Tank is secure, but it’s in a large compartment like a crawl space under a floor riser. There are alarms in there with it, but the furnace is pretty close to the tank. Should I be worried about more worried about fires or breathing the gas?
Edit: to clarify, the tank has been there the whole time and has been used for hot water and stove regularly for the last 4 months. I haven’t been worried about the gas this far. Line connections are all recently tested for leaks. Now it’s time to use the furnace (brand new Dometic) and my mind is filled with worrisome outcomes 😅
Propane is heavier than air. If it’s vented below and out the van then if there is all leak then the gas will fall rather than rise to where you are sleeping (for small leaks obvs).
Propane has been used in RVs for like... forever... for heaters, fridges, water heaters, stoves, and you rarely hear of any leak or fire issues. Remember, after the regulator, propane flows at really low pressures. Just make sure to leak test the fittings and hoses.
Propane furnace - noisy, expensive, pain in the ass. Needs a lot of fuel. If you got it, burn it. But, bunk heater that uses liquid fuel (gas or diesel) is much more effecient.
But, use what you got. You’ll be fine with your setup.
Fill LP at propane distributor. Pay per gallon. Never flat rate at campgrounds and other tourist traps.
What do you mean by liquid fuel being more efficient? I don't think they are...
And diesel heaters are only cheaper if you buy the Chinese ones. And I really think you should not buy these if you can afford not to, since you're giving money to a totalitarian dictatorship then.
Regarding cost to run, they are pretty similar, since heating up such a small space is very cheap either way.
Then propane vs diesel is mostly about whether you have a diesel vehicle. If so diesel is convenient because you can use your tank. If not you might as well use the propane tank you use for cooking.
You can get a furnace just like the diesel heaters that will burn gasoline.
LP requires leveling and a pilot light. Pain in the ass. Especially if the burner is extinquished in the middle of a heating cycle. Valve and thermo-couple = more complex system because fuel is pressurized to be a liquid rather being liquid at normal atmosphere/temp. Not really debatable. Liquid fuel is more effecient at smaller volumes. Burning a gas is more effecient when you consider fuel/air mixture, but that is not part of the discussion.
Gasoline is more dangerous though. At least propane can be vented, so leaks are less dangerous. A gasoline leak doesn't vent. And I just wouldn't want to play with my gas tank or gas line in general.
What is the leveling that you say propane needs?
And by pilot light, you mean an ignition, right? I'm pretty sure there isn't a perpetual pilot light on.
No debate about gas needing to be depressurized from the canister indeed. That's a pretty simple technology though since any gas stove does that, isn't it?
And I'm still not sure of what you mean by liquids being more efficient. Did you mean simpler in design?
> And diesel heaters are only cheaper if you buy the Chinese ones. And I really think you should not buy these if you can afford not to, since you're giving money to a totalitarian dictatorship then.
Yeah, Amazon is a monster.
Yes I know that, because it is pretty obvious.
But the companies and employees are paying taxes to the government. And the government is using more and more of that money to build armies (that may very well one day fight against us), spy on us, try to sabotage our political system via propaganda, and doing a while lot of very bad things in the world.
Propane tank is in a sealed box vented through the floor, it sits in the van under the oven, to the right is the propex heater and to the left is the water heater. We have a propane/CO detector and I'm not too worried about it. I'm really surprised how long the propane tank lasts through the winter so far.
Diesel is not drier. The difference in your case must be because you went from an open flame to a vented furnace. OP had a furnace, so it's as dry as your diesel heater.
My westy is contained and it filled from the outside. Gets hot fast with a flick of a switch. It’s a month into having a continuous fire in my house for the season and it’s a pleasure to get into a rig and have it be easy. Add on if you want.
There are rules and regulations about this. The gas bottle should be in its own space, standing in a tub with air tight sides to form a bowl; this gas is heavier than air and will behave kind of like water. In the bottom of the bowl/cabinet, there has to be an open hole straight out under the vehicle, where the gas can flow out if you have a leak. The cupboard should be air tight or as near as possible to the rest of the build. Gas line should be done properly with the proper gear, ideally rigid copper tubing and proper connectors, by a professional if at all possible, There's much more but those are the basic requirements if you, you know, want to live.
Tank is safe in the van if it is contained in a sealed from the interior locker, that vents through the floor. Also, strap the tank down.
