Safest Space Heater for RV of 2024: Top 6 Picks

By Bryan ListorLast update: 2024-04-20

Winter is approaching and the cold is lingering in the air. It’s the right time for RVers to look for a new heater to replace for your ragged one. But where to start?

With a thousand of choices available, it is difficult to select the safest space heater for RV.

Right below you will find juicy information on different space heater models and a few recommendations on how to buy and use them safely.

Here are the safest space heaters for RV (Apr 2024 Update):

  • Best Overall: Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy Portable Propane Radiant Heater
  • Runner Up: Lasko 5586 Digital Ceramic Tower Heater
  • Budget-Friendly: Andily Space Heater Electric Heater
  • Most Versatile: Honeywell HCE840B HeatGenius Ceramic Heater
  • Classy Looking: Lasko 6405 Designer Oscillating Heater
  • Quietest: Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater

Best Overall: Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy Portable Propane Radiant Heater

Top Pick
Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy Portable Propane Radiant Heater
Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy Portable Propane Radiant Heater
Pros
  • Large heating surface

  • Energy-efficient

  • Easy-to-carry handle

  • The size is perfect for camping need

Cons
  • The high-temperature setting gets hot over time.

Mr. Heater F232000 is such a wonderful heating piece to carry on your RV or camping tent. The size is just perfect, heating a large area. It is small and lightweight, you so can easily put it on your backpack.

This heater keeps me toasty during my Christmas camping trip last year. It has saved me from the below-zero temperature at that time. The beast works effectively, consuming 20 lbs tank in 100 hours of continuous working.

I have nothing to complain except the temperature setting. It could get uncomfortably hot during the night.

Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy Portable Propane Radiant Heater Specifications

Heat Settings

2 Heat

Heating Area (Sq. Ft.)

225

Timer

N/A

Dimensions

7.7 x 13.4 x 15 inches

Weight

7.71lb

Highlight Features

Nearly 100-percent efficient
Auto shut-off if tipped over, if the pilot light goes out, or if detects low oxygen levels
Fold-down handle

Looking for the best-overall heater to keep you warm during the night? Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy Portable Propane Radiant Heater is the one you are looking for.

Runner Up: Lasko 5586 Digital Ceramic Tower Heater

Lasko 5586 Digital Ceramic Tower Heater
Lasko 5586 Digital Ceramic Tower Heater
Pros
  • Widespread oscillation

  • Easy-carry handle

  • Sleek design

  • Heats up quickly

  • Durable construction

Cons
  • Lots of cheap plastic elements.

Lasko 5586 is the runner-up in the list. This ceramic heater comes with a bunch of safety features, a programmable and accurate thermostat, and 8-hour timer. It is built sturdily, but there are many cheap plastic elements too.

This heater needs less than a minute to heat your small RV up. With a widespread oscillation, it will remove the chill out instantly. It might look bulky, but it is exceptionally lightweight.

I love the sleek design of Lasko. This heater can turn your RV into a cozy living room.

It features a handle for easy transport. It works quietly and durably.

Lasko 5586 Digital Ceramic Tower Heater Specifications

Heat Settings

2 quiet settings

Heating Area (Sp. Ft.)

150

Timer

8-hour timer


Dimensions

72 x 7.7 x 29.4 inches

Weight

9.55lb

Highlight Features

Ceramic heating element with built-in safety features
Digital controls with programmable thermostat and 8-hour timer
Electronic remote control with digital display

Lasko 5586 Digital Ceramic Tower Heater offers a cozy, homely solution for freezing days inside your RV with nice design and great performance.

Budget-Friendly: Andily Space Heater Electric Heater

Andily Space Heater Electric Heater
Andily Space Heater Electric Heater
Pros
  • Small enough to fit in a backpack

  • Affordable

  • User-Friendly

  • Powerful heat

  • Lightweight

Cons
  • Quite noisy

Space Heater is an ideal choice for those who want to save a few bucks for winter. It is indeed small and lightweight. So small that you can fit in your backpack and carry it with you when camping in the wild.

Don’t underestimate this tiny beast. It is very user-friendly with all the safety features and controls, allowing you to adjust thermostat system and heating settings easily. It is safe to use on a flat surface with the tip-over protection.

It emits powerful heat, enough for a small room. Do not use this tiny heater in bathroom or laundry area. It is also quite noisy for some users.

