Heating/using a caravan in the winter

It seems to cost about the same to leave heating running on a low setting as try to heat it all up from very cold. That is without considering the cost should any of the water systems freeze.

Cupboard and lockers can get cold as well, so if leaving for a few hours leave the internal doors open where you can to stop getting a blast of cold air later on. We have fitted an electric towel rail in the washroom since it is the furthest point in the blown air and can take too long to heat up.

The hot water system in my caravan is both gas and electric, but only the gas has an adjustable temperature setting so we usually switch to gas when leaving for a while with the gas thermostat set to a number based on experience of what constitutes handwash warm water.

Unless night temperatures are forecast to be a few degrees below freezing we just turn off the heating at bedtime and find two bodies under a good duvet produces all the heat needed. Whoever goes to toilet first gets to switch the heater back on.

And here's the view from the Site Owner perspective. 

As the AGM of the CAMC confirmed, electricity is now the single largest utility cost to the club.

From the CL network's viewpoint this is a frequently discussed issue.  Modern caravans now use electricity (rather than visitor-supplied on-board gas) for heating during colder spells. The assumption by members that their pitch fee includes as much EHU as they like, can lead to spiraling costs for unwary CL owners.

An increasing number of CL owners are therefore either

a) increasing their pitch fees for winter months by as much as £5/night or

b) installing meters on each pitch so that they can ask for a reimbursement for electricity used. This has to be at cost (as per OFGEM regulations) as you are not allowed to resell Electricity at a profit.

As the popularity of electric cars increases (and the usage of awning heaters, washing machines and electric grills to name a few), CL owners are advised to keep a close eye on EHU usage and respond accordingly. 

So..how much power is being used for heating in the winter?

Here is a report from a fellow CL owner (in Wales) who has been monitoring usage recently: 

The average consumption in the past few weeks was £8 per night per caravan.

 Back in September one of my regulars with a new Sprite ,largest single wheeler, i monitored its consumption,the owner was aware and when they left said they had cooked by gas and not used the central heating,no washing machine. they were shocked to find that in 10 days they had used £5 per night of electric.

Consequently, next season this site (not Cholsey Grange)  will increase the pitch fee by £3 and £5 for one-night stays.( motor homes spend one night ,fill up with water before they leave,empty full waste and charge their eco bikes etc). 

Good post and spells it out to those who complain about costs ,and how much per annum does it cost to have the EHUs and meters checked and calibrated on top of the cost of the electriicity used

cooked by gas and not used the central heating,no washing machine. they were shocked to find that in 10 days they had used £5 per night of electric.

That seems a lot, so what COULD have been consuming power?

Caravan battery charger certainly, topping up use of 12v on lights, radio, toilet rinse pump, main water pump; which are all fairly minimal.  Using main power directly would be heating hot water, fridge/freezer, kettle, toaster, heated rollers, microwave?, coffee machine?, electric blanket?, charging laptop and cycle batteries?, and it does start to add up.

What can you think of that I have missed . . . ?

 ... What can you think of that I have missed . . . ?

charging electric/hybrid tow car 🙄

It would have to be a hybrid as a battery car is unlikely to be able to pull a caravan of that size as far as the next village . . .

Maybe an awning heater?

I included both in my reply .... 🙄

I take a small dehumidifier with me, especially for use initially. All then is OK.

Glade plug in.....🙄

Not all campers would need one (or two or three).