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There is nothing quite like traveling in an RV. You get to take your home with you wherever you go, and you can enjoy the wonderful outdoors. But there is just one downside to it all.
It can get cold!
Even as the seasons change and it begins to get warmer, the nights can still get pretty chilly, depending on where you live. Plus, why would you want to let the weather stop you from enjoying the great outdoors anyway?
With a high-quality, trustworthy heater, you won’t have to rely on the weather for when you can go camping in your RV.
That’s right, if you get a good enough heater in that RV space of yours, you could even go camping in the winter time and be perfectly warm and cozy!
But where should you even begin to look? There are a lot of heaters to choose from out there, and it can be hard to tell which ones would be good for your RV, and which ones wouldn’t.
Some are specially designed to fit inside an RV, while others just happen to work well in that kind of environment as well. But it can be hard to tell just based on looks.
So that is why we are here – to help you make a good buying decision! In this article, we have chosen what we truly believe are the 10 best heaters out there that are the most suitable for RVs.
Allow us to go over all of them in detail with you, and later, we will give you a little buying guide to help you further along! After all, this isn’t our decision, it’s yours!
So let’s begin!
Contents
- Top 10 Best RV Heaters To Buy In 2023 Reviews
- 1 Camco Olympian Wave-8 LP Gas Heater
- 2 Lasko Ceramic Portable Space Heater
- 3 Mr. Heater MH18B, Portable Propane Heater
- 4 BOVADO Portable Ceramic Space Heater by Comfort Zone
- 5 DeLonghi Safe Heat ComforTemp Portable Oil-Filled Radiator
- 6 Suburban NT-30SP Electronic Ignition Ducted Furnace
- 7 Lasko Ceramic Tower Space Heater
- 8 Suburban NT-16seq Furnace with Black Grill
- 9 Vornado QUIET Vortex Heater
- 10 PELONIS HC-0179 Ceramic Heater
- Best RV Heaters Buying Guide
- Conclusion
Top 10 Best RV Heaters To Buy In 2023 Reviews
1
Camco Olympian Wave-8 LP Gas Heater
First up on our list of the best RV heaters is the Camco Olympian Wave-8 Gas Heater. This heater has a lot of qualities that really make it stand out against all the others if you ask our opinion.
For starters, it is easily portable and can even be mounted on the wall horizontally or vertically – you can’t do that with most heaters.
And even though it is a fairly small size, it can heat up to 290 square feet of space. And, none of the energy produced by this heater is wasted or dangerous!
That’s right, this heater is nearly 100% efficient, unlike flame heaters that waste 45% of the heat that they produce. And, this heater is safe!
You won’t have to worry about this gas-powered heater giving off any harmful amounts of carbon monoxide, no matter how small the area you are in is. And, it has a safety shut-off valve to prevent accidental non-ignitions fuel discharge.
You can also adjust this heater from 4200 to 8000 BTU per hour, making it a perfect secondary heat source. But we have yet to tell you the best part of all!
The Camco Olympian Wave-8 is specially designed for RVs and campers. This is why you have the option to mount it permanently or keep it portable.
Another great quality about this heater is that it is quiet. Many heaters make a lot of noise and can actually be really annoying to run. But not this one! So you can enjoy the warmth of the heater without the sound of a heater.
- Portable and can be mounted on the wall
- Can heat up to 290 square feet
- Specially designed for RVs and campers
- Noiseless heating
- Has a safety shut-off valve
- Does not release harmful amounts of carbon monoxide
- Super energy efficient
- none
2
Lasko Ceramic Portable Space Heater
This might be the smallest heater you have ever seen. It is only about 9 inches tall and weighs just three and a half pounds. That’s nothing! The Lasko Ceramic Portable Space Heater is just what you need if you are looking for a source of heat that doesn’t take up a lot of space.
You can fit this heater just about anywhere, and it’s easy to carry too. It has a convenient handle just for carrying.
