compared to log burner or other heat source
-
- Requires upfront investment for the heater and installation
- Some LPG heaters are quieter than others
