6 Best RV Electric Heaters For Shore Power Winterizing That Nomads Swear By

You’ve found the perfect winter spot, plugged into shore power, and settled in for the season. But as the temperature drops, a nagging worry creeps in: are your RV’s pipes going to freeze? This is where the right electric heater becomes your most valuable tool, a silent guardian against a catastrophic, wallet-draining plumbing failure.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Why Electric Heat is Key for RV Winterizing

Using your RV’s built-in propane furnace is great for getting the space toasty warm, but it’s a costly and inefficient way to simply keep things from freezing. A propane furnace can burn through a 20-pound tank in just a few days of continuous use. When you’re already paying for electricity at a campsite, using that "free" power for heat just makes financial sense.

Electric heaters offer a different kind of heat that’s perfect for winterizing. They provide a slow, steady source of warmth to keep the ambient temperature just above freezing—the only goal that really matters for protecting your plumbing. This approach not only saves your propane for cooking or for those truly frigid nights but also reduces the wear and tear on your furnace’s blower motor and components.

Furthermore, electric heat gives you control. You can place a small heater near your water bay or in a bathroom to target vulnerable areas. Many RV furnaces don’t effectively heat storage bays or low-lying pipes, creating dangerous cold spots. A well-placed electric heater is the perfect supplemental solution to ensure every part of your rig stays safe.

Lasko 754200: The Compact, Reliable Workhorse

If there’s an unofficial heater of the full-time RV community, the Lasko 754200 is it. You’ll see this little ceramic box in countless rigs for one simple reason: it works. It’s compact, affordable, and surprisingly effective at pumping out a steady stream of heat. It’s the definition of a no-frills tool that does its job without complaint.

The Lasko’s beauty is its simplicity. It has an adjustable thermostat dial, a high (1500W) and low (900W) setting, and a fan-only mode. For winterizing, the low setting is often all you need to maintain a baseline temperature of 40-50°F inside your coach. Its small footprint means you can tuck it away in a corner where it won’t be a tripping hazard.

However, don’t expect it to heat your whole 40-foot fifth wheel evenly. This is a directional heater, best for small spaces or for pointing at a specific problem area, like a cabinet with plumbing lines on an outside wall. While it has overheat protection, always ensure it has plenty of clearance, as its focused heat can get intense up close.

Vornado MVH Vortex Heater for Whole-Room Airflow

The biggest problem with most small heaters is that they create hotspots, leaving the far corners of your RV dangerously cold. The Vornado MVH tackles this head-on with its signature "Vortex Action." Instead of just blasting hot air forward, it creates a gentle, circulating current that heats the entire volume of air in the room. This is a game-changer for preventing frozen pipes.

By circulating the air, the Vornado ensures a much more even temperature from floor to ceiling. This means the plumbing hidden under your galley sink gets the same protection as the air in the main living space. It’s a smarter, more holistic approach to heating a small, enclosed environment like an RV.

This whole-room heating comes at a higher price point than basic models, and it’s slightly larger. But for nomads wintering in a single space, the benefit of consistent, even heat is often worth the investment. It turns your RV from a space with warm and cold zones into a uniformly protected environment.

De’Longhi Oil-Filled Radiator: Silent, Stable Heat

For those who can’t stand the constant hum of a fan, an oil-filled radiator is the answer. The De’Longhi models are renowned for being completely silent. They work by heating oil sealed inside the fins, which then radiates a gentle, consistent warmth into the room. This creates a very comfortable, non-dry heat that feels more natural than forced air.

This type of heater is the king of stability. It takes a while to heat up, but once it’s at temperature, it maintains it with incredible efficiency, cycling on and off less frequently than ceramic heaters. This makes it perfect for overnight use, keeping the RV at a steady, pipe-safe temperature without waking you up. It’s the "set it and forget it" solution.

The tradeoffs are size and weight. These units are bulkier and heavier than their ceramic counterparts, making them a less-than-ideal choice if you move frequently or have limited floor space. But for stationary winter camping, their silent, stable performance is unmatched.