You might be thinking that, due to its small size, this heater won’t work very well. But this is not true at all! This Lasko heater has a lot of power to it, and it is power that you can control.
That’s right, you can control the settings on this heater with absolute ease. One dial adjusts the power of the heater, or how much heat comes out, and the other dial adjusts the temperature. You can also use the heater as a fan instead if you prefer.
And, all of these settings are guaranteed to be quiet! So you won’t have to worry about hearing the awful sound of a heater running.
You might also find yourself wondering if something so small could possibly provide so much heat without becoming overheated and hot to the touch.
And the answer is yes! Yes, this heater can provide this much heat and still not burn you. In fact, the entire heater’s exterior remains completely cool, even when you have the temperature set to the highest degree.
And, this heater has a protection feature that prevents it from ever overheating so you won’t have to worry.
This little heater can accomplish a lot, and it’s all thanks to its 1500 watt power.
- Super small and lightweight with a handle, making it easily portable
- Has adjustable power and temperature settings
- Has an overheating prevention safety feature
- Stays cool to the touch, even when on the highest temperature setting
- Noiseless heating
- Might not heat a room as quickly as other heaters
3
Mr. Heater MH18B, Portable Propane Heater
The Mr. Heater Portable Propane Heater heats more space than any of the heaters that we have discussed so far. This heater uses between 4,000 and 18,000-BTU to heat up to 450 square feet of space. That’s pretty impressive for a portable heater!
So if you have a big RV that needs to be heated up completely in a short amount of time, this just might be the heater that you need.
And, although the Mr. Heater uses gas, it is not in any way dangerous! It has special safety features that allow it to automatically turn off if there is any risk of danger at all. The scenarios that make this heater turn off on its own are if you accidentally tip it over, if the pilot light goes out, or if it detects low oxygen levels.
So not only does it help prevent potential fires, but it also helps keep the air safe for breathing. Not many heaters have all of these smart capabilities.
Another great feature of the Mr. Heater is that it is very energy efficient. It is even considered to be 100% efficient!
And, you can adjust the temperature settings as you see fit. It has 3 temperature settings, so if you only want a little bit of heat, you can set the heater to low. And if you want a lot of heat, just turn the knob to medium or high, depending on your preference. It’s super easy!
- Heats up to 450 square feet at a time
- Safety features allow it to automatically shut off if tipped over, if the pilot light goes off, and if it detects low oxygen levels.
- 100% energy efficient
- 3 adjustable temperature settings available
- Gets really hot to the touch
- Must have a propane tank to connect it to
- Might automatically shut off at altitudes greater than 7,000 feet
4
BOVADO Portable Ceramic Space Heater by Comfort Zone
The BOVADO Portable Space Heater by Comfort Zone is actually very similar to the Lasko that we talked about recently in this article.
It’s about the same size – really small – making it super portable, easy to carry, and perfect for fitting it into small areas. It also has a handle in the back to make your life even easier.
While the BOVADO is really small, it still does an excellent job of heating up a room. And, you can also easily adjust the temperature and the amount of heat coming out. This is done with two little dials located at the top of the heater.
You can also use the fan option if you decide you don’t need any more heat but just want to keep the air flowing.
So how exactly does this tiny little heater work? It turns out that it uses a special Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heating system that has ceramic heating discs that do all of the magic. These discs are what allow this heater to transfer a large amount of heat out of a small heater and into a small room.
Want to know more?
The company that is responsible for this incredible heater is actually a leading brand in comfort and safety. In fact, this heater, in particular, has been specially designed and rigorously tested for safety. This means that you are guaranteed a safe product.
- Super small and lightweight, making it easily portable and perfect for small areas
- Has adjustable temperature and power settings
- Made by a leading brand in safety and comfort
- Specially tested for safety
- Might not heat larger rooms as quickly
5
DeLonghi Safe Heat ComforTemp Portable Oil-Filled Radiator
This heater is a bit different than the ones we have talked about so far.
