A Space Heater is a small heater optimised for heating small spaces like RVs or mini vans quickly and portability. When considering the best Space Heater, you need to consider things such as its heat output – is it producing more heat than is necessary (therefore using up too many resources), is it not producing enough (therefore not producing the required effect)?
What fuel source it uses or how much electricity it draws is important as well. A typical RV furnace will use from 4 to 14 amps based on its heat production; most RVs will draw from 8 to 9 amps of power. It is also worth considering if it comes with features such as a timer so that you do not draw electricity from a battery to the point that it drains the battery as this will cause damage to the battery. Continuously drawing heat is also a fire hazard because it may put a strain on the wires, your socket, or the heater and cause a fire.
When getting a space heater consider if the place you are heading for can provide you with the required electricity and at what cost. Using a high heat output space heater might be okay if you are next to a campsite or house where it is easy to connect the heater with a safe, reliable power source.
What is the Best Space Heater for RV?
Below you’ll find the list of the top 6 Best Space Heater for RV. We compiled this list from space heaters for RV we have used, asked others about, and researched further to give you the best possible roundup. With many years of experience with RV space heaters you can be assured that this article will give you what you’re looking for.
We also wrote a buying guide and answered some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) at the end of this article.
1. Lasko Ceramic Space Heater 755320
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| Price: 💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Type: Convection Insulation: Ceramic Heating Capacity: 1500 watts Certifications: ETL Certified |
The Lasko 755320 Ceramic Space Heater is one of the first models to have digital controls, where the subsquent units feature more electronic buttons. This unit has a small carbon footprint with an adjustable thermostat to regulate the ambient temperature.
It also features an 8-hour timer with a 1-hour adjustment feature to automatically shut off the heater when it is not needed.
This unit has a low hysteresis thermostat that will intelligently switch off the space heater when it goes 2 degrees above the set temperature and switches back on when it falls 1 degree below.
Pros
- Digital remote controlled for convenience,
- Equal distribution of heat with the 72-degree oscillating function,
- Adjustable thermostat for comfortable use,
- Sleek and durable design
Cons
- As it is tall and standing, it might be prone to tipping over,
- When new, it could have a chemical odor
2. Heat Storm Wall Gray HS-1000-WX Deluxe Indoor Infrared
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| Price: 💲💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Size: 16.5 x 13 x 3.6 inches (41.9 x 33 x 9.2 cm) Type: Radiant Heating Capacity: 1000 watts Certifications: ETL Certified |
The Heat Storm HS-1000-WX Infrared Heater features a modern design with clean lines and flexible control options for easy operation. It is a wall mount heater with a slim 4-inch profile that blends in with your home decor without being obtrusive. The unit features a cool-touch grill making it safe for use in homes with young kids and pets and is ETL certified for quality and safety. This unit is reasonably priced, and we like the variety of valuable features that come with it.
The HS-1000-WX has an easy-to-use digital control panel for adjusting the thermostat settings. It has a low setting of 40°F that enables you to set the thermostat to prevent the pipes from freezing and a high setting of 99°F. Additionally, it features a Power Outage Settings Recall that makes this unit reliable when the power goes out. It automatically switches to the temperature settings before the blackout, unlike other heaters that automatically default to the highest setting.
We also like that it comes with a lifetime air filter that is easy to maintain by washing it as needed. The heater also features overheat protection and a cool-touch exterior housing to prevent burn accidents associated with space heaters.
