Since we’re in the middle of winter now, I figure I should be making more posts about staying warm in cold weather. I spent a few hours watching some great videos about this, but my favorite is this one by Carolyn’s RV Life.
Most people don’t use their RV’s in the winter, but Carolyn lives and works in her RV all year long, so she figured out how to keep it nice and warm even when it’s freezing outside. In this video, she offers all sorts of helpful tips for blocking out the cold air and staying warm.
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This video isn’t just for people with RV’s. In fact, most of these tips apply to houses and apartments as well. You can watch the full video below.
Mike Cavanaugh says
February 17, 2019 at 5:34 pmSomething else to consider is the pipes freezing anywhere in any RV in freezing temp’s. Check out blueseasolar.com. I live on a boat by choice and as my bugout solution. Obviously I have to watch out for freezing temps up and down the east coast from Maine to Miami. These things work. As the temp drops close to 35 degrees the valve opens to release excess water so any expanding water does not crack the pipes. When the temp goes above 35 it closes again. It’s bronze with an internal fluid that must liquify at 35 degrees, to allow fluid flow, and harden to close the valve opening to stop the flow of fluids.
I put 3 on my boat, it’s a 53 footer with 3 separate water systems. Install them at the lowest point possible in the pipe configuration to work with gravity. Add a dual water outlet. Slip or screw on connection. No soldering or cutting pipes, etc… unless you need another option to get close to the lowest pipe location.
About a $125.00 solution with addition parts but cracked pipes and repair of same is a lot more expensive and takes a lot more work to replace.
I did a lot of research on a solution and this is the best one I have come up with. At least with an RV you can open the door and run away…lol
Good luck,
Mike
TERRY Thompson says
December 21, 2018 at 1:43 amI don’t know if you will get this Have you heard of a flower pot heater you use 2 flower pots and tea cup candles I use the bigger ones in a big chicken ,ore tuna can put three of them in and it will heat for about 6+ hours check them out on Youtube
Josie S says
January 29, 2019 at 7:26 pmTried the terracotta post heater and it doesn’t work
Marie says
December 30, 2017 at 11:43 pmOmg! I will never get that 20 minutes back! Thought I had found some useful tips. What a waste of time. Just proves once again that anyone can post a video.
Laiura says
December 11, 2017 at 8:03 pmOn the seams where you folded the rug over and commented on Capone’s fur, you could use clear gap filler to fill those gaps and help maybe more than the rug is.
Carl Bilodeau says
November 24, 2017 at 9:03 amWhen you turn off the water pump and open the faucet you are not emptying the pipes at all. It simply drops the water in the faucet itself and release the pressure. It reduces the risk since there is less pressure inside. This could be enough for you RV and not be good enough for another one, it all depends on the isolation around the pipes and their exposure.
The S under the sink is not related to the water pump at all. If one of the S freeze, leave the door under the sink open to let hot air during the night go around it.
For you windows, you have to understand that when there is nothing in front of it, there is a lot of air travelling into it and that air get colder. If you put a sheet of clear plastic at 1″ in front of your windows, the air between the plastic and the window is the only air that will get colder and this air is not much dense so it will not reduce the temperature a lot for the air inside the RV that touch the plastic sheet. So putting a big blanket is not so much important. What you want to do is reduce the quantity of air that travel on the cold window glass.
Larry Eshenroder says
October 30, 2017 at 5:30 pmThe problem is not lack of oxygen in a closed environment. It is that the carbon monoxide molecule has a high affinity to the hemoglobin molecule. That is to say carbon monoxide sticks to the hemoglobin molecule and doesn’t come off easily, and blocks room for the oxygen molecule to attach to the hemoglobin molecule. And that is how you suffocate with carbon monoxide poisoning. The Carbon monoxide molecule just does not come off the hemoglobin molecule like oxygen (going in) and carbon dioxide (going out) does. I should have said, you suffocate with carbon monoxide at a cellular level.
ginger says
January 30, 2017 at 2:04 pmjust curious as to why you just didn’t purchase a heavy plastic and cover the windows. After getting curtains and blankets it would have been more budget friendly, plus let the sun light in for added warm without the breeze. I live in a house with single pain windows, every winter I taped plastic to them leaving about a a 1″ -2″ gap between window and plastic. Amazed at the difference and no loss of light. Tacking emergency blankets (thin silver) also helps to reflect heat back into the unit.
Daine says
January 24, 2017 at 5:01 pmI use a hot water bottle from cvs, fill with boiling water and put inside sleeping bag
Kathy says
January 20, 2017 at 8:39 amI enjoyed your video you did a good job.
Carolyn Higgins says
January 16, 2017 at 8:11 amThank you for sharing my video with your viewers! I have been using the Mr. Heater Buddy for months now and have never had a problem!
All the best,
Carolyn Rose,
CarolynsRVLife.com
Alan says
January 17, 2017 at 6:13 amYou’re welcome, thanks for making a great video!
Leza says
January 1, 2017 at 3:27 pm1 tip sleep with feet toward window! In the winter I put up clear plastic, kinda thick, let’s light in, keeps air out. Attach with push pins you won’t have to take down till spring. I do this in the cold extra room over where the window ac is, of my house as well!
Shannon says
January 9, 2017 at 12:22 amNEVER put a large propane tank INSIDE your RV. NEVER run a gas fired heater without proper exhaust venting inside your RV. This is the dumbest advice I’ve ever seen, will kill anyone who follows it. She might as well tell people to get in a car, park in a garage, leave the car running, close the garage door, and die of CO poisoning. INSANE.
Art Adams says
January 9, 2017 at 8:12 amThe Mr Buddy heater has an oxygen depletion sensor in it, when the O2 level gets too low in the environment it shuts off.
Dean Nelson says
November 16, 2017 at 4:16 pmAnd you are betting your life on an optimistic claim by the manufacturer??
Sandra says
January 9, 2017 at 11:24 amI lived in an RV for 2 years, during the winter I used a Mr Buddy for heat, It has a auto shut off on it if the oxygen gets low. It kept me toasty during 19 degree weather and never once shut off or made me ill. I keep 2 big buddys handy in case we have severe weather and lose power. they are extremely safe.
Waltet says
January 14, 2017 at 6:30 pmI have one also. I trust it not much. For one thing propane makes the connections freeze and can cause a leak; I’ve heard of it starting fires. Also I don’t see how it doesn’t put out co2 or Carbon monoxide whatever, I get head aches.
Drew says
January 13, 2017 at 8:36 amI’m with Shannon. I wouldn’t put a propane tank in my RV or use a propane heater without adequate ventilation, regardless of what sensors the unit is equipped with. Sensors can malfunction. No thanks.