1500 watts power this oil-filled radiator and allow it to be able to heat up large rooms with no issues at all. And, with the patented steel assembly, this heater is guaranteed to hold up for years to come, even with being bumped from being moved around often.
The thermal slots on this heater are also patented, and they are there to allow heat to flow freely without letting the heater get too hot.
The only issue you might have with this heater is that it is quite larger than the others. But, it is capable of heating up larger rooms in a shorter amount of time, and it comes with wheels on it to make it easier to transport around.
This heater also has the capabilities of maintaining specific room temperatures. All you have to do is press the ComforTemp button, and you will be good to go! Now you won’t have to worry about constantly turning the heat off and on!
You can also just as easily adjust the temperature manually as well if you prefer. And, it operates in silence so you don’t have to listen to a noisy heater.
Now, on to the safety features of the DeLonghi heater. This heater has a thermal cutoff to prevent the heater from overheating, as well as an anti-freeze setting to prevent the pipes from freezing and causing damage.
- Has the ability to heat up large rooms
- Has patented steel assembly and thermal slots for durability and heat flow
- Comes with wheels attached for easy transporting
- Can maintain room temperatures with the ComforTemp feature
- Has adjustable temperature settings
- Has safety features to prevent overheating and freezing
- Noiseless heating
- Takes up more space than some heaters
- Might get hot to the touch
6
Suburban NT-30SP Electronic Ignition Ducted Furnace
You may have gotten to this point in the article and realized that a lot of these heaters are wonderful, but still aren’t exactly what you are looking for.
All the heaters so far have been perfect for carrying around, taking in and out, and doing with as you please. And that is great and all, unless you are looking for something more permanent.
Maybe you go RVing on a regular basis and you live in an area where it never quite gets hot enough to go without a heater. You don’t want a heater that is going to be in the way of where you walk or one that needs to be by an outlet that you would prefer to use for lamps, chargers, and other things.
What you might need is the Suburban NT-30SP Ducted Furnace.
This type of heater has a lot of power. It has 12VDC and runs on 30,000 BTU. That’s more than most heaters!
And in case you’re concerned about the quality of this electric ignition heater, just know that this type of heater gives a very reliable performance and has even been rated #35 in RV heaters and furnaces. That’s pretty great if you ask us!
When you buy the Suburban NT-30SP, you will get the vent assembly included in your purchase.
This furnace is just what you need if you are looking to replace your old RV furnace.
- Powered by 12VDC and 30,000 BTU
- Attaches to your RV
- Serves as the perfect replacement RV furnace
- Rated #35 in RV heaters and furnaces
- Is not portable
- Does require some assembly when bought
- Can be a bit on the expensive side
7
Lasko Ceramic Tower Space Heater
We have already talked about the Lasko Ceramic Portable Space Heater, but now we have the Lasko Ceramic Tower Space Heater!
Lasko is a great brand, and here they are with yet another excellent product of theirs!
Just like the little space heater from before, the Tower Space Heater gives you the power to change and adjust the heat setting just the way you want them. You can even adjust the heat anywhere from 60 degrees to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. But the best part?
You don’t have to go anywhere to adjust this heater’s settings! That’s right – everything about this heater can be controlled right at your fingertips no matter where you are, thanks to this heater’s handy remote control!
With this remote control, you can adjust the heat temperature settings, as well as adjust the oscillation and set a timer if you wish!
You heard that right – you can set a timer on when the heater turns on and goes off! You can set it to run anywhere from 1 to 7 hours in 1-hour intervals. How convenient is that!
Plus, you won’t have to worry about this heater even overheating, thanks to some pretty awesome safety features. And, the exterior won’t get too hot either so you won’t have to worry about accidentally burning yourself.
This Lasko heater is bigger than the other one, but its tall, thin design still allows it to fit into tight spaces. So you can heat a wider area in a shorter amount of time without the heater taking up too much space.
Lastly, this heater comes fully assembled when you buy it, so you can take it right out of the box and have the room nice and warm within minutes.