Pros
- Lightweight construction with attractive design for modern homes,
- It has an easy to mount structure and comes with a template for guidance,
- Adjustable thermostat offers a broad thermal range to choose from for comfort,
- Includes a dust filter that cleans the air dispersed by the heater,
- Efficient radiant heating style delivers warmth effect for longer,
- Enables remote controlling the functions with a smartphone via WiFi
Cons
- It takes a long while to achieve the desired temperature,
- It may have a low heat output for comfort
3. Mueller Portable Space Ceramic Heater
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Size: 8.8 x 6.7 x 4.3 inches (22.4 x 17 x 10.9 cm) Type: Convection Insulation: Ceramic Heating Capacity: 1500 watts Certifications: ETL Certified |
This Mueller MH700 Portable Heater is a convection-style unit that uses PTC ceramic elements to warm your space quickly when switched on. It has two heat settings at 75 watts and 1500 watts, plus a fan-only mode that you can use to cool your room in the hot months. Additionally, it features a thermostat function with 11 adjustable temperature settings with a temperature range of 0-185°F for your comfort. The MH700 has a lightweight design with a built-in carry handle for portability and has a small footprint for easy storage.
While this unit does not come with a timer, the thermostat helps to maintain the desired temperature range by regulating the high and low settings while in operation. Plus, several users have noted how much warmth that this heater puts out while remaining energy efficient. However, it is also loud when operating, making it difficult to use where silence is needed.
Pros
- Heats small spaces quickly when switched on,
- The thermostat regulates temperature while conserving energy,
- Lightweight design with a small footprint for easy storage,
- Excellent build quality for its price
Cons
- The fan-only setting is not effective in blowing out cool air,
- It has a loud operation for nighttime use
4. GiveBest Portable Space Heater with Thermostat
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Size: 8.3 x 6.3NaN inches (21.1 x 16NaN cm) Type: Convection Insulation: Ceramic Heating Capacity: 1500 watts |
Rated one of the best indoor electric heaters in Amazon, this Give Best Portable Heater features a 2-in-1 design with two heat settings for chilly weather and a cool fan setting to circulate air in the hot seasons. It also has a thermostat control that intelligently activate the appliance to cycle on and off to maintain the thermostat setting. This portable heater is remarkably quiet at 45db, making it a silent worker while you sleep.
Suitable for small spaces of up to 200 square feet, this portable model is by far one of the most versatile for its size and price.
Pros
- Carry-on and light-weight,
- Solid quality at a cheaper cost,
- Adjustable settings make it an energy saver,
- Noiseless product that can be used all night long for a good night’s sleep,
- The 6-foot cord can be extensively operated anywhere
Cons
- Chemical smell upon opening, hopefully, this won’t smell during operation,
- Might be easily damaged as it is made out of ceramic
5. BLACK+DECKER BHVHC15 Ceramic Indoor Electric Space Heater
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| Price: 💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Size: 21.7 x 6.8 x 6.3 inches (55.1 x 17.3 x 16 cm) Type: Convection Insulation: Ceramic Heating Capacity: 1500 watts Certifications: ETL Certified |
The Black & Decker BHVHC15 is a versatile space heater featuring a conical tower design with flexible vertical or horizontal placement when using it. It has a compact design at just under 22 inches and weighs a little over six pounds, making it portable and versatile. It features electronic digital controls with an LED display for easy operation, plus it comes with a multi-functional remote control for convenience.
This ceramic space heater has three heat settings at 1500 watts, 900 watts, and a fan. It also features an adjustable thermostat with a broad thermal range of 40°F to 95°F, enabling you to set your desired temperature at any heat setting. The thermostat regulates by cycling the heater on and off, and users like how quiet the unit runs at any heat setting.
The heater also comes with a timer that allows you to program when you need the heater turned on or shut off automatically. The BHVHC15 features an internal oscillation function that consists of panels rotating at 45-degrees inside the heater to distribute the air broadly across the room in a vertical or horizontal position. It is unlike what you get with other tower heaters, where the entire unit spins at a much wider 80-degree angle due to its flexible placement design.
