Electric Blankets

Swimming in a cold pool got you down? Now is the time to invest in a new efficient electric heat pump.

These are questions which should be asked when thinking about purchasing a new electric heat pump for your swimming pool or spa.

- How many BTUs will you need?

- Do you have the electric service required for a heat pump?

- Is there sufficient space available to install a heat pump?

- What type of features do I need?

- Plastic or metal cabinet?

- Titanium heat exchanger?

- Digital controls or analog?

Let’s try to answer the questions above thus allowing for an educated purchase of your new pool heater.

- How many BTUs will you need? – The size of your pool (amount of gallons and surface area square footage will dictate the BTUs required to heat the pool or spa in the most efficient manner. Also take into consideration the amount of strong wind which will effect your pool and whether or not you will be using a pool blanket to help hold the heat into the pool. Check the manufactures recommended sizing chart to help determine the correct size and model for your application.

- Do you have the electric service required for a heat pump? – Most heat pumps required 220Volts of electric and many require separate 50 to 60 amp breakers. Check with your electrician to make sure you have sufficient electrical power to operate your new heat pump.

- Is there sufficient space available to install a heat pump? – Most heat pumps will require a “footprint” area of about 40″ x 40″ and about 40″ in height. Heat pumps need good air circulating space area around the units to allow for peak operation.

- What type of features do I need? Today’s heat pumps are manufactured with many different features, some are, Dual thermostats (great for a pool and spa combination), Scroll compressors, Extra quiet fan motors, Extended warranties, Built in water bypass valves, Ability to operate motorized valve actuators, Easy to see readouts with diagnostic trouble shooting messages, and many more. Check the manufactures literature to make sure you are choosing the heat pump with the features best suited for your application.

- Plastic or metal cabinet? Is you pool located in a location which would be better suited for a plastic cabinet?

- Titanium heat exchanger? The heat exchanger is the piece of equipment located inside the heater which the pool water flows through. Titanium is a forgiving material in that it allows for a greater tolerance of water chemistry problems. Other types of heat exchanger material is much more susceptible to problems with poor water chemistry. Please note: Proper water chemistry is a must when using any type of pool heater.

- Digital controls or analog? The controls on the heater can be digital electronic or analog. Once again it is best to consult the manufactures literature to gather which would be best for your application.

A swimming pool or spa heat pump is a large investment and should be researched carefully. Purchase the correct unit and you can expect many years of warm enjoyable water to swim and relax in.

Conversion van camping doesn’t give you the luxury of life in an RV, nor the discomfort of sleeping in a tent. It can be tough to safely heat a van at night, but it’s cheap compared to an RV, and you can go places they cannot. We spent more than 25 nights sleeping in our conversion van last year.

Life In A Conversion Van

Make your van into something that’s useable for you, especially if it’s going to be your residence for days or weeks at a time. For my wife and I, this meant having space to move around. We took out the two middle seats which, I convinced Ana, would be good armchairs for the living room. Then we had enough space for dressing or cooking. The bench-seat in back folds out into a comfortable bed, so we were all set for camping.

When traveling, you need a system of organization to keep your space inside the van livable. After our first long trip, we noticed the many things we never used. We got more efficient after that. We’re also able to keep the space open, despite carrying many things, by using plastic storage tubs you can buy almost anywhere. They stack well, and if you need more room at night, you can put them on the roof. They’re rainproof with the lids snapped on.

Heating A Conversion Van

Camping in a van can be cold at times, as it was for us in the deserts of Arizona last winter. We started the van and cranked up the heater once in a while, but only for brief periods. The danger of carbon monoxide poisoning is just too great to leave the car running while you are sleeping.

We also cooked to heat up the van. Our propane camp stove burned very clean. Any time it was cold, it was time to cook dinner, breakfast, or tea. This heated up the van nicely. Again, because of carbon monoxide, I wouldn’t recommend ever sleeping with a propane burner going. Still, sometimes a quick warm-up is all you need before you crawl under the blankets for the night.

The secret to heating a conversion van when camping is to give up. Enjoy meal time warm-ups, but unless you have electric power, I don’t know of a safe way to heat a van all night. Instead, you can heat yourselves. Wear warm clothing. Bring more blankets than you think you’ll need. Prepare a thermos bottle full of hot coffee each night, so it will be waitng for you in the morning. You get to warm the van when you make it, and warm up yourselves drinking it for breakfast.

Advantages Of Conversion Van Camping

Traveling and camping in a conversion van costs less than in an RV. The initial cost is a lot less if you buy used, as we did, and the cost of driving it is substantialy less. We averaged 18 miles per gallon on our last cross-country trip. Most recreational vehicles are lucky to get half of that, and they’re very expensive to maintain.

Compared with tent camping, a van is much more comfortable. Even if you backpack, you are probably going to drive some kind of car to wherever you go. With a van, you can come inside if it starts to rain. If you’re backpacking a long way from home, you can save on motels on the drive to and from the trailhead.

Camping can be more comfortable in an RV, but not in all ways. It’s nice, for example, to park anywhere. We’ve taken naps in parking lots, and nobody was the wiser, thanks to tinted windows, curtains, and the inconspicuousness of a van. At a free campground in Florida we got the best spot, on a bank overlooking Lake Talquin, because our van was small enough to fit there, unlike most of the RVs.

It’s great to be able to drive anywhere. In the conversion van, camping wherever we are when it gets dark is no problem. Finally, some larger RVs drag a car around because the big rig just isn’t practical for daily driving. Our coversion van is a second home AND our primary vehicle for shopping or going to work. That’s flexibilty.