Quote:
Originally Posted by LHaven
Does having electric tank heaters reduce your requirement to warm the underbelly with lots of propane?
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IMO, the only advantage of electric tank heaters is to prevent the tank from freezing. While it's true that there may be a limited amount of "radiated heat" from the tank heater, the tank contents and the tank itself that "might help warm the immediate area around the tank", the electric tank heaters will do "precious little" to warm any plumbing runs at the opposite end of the trailer belly. So, turning on the three tank heaters "might" keep your black tank and gray tanks flowing, any exposed valves, drain runs, fresh water hot and cold runs will all remain "subject to freezing" if they are located in the belly of the trailer.
Just the heat loss from all the holes in the frame rails (which are not insulated) and the minimal "feel good insulation factor" of coroplast will, in freezing conditions, pretty much assure that those three "electric heat pads" won't do much of anything to keep the "entire underbelly from freezing"..
Heck, even with that "infamous 2" heat duct that's dedicated to the underbelly" can barely keep up with freeze prevention above around 15F. Below that temperature, it's anybody's guess if you'll have water at the faucets come daybreak...
So, keep the furnace running to deliver some "waste heat to the belly" or plan on no water when the thermometer plunges.