Pros
- Compact tower design with vertical or horizontal positioning,
- Three heat settings for flexible applications all year round,
- Adjustable thermostat provides a broad thermal range for flexibility,
- The internal oscillating feature helps to improve heat distribution,
- Fan offers quiet operation in any setting for convenience
Cons
- The oscillating feature has a narrow heat distribution angle,
- The unit may be a 2006 model
6. Voweek Space Heater Indoor Use, 1500W PTC Ceramic Heater
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| Price: 💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Size: 24.4 x 8.6 x 8.2 inches (62 x 21.8 x 20.8 cm) Type: Convection Insulation: Ceramic Heating Capacity: 1500 watts Certifications: ETL Certified |
The Voweek Space Heater features a modern tower design with digital controls and a broader array of functions than you would get from smaller models. It is a convection-style unit that features a PTC ceramic heating element to warm up your space to 70°F in about 3 seconds. Ideally, 1500 watts is equivalent to 5000 BTU, which can warm up a 200 square foot space. The Voweek heater also features convenient features like the multi-function remote controller with a maximum range of 30 feet and a 6.5-foot power cord that allows more movement.
This indoor space heater also comes with a 12-hour timer that you can program in 1-hour intervals. It also comes with overheating and tip-over protection for safety while the heating parts are encased in a flame retardant material that stays cool to the touch during operation. The heater also features a programmable thermostat that allows you to set the temperature you desire. Plus, it comes with three heating modes that include an ECO setting to conserve energy while keeping the room temperature cozy.
Pros
- Elongated heating element and 90° oscillation enables widespread heating,
- Multi-functional remote controller for convenient operation,
- Slim and attractive design for easy portability and storage,
- Fully assembled and ready to use out of the box
Cons
- Some people find it loud while in operation,
- Cannot extend the range of use with a power strip,
- Exterior casing may be hot for children to touch
Verdict
Based on all of our experience with RV space heaters, we found that Lasko Ceramic Space Heater 755320 is the best space heater for RV available today.
Our Premium Option is Heat Storm Wall Gray HS-1000-WX Deluxe Indoor Infrared with all the best features and high-quality materials, but that’s only if you have more money to spend.
However, if you are on a slightly tighter budget, you can also consider the Mueller Portable Space Ceramic Heater as an affordable alternative.
Our other reviews you may find useful in your research:
What You Should Know Before Buying space heaters for RV
Heater size & efficiency
The more efficient a heater is, the lower the cost to power it will be. Larger heaters are not always better; they consume more wattage and require larger power sources. This is especially bad when you do not have access to high voltage power supplies such as mains from a house or campsite.
Smaller heaters sometimes can be more effective than their larger counterparts. If you live in an area where your home gets very cold during the winter months, you’ll need something that provides quick bursts of hot air – small space heaters are good for this purpose. It may even be worthwhile purchasing two of them rather than one large unit so that you don’t have to wait long periods without heating if one breaks down or runs out and so that you can place them strategically, in this way you’re always near a heat source.
Some heaters are more efficient than others as they re-circulate cabin air as opposed to using cold air from outside. This means that the warm air stays warm instead of everywhere being cold.
Sometimes you only want the heating to be on for as long as it takes you to fall asleep. In this way, a larger heater might be a better option as you can heat more air before you must refuel the heater as larger heaters often have larger fuel compartments.
Various RV Heaters
There are 3 types of RV heaters – convection heater, radiant-style or even steam RV heaters that generates steam from boiling water to create hot air. In the recent years, you would find a lot of heaters also connected to solar panels to make it more fuel efficient.
Maintenance & warranty
Taking good care of your heater will also help you avoid worn-out parts. You’ll want to make sure it’s clean and free of dust or debris that could catch fire if the heater is ever accidentally turned on. It’s also important to remember not to block any vents because doing so can cause your appliance to overheat, which in turn could lead to a fire.
Questions and Answers About space heaters for RV
What size heater do I need for my RV?
When heating uup your RV, you need to consider if you are attempting to heat the entire space of your RV or if you are attempting a more targeted heating by trying to warm up your body or your sleeping or working area.
If you are trying to heat up the entire space, you need to decide how much heat your heater has the capacity to produce, which also determines the size of the heater you buy.