Andily Space Heater Electric Heater Specifications

Heat Settings

High Heat (1500-watt), Low Heat(750-watt ), Fan Only

Heating Area

N/A

Timer

N/A

Dimensions

6.2" X 4.74" x 8.3"

Weight

2.42lbs

Highlight Features

Adjustable thermostat system, safety device

Are you on a tight budget this winter? No worries. You don’t have to spend wild to stay snug on your camping trip. andily Space Heater Electric Heater is the ultimate answer for you.

Most Versatile: Honeywell HCE840B HeatGenius Ceramic Heater

Honeywell HCE840B HeatGenius Ceramic Heater
Honeywell HCE840B HeatGenius Ceramic Heater
Pros
  • Energy-saving

  • Heats up quickly

  • Super quiet

  • Great safety features

  • Large heating area

Cons
  • No oscillating fan

What’s great about the Honeywell HCE840B? It accommodates 6 heat settings, allowing you to control your comfort. The heating area is massive, suitable for RVs and small rooms. It is lightweight, so relocation is a piece of cake.

The heater features a smart system to help you navigate through the cold. 6 customized heat settings overheat protection, 2-hour timer, and much more. The Honeywell operates quietly, increasing your sleep quality at night.

What’s more, it saves energy. No heart-attack looking at the electricity bill.

This model has no oscillating fan, which could be a huge drawback for some users.

Honeywell HCE840B HeatGenius Ceramic Heater Specifications

Heat Settings

Variable

Heating Area

400

Timer

Auto-off 30 min – 2 hour heat timer

Dimensions

10.2 x 5.9 x 17 inches

Weight

5 lb

Highlight Features

Multi-directional heater with digital controls & programmable thermostat, 6 customized heat settings, a 2-hour auto-off heat phase timer, a quiet mode setting, tip-over and overheat protection, a cool touch housing

With variable heat settings and plenty of safety features, the Honeywell HCE840B HeatGenius Ceramic Heater is certainly the most versatile option for winter RVs.

Classy Looking: Lasko 6405 Designer Oscillating Heater

Lasko 6405 Designer Oscillating Heater
Lasko 6405 Designer Oscillating Heater
Pros
  • Beautiful design

  • Safe to use

  • A cost-effective way to heat your RV

  • Quickly heat the area (in about 10 min)

Cons
  • It emits a noise like a fan running on a low setting.

More than just a heater, Lasko 6405 brings decorative warmth to your RV. This heater comes with an electronic thermostat with 2 heat settings and a 7-hour timer.

Safety use is the top concern of Lasko. That’s why, this model features safe ceramic heat-proof, cool-touch exterior and overheat alert.

When it comes to design, no heater can beat Lasko 6405. With the decorative scrollwork base and 4-leg steel support, it turns your RV into a cozy lounge. This heater is super energy-efficient. The oscillator function works perfectly.

A tiny drawback is noise. On the low setting, it still has a noise like running fan.

Lasko 6405 Designer Oscillating Heater Specifications

Heat Settings

2 Heat

Heating Area (Sq.Ft.)

300

Timer

7- hour automatic shut-off

Dimensions

7.2" x 7.2" x 16.18"

Weight

7.7lb

Highlight Features

Widespread oscillation, adjustable thermostat with automatic shut-off timer
1500 watts of comforting warmth with high, low and thermostat controlled settings
ETL listed

Apart from the charming design, Lasko 6405 Designer Oscillating Heater is an excellent heater for small areas. A must-have for winter.

Quietest: Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater

Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater
Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater
Pros
  • Extremely quiet

  • Solid construction

  • Affordable price

  • Sleek wood finish

Cons
  • The heating area isn’t quite accurate.

If the Lasko Oscillating heater above can’t satisfy your desire for a quiet environment, then Dr. Infrared Heater is what you need. A completely noise-less heater! On the high-temperature setting, it still functions quietly.

The beast is constructed solidly and nicely. It looks like a wooden cabinet for decoration. Featuring wheels, relocation will be easy. What’s else? The control board is massive and easy to use. This heater comes with auto energy-saving mode and a dual heating system, which brings you utmost comfort with an affordable price.

Dr. Infrared Heater is said to cover an area of 1000 square feet, but I have read quite a few complaints about this inaccurate specification. It is more suitable for a smaller area.

Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater Specifications

Heat Settings

2 Heat

Heating Area (Sq. Ft.)

1000

Timer

Automatic shut-off

Dimensions

24 lb

Weight

15x12x16 inches

Highlight Features

Auto Energy Saving Model With High and Low Feature
Tip-over protection and overheat protection
Dual Heating Systems, High-Pressure Low Noise Blower

Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater is a quiet option to heat your sleeping room your RV during winter. The sleek design comes hand in hand with great performance.

How To Choose A Safe Space Heater For RV?

Safety features

  • A heating system is prone to hazardous possibilities. Especially for RVs, the safety features need to be your top concern. Look for items that have built-in features such as tip-over protection, overheat alert, fuel valve closes, or C02 sensors.

Cost

  • Heaters with lots of features could be expensive. The amount of heating area is in proportion to the sum of money you have to pay. For RVs, you don’t need to spend a fortune on a heater. Portable space heaters range from $22 to $500 depending on the brand and features.

  • Choose it wisely and carefully.

Power or fuel consumption

  • You should consider fuel consumption, especially when you use gas or propane heaters. Make sure you ask the seller or calculate the running hours of the heater so that it won’t stop dead in the middle of the night.

Durability

  • Heaters will be in use continuously for the whole winter, which making durability extremely important. You don’t want to buy a machine that drops dead after a few times in use. What you should look for? The solid construction and warranty.

Which Brands Make The Safest Space Heater For RV?

Mr. Heater

  • Mr. Heater offers a wide range of heaters, from portable camping to radiant home use. Their quality and built are perfect.

Lasko

  • Lasko’s heaters attract buyers through their design and quiet performance.

Honeywell

  • Honeywell delivers the toughest and most versatile heaters for your RVs.

Dr. Infrared Heater

  • Want to buy infrared space heaters? Check Dr. Infrared Heater out! Sleek wooden design, noiseless and durable performance.

Andily

  • This new manufacturer – Andily offers the most competitive price for space heaters. Their products are durable and portable.

FAQs

Can you use a space heater in an RV?

Most RVs features a furnace, which can do a pretty good job heating the place. However, a furnace consumes lots of propane and electricity. That’s why, when it comes to heating in winter, most RVers turn to heaters.

Space heaters are a sound option for small living areas especially RV.

Can you use a space heater with a generator?

A space heater and generator sound like a handy combination. When the power goes off, it seems reasonable to run your heater with a generator. However, this combination poses many risks.

You need to read the manual guide and check the local’s safety code for more information before combining the two. Make sure that the using area is well ventilated, otherwise, carbon monoxide fume could accumulate.

Do space heaters help save money?

In term of finance, space heaters are a much more economical choice compared to RV’s furnace. Using an electric space heater with good thermostat in a moderate temperature mode could help you save a lot of money.

As for propane space heater, a 20 lbs propane tank helps the heater run for 100 hours.

How many amps does an RV heater use?

It depends on different space heaters. The amps range of RV heater is from 8 to 13 amps.

Can you sleep with a space heater on?

You can sleep with a space heater on, but there are a few safety rules you need to follow:

  • Keep your heater away from any flammable things in the room

  • Don’t leave the heater on when you are not in the room

  • Install or check the smoke alarm before use.

  • Don’t use the heater as a dryer

  • Stick with a grounded outlet.

Is ceramic or infrared heater better?

Both ceramic and infrared heaters have pros and cons.

Ceramic heaters use convection method to circulate air in the heating system. It is therefore very effective in heating a close area. Most ceramic heaters are portable and affordable too.

Infrared heaters, on the other hand, adopt direct heating in which air isn’t consumed by the machines. This direct heating system is 40 % more efficient than conventional heating one. Infrared heaters are most quiet, so it helps to prevent noise pollution.

For RVers, ceramic heaters seem to be a better deal since they are cheaper, more portable, and most importantly they circulate air around so the room is warm even when the heater is off.

However, infrared heaters still offer efficiency and cheaper electricity bill. So you choose.

Conclusion

The quest for the safest space heater for RV is daunting since you have to consider many contributing factors to make a sound decision.

With 6 excellent models and the given information above, I hope that your selecting process will be less daunting and, in fact, turn to be an enjoyable journey.


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