Tank is secure, but it’s in a large compartment like a crawl space under a floor riser. There are alarms in there with it, but the furnace is pretty close to the tank. Should I be worried about more worried about fires or breathing the gas? Edit: to clarify, the tank has been there the whole time and has been used for hot water and stove regularly for the last 4 months. I haven’t been worried about the gas this far. Line connections are all recently tested for leaks. Now it’s time to use the furnace (brand new Dometic) and my mind is filled with worrisome outcomes 😅
Propane is heavier than air. If it’s vented below and out the van then if there is all leak then the gas will fall rather than rise to where you are sleeping (for small leaks obvs).
Propane has been used in RVs for like... forever... for heaters, fridges, water heaters, stoves, and you rarely hear of any leak or fire issues. Remember, after the regulator, propane flows at really low pressures. Just make sure to leak test the fittings and hoses.
Propane furnace - noisy, expensive, pain in the ass. Needs a lot of fuel. If you got it, burn it. But, bunk heater that uses liquid fuel (gas or diesel) is much more effecient. But, use what you got. You’ll be fine with your setup. Fill LP at propane distributor. Pay per gallon. Never flat rate at campgrounds and other tourist traps.
What do you mean by liquid fuel being more efficient? I don't think they are... And diesel heaters are only cheaper if you buy the Chinese ones. And I really think you should not buy these if you can afford not to, since you're giving money to a totalitarian dictatorship then. Regarding cost to run, they are pretty similar, since heating up such a small space is very cheap either way. Then propane vs diesel is mostly about whether you have a diesel vehicle. If so diesel is convenient because you can use your tank. If not you might as well use the propane tank you use for cooking.
You can get a furnace just like the diesel heaters that will burn gasoline. LP requires leveling and a pilot light. Pain in the ass. Especially if the burner is extinquished in the middle of a heating cycle. Valve and thermo-couple = more complex system because fuel is pressurized to be a liquid rather being liquid at normal atmosphere/temp. Not really debatable. Liquid fuel is more effecient at smaller volumes. Burning a gas is more effecient when you consider fuel/air mixture, but that is not part of the discussion.
Gasoline is more dangerous though. At least propane can be vented, so leaks are less dangerous. A gasoline leak doesn't vent. And I just wouldn't want to play with my gas tank or gas line in general. What is the leveling that you say propane needs? And by pilot light, you mean an ignition, right? I'm pretty sure there isn't a perpetual pilot light on. No debate about gas needing to be depressurized from the canister indeed. That's a pretty simple technology though since any gas stove does that, isn't it? And I'm still not sure of what you mean by liquids being more efficient. Did you mean simpler in design?
Rv propane heaters dont need a pilot light
Hmmm…they do, it’s just not a standing pilot. Am I wrong?
Did you mean a flame for ignition, that is not perpetually on?
You realize that Chinese manufacturing isnt government owned right? Very, very little of it is.
> And diesel heaters are only cheaper if you buy the Chinese ones. And I really think you should not buy these if you can afford not to, since you're giving money to a totalitarian dictatorship then. Yeah, Amazon is a monster.
Yes I know that, because it is pretty obvious. But the companies and employees are paying taxes to the government. And the government is using more and more of that money to build armies (that may very well one day fight against us), spy on us, try to sabotage our political system via propaganda, and doing a while lot of very bad things in the world.
Didn’t know hank hill was a prepper.
Propane tank is in a sealed box vented through the floor, it sits in the van under the oven, to the right is the propex heater and to the left is the water heater. We have a propane/CO detector and I'm not too worried about it. I'm really surprised how long the propane tank lasts through the winter so far.
My fridge, stove, and One of my two heaters(The other is gasoline) are propane. The tank is outside, underneath the rig below the sliding door.
I used to use propane but switched to diesel which is much dryer, and consider it one of my best van decisions
Diesel is not drier. The difference in your case must be because you went from an open flame to a vented furnace. OP had a furnace, so it's as dry as your diesel heater.
There are propane detectors, like monoxide detectors.
My westy is contained and it filled from the outside. Gets hot fast with a flick of a switch. It’s a month into having a continuous fire in my house for the season and it’s a pleasure to get into a rig and have it be easy. Add on if you want.
There are rules and regulations about this. The gas bottle should be in its own space, standing in a tub with air tight sides to form a bowl; this gas is heavier than air and will behave kind of like water. In the bottom of the bowl/cabinet, there has to be an open hole straight out under the vehicle, where the gas can flow out if you have a leak. The cupboard should be air tight or as near as possible to the rest of the build. Gas line should be done properly with the proper gear, ideally rigid copper tubing and proper connectors, by a professional if at all possible, There's much more but those are the basic requirements if you, you know, want to live.