Heat production is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Unit). The higher the BTUs something produces the greater its heating power. A room’s BTU requirement is dependant on the cubic volume of space. To calculate the BTUs per square foot you take the square footage and multiply it by 20 BTUs for a warm climate and 50 BTUs for a cold climate.
Class A motorhomes are the biggest and can have lengths from 21 feet to 45 feet, 33 feet on average, widths of 9.5 feet on average. This means they could be anything from 199.5 square feet to 427.5 square feet and on average 313.5 square feet. This would mean a BTU requirement of 3,990 to 8,550 (average 6, 310) BTU in a warm climate and 9,975 to 21,375 (average 15,675) BTU in a cold climate.
Class C motorhomes are between 20 – 33 feet, on average 28 feet, in length and are 9 feet in width. This means a volume of 180 to 297 (average 252) square feet. This would mean a BTU requirement of 3,600 to 5,940 (average 5, 040) BTU in a warm climate and 9,000 to 14,850 (average 12,600) BTU in a cold climate.
Can I run my RV heater all night?
This is a common question. It depends on the particular model and it’s ok in many cases but running your RV heater all night will risk your battery going completely flat, which will make it hard for you to start the vehicle. If you need to run the heater for more than an hour or two at night, plug the cable into an outlet with a timer on it so that it will turn off before your car needs to restart in the morning.
The best alternative is just to sleep with clothes on and use hot water bottles if it’s really cold.
Is it cheaper to run a space heater or electric heat?
‘Space heater’ refers to the reach of the heater – covering from a small to medium-sized area. As opposed to the larger, more comprehensive, central heating which is sometimes referred to as ‘electric heating’. Having an electric heat system might also lead to better management of electricity, leading to you saving money over time. An electric heat system does, however, require that you put in an electric system which is a significant upfront cost. A space heater is less likely to need lots of power and more likely to be able to work with your current electricity supply. As it is likely that you won’t need to install a new electrical system to power a space heater there is less upfront cost in installing an electric space heater. A space heater is generally smaller than an electric (central) heater in size and therefore often cheaper. Space heaters do not have to heat as large of an area, so the running cost is likely to be less for a space heater.
How do you heat an RV in the winter?
Using solely electricity to power your heater is often difficult if not impossible in the winter without a direct mains electricity supply or campsite electricity. The demand in the winter is too much and the generation is too little. Things like solar panels may have been a solution in the summer but cannot generate enough electricity in the winter. Solar panels work in the cold, in fact, they are even slightly more efficient in the cold. Light reflected from the snow can help the solar panels reach high levels of efficiency. However, the fact that the days are shorter in winter means that solar panels will still generate less electricity in the winter than in the summer.
For these reasons heating solutions that require minimal electricity are the best solutions for the winter. Propane is best stored in well-ventilated, cool places. In this way, it is okay to store propane in a locker where it might become very cold because of winter temperatures. The condensation point of Propane is -42 degrees Celsius. It is improbable that you will be venturing anywhere that will reach that threshold and probably not in an RV. Propane is a popular method of heating for RV users and there are lots of choices so that you can select a heater that offers the functionality, safety, and heating potential that you need.
Do you need electricity to run RV heater?
Electricity is a popular source of power for RV heaters since electricity it is considered a greener, environmentally friendly source of energy (as well as relatively safe and familiar). There are different electric space heaters that rely solely on electricity to power them, these include ceramic, fan, infrared, oil-filled, and panel space heaters.
Even gas furnaces that are fuelled by gas need some degree of electricity for it to run. Often heaters use fans to distribute hot air around the room and will use fans to push exhaust gases through a flue. Additionally, gas furnaces often use circuits boards and sensors. Without the necessary components to guarantee safety such as Carbon Monoxide detectors, oxygen detectors, or Liquid Propane (LP) gas detectors most gas furnaces simply won’t run.
You can find some gas heaters that do not require electricity to run. When buying a gas heater for your RV it is important to double-check whether the heater uses a small amount of electricity or not. If it doesn’t it is important to buy your own battery-powered safety detectors.
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