Heater in vans?

[tres davis]

At what temp do you setup the heater in your van overnight?

 

[KevinD]

Anytime there is a chance it will drop to 32 degrees

 

[Charlie Lyman]

If it's outside and it will go below 32, you need one in there. I used to put one in mine when it was in the garage if it got below 20 outside. But my garage stays above 40. So I stopped worrying about it and no longer put one in there.

 

[Wing It]

We set the heaters at their highest setting whenever it's below 32. I have run them on high all weekend without causing problems. We have never had one freeze but when it gets below 20 I like to turn on the vans heater every few hours. Rarely does it get below 10 in Nashville. However, I just bought a home with attached garages so I won't have to worry about the really cold nights anymore.

 

[Old Coastie]

I put a small heater on any night the forecast goes below 40. I cannot risk $10,000 worth of equipment to save a dollar of electricity.

 

[Onfire_02_01]

If it helps you at all. Here in Minneapolis the morning temperature was -10. I checked my garage and with the heater running it was +27. I checked fluids, everything was still liquid, and ran out for 5 gallon of diesel to start up my torpedo heater to get the temp back to +40.

 

[tres davis]

Thanks, that's what I was thinking.
Seems silly to hook up extension cords and heaters if overnight low is 31

 

[Jeffrey Tobian]

I set the thermostat for the heater in my truck for 70 degrees

 

[FFA]

Thanks, that's what I was thinking.
Seems silly to hook up extension cords and heaters if overnight low is 31

31℉ is a risk and remeber that is just the forcast, it can go lower. I set my heater if they forcast 35 or below. Not worth the risk.

Even with forced heat, the heat will rise and the coldest part of the van will be the van floor, so make sure that you read that temp also.

 

[Scott S.]

Tip #1
When you get home and have a fresh water tank fill it with warm/hot water, Water holds 8 times the energy air can. This will help you if the power goes out for a short amount of time, because the water in your tank has to give off that energy in the form of heat before it can freeze. Thus helping to keep your van possibly above freezing for a short amount of time. Also if you run a heater in your van, insulate your van, and run the heater hot enough that your whole van stays above freezing.

Tip #2
When Running a heater in your van, run the shortest extension cord you can with a heavy enough gage to cover the maximum draw of power from your heater or heaters. if the heater can pull 15 amps, get a cord rated for min of 15 amps.

tip #3
And even saiger will say this, if your running two heaters or more run cords from separate circuits.

tip #4
keep tools off the floor of your van, put blankets on the floor of your van to help reduce the conductivity of the cold into the air and into your equipment. suspend tools so that they are off the floor, and not touching anything metal

tip #5
Buy a remote thermostat at the min, i have 2 in my van, one that i can check via the internet for when i'm off doing other things, and one that with a receiver that sits in the house where i can see it. this way you can always know if something is wrong. or if your heaters aren't keeping up.

tip #6
if your parking in a non heated garage, and its super cold out, buy a roll of carpet padding,cut strips so they can be rolled across the top of the van and down the sides, believe me it helps. did this when we had that super cold last year because the heaters weren't keeping up. and make sure you cover the windshield too.

tip #7
place your heater near your tm, that is what your trying to keep warm.

tip #8
Always have an emergency way to antifreeze your machine in case of a power outage, or accident. keep however much antifreeze in your van you need, to adequately antifreeze your machine, your solution lines, and your tools. min 3 gallons of concentrate for my machines. check with your distributor or manufacturer of the proper way to antifreeze your machine, water pump, water transfer pump, auto pump out, and chemical injection system.

tip #9
always have a full tank of gas. IF the temps dip really low and the power goes out you will need to start your van and let it run. but if your out of gas in the van and the power in your area is out, you may be in trouble. As the gas station nearest you may be out of power also.

tip #10
if you keep your van parked outside, park somewhere that the wind isn't constantly blowing on the sides of the van. why? because air movement across any surface will make your van dissipate heat faster. So park somewhere, where you van is out of the wind.

 

[Bob Savage]

I live in Ohio, where it was 10º this morning.

Whenever I purchase a van I install 3/4" pressure treated plywood on the van floor, with #40 roofing felt underneath to act as first, a pattern to cut the plywood, and secondly to act as a gasket barrier between the metal floor and the plywood. I also insulate the walls and ceiling.

When it is predicted to drop into the mid to upper 30's, I place a heater in each van on the lower setting. If it is going to be in the lower 20's that night, I will add a second heater in the back of the van pointing toward the front, set on medium, and put the original heater on high. If it is predicted to be in the low teens or colder, I set both heaters in each van on high.

I have 4 separate circuits that are strictly dedicated to these heaters.

30 years of doing this has always protected the inside of the vans.

 

[Scott S.]

I have rhino lining in the new van and the other van has a 1 inch foam pad that fits the floor that has carpet on the top. love that vans pad. so easy on the knees.

the new van just has rhino lining, but i put down a few thick moving blankets in the back so it keeps the cold from conducting so much to the inside of the van.

 

[Old Coastie]

I moved to Alabama. From N Georgia, where it gets REALLY cold.

Well, on top of Lookout Mountain, anyhow. Single digits a lot.

 

[NobleCarpetCleaners]

if its gonna be below 35 I run a 1300 watt heater all night long. Below 32 I run two, on different circuits as a back up. $.75 of electricity is a good insurance policy for a cracked component. Had a heat exchanger blow 5 years ago, not going back there again.

 

[BradFenstermaker]

I hang moving blankets over side and rear doors with pinch clamps. Helps a ton for me. Like Scott using carpet pad.

Old Coastie I am in Ringgold Ga. What was your company name here??
I service Chattanooga too on Lookout alot some months.

 

[Old Coastie]

Brad I had a small contracting service called "My Personal Carpenter" on Lookout. Gave it up after being mobilised several times and in 05 moved near Gadsden. My current business is "Act One Cleaning" out of Rainbow City, if you know where that is.

I get to Chattanooga every couple of weeks. Spend more time in Birmingham and Huntsville. Once in a while over to Atlanta, but I sure do hate that city.

 

[Scott S.]

I hang moving blankets over side and rear doors with pinch clamps. Helps a ton for me. Like Scott using carpet pad.

Old Coastie I am in Ringgold Ga. What was your company name here??
I service Chattanooga too on Lookout alot some months.

I like to use carpet padding with the plastic on the one side, because the plastic helps to keep the pad from freezing to the side of the van. or you run the risk of being the carpet pad guy when your driving around.

 

[Brian H]

I park our vehicles in a garage with the thermostat set at 55 degrees using 5 separate overhead heaters.

I sleep very well at night.

 

[Scott S.]

I park our vehicles in a garage with the thermostat set at 55 degrees using 5 separate overhead heaters.

I sleep very well at night.

someday ill have your money, but i doubt it, i dont like detroit.

 

[Brian H]

I keep reminding everyone, I don't have any money. I just work here.

And what's wrong with the Detroit area?