- Portable and can be mounted on the wall
- Can heat up to 290 square feet
- Specially designed for RVs and campers
- Noiseless heating
- Has a safety shut-off valve
- Does not release harmful amounts of carbon monoxide
- Super energy efficient
- none
8
Suburban NT-16seq Furnace with Black Grill
This Furnace is very similar to the Suburban Furnace that we previously discussed, but there are a few differences to note.
For starters, the most obvious difference is that this furnace comes with a black grill.
Secondly, this one is quite a bit cheaper than the other one. This is probably due to the fact that while it does run on 12 VDC like the other one, it only has 16,000 BTU. That’s nearly half of what the other furnace had.
So if you are looking to replace your current RV furnace with a new one but don’t want to spend that kind of money on one, you should take a good look at this Suburban Furnace. After all, this one serves as a great replacement.
A few other notable features are that it has electronic ignition and is guaranteed to give a very reliable performance that you can always count on to keep you and your entire RV warm.
The vent assembly is included when you buy this furnace, but a wall thermostat is not. It also has a low amp draw and is a direct discharge furnace.
- Powered by 12VDC and 16,000 BTU
- Attaches to your RV
- Serves as the perfect replacement RV furnace
- Specially designed for RVs and motorhomes
- Cheaper than Suburban NT-30SP
- Is not portable
- Does require some assembly when bought
- Can be a bit on the expensive side
- Has nearly half the BTU as the Suburban NT-30SP
9
Vornado QUIET Vortex Heater
Here is a heater brand that we have yet to talk about! The Vornado Vortex heater is, of course, a very quiet heater, capable of heating up to 300 square feet of space without making any noise at all.
And, it’s super small (almost as small as the Lasko and BOVADO portable heaters), weighing less than 5 pounds.
We think it’s pretty impressive that a heater that small can heat up an area that big! But that isn’t the thing that makes this heater stand out against all the others.
What truly makes the Vornado Vortex heater stand out is that it has a special “Vortex Action” that allows it to evenly circulate all of the hot air evenly around the room. There aren’t a lot of heaters out there that do that. Actually, this might the only one! (but we make no promises)
And, you can easily control the heat settings. Choose how much power you want this heater to use (between 750 and 1500 watts) by choosing high or low heat. There is also a simple fan option as well.
With a lot of heat coming out of such a small heater, you might expect the exterior to get really hot to the touch. But it doesn’t! This heater, no matter how high of a heat setting you have it on or how long you keep it running, stays cool to the touch so you don’t have to worry.
And, it also has special safety features to prevent this heater from overheating, and will automatically shut off if it gets tipped over.
With so many great qualities, you can’t do much better than this heater.
- Has a “Vortex Action” feature that allows it to circulate the air and evenly heat the room
- Noiseless heating
- Is small and lightweight, making it easily portable and able to fit into small areas
- Has adjustable heat settings
- Maintains a cool-to-the-touch exterior
- Can heat up to 300 square feet of space
- Will not overheat, and does turn off if tipped over
- None
10
PELONIS HC-0179 Ceramic Heater
Finally, we have reached our last item on the list. Just like many of the portable heaters that we have gone over so far, the PELONIS Ceramic Heater is very lightweight and portable.
It takes up very little space and only weighs 2.72 pounds. That’s practically nothing!
It’s easy portability and small structure makes it perfect for RVers looking for just a little extra heat when it gets chilly inside the RV.
And, this heater is super energy efficient. So you can feel good about bringing it along with you on your nature adventures because it won’t release any harmful chemicals into the air. But that’s not all that’s great about the PELONIS heater.
You can also easily adjust the heat temperature settings thanks to the knobs on the top of the heater. You can set the heat to high (1500 watts), low (1000 watts) or fan only, depending on your preference at any given moment. And, you can also change the temperature too.
If you accidentally tip over the heater, don’t worry. This heater has safety features that will prevent any fires from ever occurring. And, the exterior stays perfectly cool to the touch, no matter how high you keep the heat settings or how long you keep it running.