Caframo True North: The Low-Wattage RV Specialist

Most space heaters are designed for houses, not RVs. The Caframo True North is one of the few built specifically with the power limitations of a camper in mind. Its key feature is a range of wattage settings: 600W, 900W, and 1500W. That 600W setting is gold for anyone on a 30-amp service.

On a 30-amp connection, a standard 1500W heater can pull over 12 amps, leaving you very little power for anything else before you trip the breaker. Running the True North at 600W (about 5 amps) or 900W (7.5 amps) allows you to keep the chill away while still having enough power to use your microwave or coffee maker. It’s designed for real-world RV power management.

This heater is also built to withstand the bumps and vibrations of the road. It’s a sturdier, more durable unit than many of its residential cousins. While it carries a higher price tag, you’re paying for a specialized tool designed to solve a very specific RVer problem: balancing comfort with limited amperage.

Dyson Hot + Cool: A Premium All-Season Solution

In a small space, every item needs to earn its keep, and multi-function gear is always a win. The Dyson Hot + Cool is the ultimate example. It’s an incredibly effective and safe space heater in the winter, a high-velocity cooling fan in the summer, and an air purifier year-round. For the RVer who values minimalism and performance, it can replace three separate appliances.

The bladeless design is a major safety feature, especially with pets or kids around. It’s also remarkably stable and has an intelligent thermostat that maintains your target temperature precisely. As a heater, its "Jet Focus" control allows you to switch between a powerful, directed stream of air and a wider, whole-room distribution.

Of course, the primary drawback is the significant cost. This is a premium product with a premium price tag. But if you consider the cost of a high-end heater, a quality fan, and a good air purifier, the Dyson starts to look like a more reasonable, space-saving investment for long-term, four-season comfort.

AmazonBasics Ceramic Heater: A Top Budget-Friendly Pick

Sometimes you just need a simple, inexpensive solution that gets the job done. The AmazonBasics 1500W Ceramic Heater is exactly that. It delivers reliable heat and essential safety features like tip-over and overheat protection at a price that’s hard to beat. For many RVers, this is the perfect entry-level or backup heater.

This unit offers everything you fundamentally need: high and low heat settings, an adjustable thermostat, and a compact design. It’s a direct competitor to the classic Lasko but often comes in at an even lower price point. It proves you don’t have to spend a lot of money to protect your rig from a freeze.

While it lacks the advanced features of a Vornado or the specialized design of a Caframo, its value is undeniable. If you’re winterizing an RV for the first time and want to test the waters with electric heat, this is a fantastic, low-risk starting point. It’s a workhorse that provides peace of mind without emptying your wallet.

Choosing Your Heater: Safety and Wattage Guide

Picking the right heater goes beyond brand names; it’s about understanding safety and power. In the tight quarters of an RV, safety is non-negotiable. Only purchase a heater with automatic tip-over protection and an overheat shutoff sensor. Always keep a minimum of three feet of clearance around the heater, especially from bedding, curtains, and walls.

The next critical factor is power management. Understand the relationship between watts and amps: Watts ÷ Volts (120V) = Amps.

• A 1500W setting pulls 12.5 amps. On a 30-amp rig, this leaves you just 17.5 amps for everything else.
• A 750W setting pulls about 6.25 amps. This is a much safer load and is often plenty to keep an insulated RV above freezing.

Don’t just max it out. Start with the lowest setting that will do the job. For larger rigs, consider using two smaller heaters on low, plugged into outlets on separate circuits. This distributes the load on your electrical system and provides more even, redundant heating in case one fails. Your goal isn’t a sauna; it’s a safe, frost-free interior.

Ultimately, the best electric heater is the one that fits your RV’s size, your power reality, and your peace of mind. By choosing a safe, efficient model and using it wisely, you can turn shore power into your best defense against the cold. It’s a small investment that protects your much larger one all winter long.