- Small and lightweight (only 2.72 pounds), making it portable and perfect for RVs
- Super energy efficient
- Keeps a cool-to-the-touch exterior
- Has adjustable heat and temperature settings
- Has special safety features that prevent overheating and tip-over accidents
- Might not heat large rooms as quickly as some heaters
Best RV Heaters Buying Guide
Now that you have been introduced to the 10 best heaters out there for RVs and campers, what should you do now? 10 heaters is still a lot to choose from, so how should you know which one will be best for you?
Luckily, it is our job to help you out, which is why we have put together this buying guide. Allow us to discuss with you the qualities that you should be considering and looking for in a heater for your RV.
Heating Ability And Efficiency
Obviously, the first quality you should look at is how well the heater, well, heats. For some people, they only need a heater that is going to provide a little bit of extra warmth – nothing too powerful, just a little heat at their feet or for their pup.
But for others, they need something that is going to be able to provide enough heat to keep an entire RV warm through the entire winter season.
So the first thing you should think about is how much heat do you need for your RV?
If it’s only a little bit, then purchasing a little cheap heater might do just the trick. But if you need more, you might want to invest in a larger heater that is capable of doing more.
Another thing to consider is how important energy efficiency is for you. Some heaters actually waste a lot of energy when you could be getting a heater that is 100% energy efficient.
Gas and propane heaters tend to give off harsh chemicals into the air, while electric heaters do not. Just something to consider.
Storing And Portability
Next, you need to figure out how much space you can allow for fitting a heater inside your RV. If you have a really small campervan, you might not be able to find room for some heaters and should stick with the much smaller ones. But if you have a fairly large RV, you can probably get away with getting a bigger heater, and it might actually work better for you.
Also, think about the amount of space that is going to require heating. Is the heater that you have your eye on going to be able to heat the entire room in a timely manner? If not, you just might have to make more space in there to get a better heater to fit.
Another thing to consider is whether or not you want your heater to permanently reside in your RV. When staying in an RV, you want to keep as little as possible in there with you so you can have more room to move about.
If you plan on going camping when it’s hot and you don’t need a heater running anymore, then you probably don’t want a heater that is just going to stay in the way. This is very important because some heaters are more permanently installed than others.
If you live in an area that stays cold and you don’t mind keeping a heater around, then a permanent heater might be good for you. But if not, then you probably want something that can easily be taken out or even stored in a closet.
Durability
Speaking of moving the heater around, you should think about how well it will hold up during the process. Is the heater capable of being transported from place to place when it needs to be, or will it be at risk for breaking?
Next, how long is the heater going to last? You want a heater that will be able to keep you warm for many years to come.
One thing you can check for is a warranty. The more years that are on the warranty, the longer the heater is likely to last. Plus if something does go wrong with it, then you are covered under the warranty!
Affordability
Lastly, think about how much you are willing to spend on a heater. If you want the highest quality heater that can heat a large room in a matter of minutes and is built to last, then you should expect to pay a pretty high price for a heater. But if you just want something to keep your toes warm and take the chill out of a small room, you can get a heater for fairly cheap.
It all depends on what you’re looking for. But the most important thing is that you feel that you are getting your money’s worth. If you think the quality matches the price, then you may have just found the perfect heater for your RV.
Conclusion
Having a heater in your RV can really come in handy. You never know if you’re going to have a cold chill come through in the night while you’re out camping, and it’s always best to be prepared.
Plus, having a heater can also mean more camping opportunities! If you have a good enough heater, it can help keep you warm, even through the winter time. How about that!
In this article, we have gone over the 10 best heaters on the market for RVs and campers.
We also gave you a few tips and things to think about when narrowing down your options. Just be sure that it heats as well as you need it to, that it fits where you need it, that it will hold up for as long as you need it, and is within your price range.
If the heater that you have picked out meets all of that criteria, then you most likely have the perfect heater for your RV. So, have you made your final buying decision yet?
Happy camping!