[VAC] Thermopane Windows

["Terry Tyler" <tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

1 - This month, we're in Deming, NM (362 days of sunshine annually) with our '77 31' Airstream
(thermopane windows). The front of the Airstream faces east and the side with the entry door faces
north. The south side is the one with lots of glass. There's no need to turn our heater on between
an hour after sunrise and an hour after sunset. 

Daytime temperatures are usually in the 60-70s (it is 79 degrees today - 12/31/00). The 4 large
windows and 2 smaller vista view windows on the south side provide six access points for warm
sunlight to stream in and immediately flood our Airstream with heat every morning. That side and the
end of the Airstream are where major plumbing components are located or routed. 

Overnight temperatures have been in the teens and 20s. After sunset, the thermopanes help keep the
warmth from escaping. A small electric heater helps sustain the heat overnight. This is far
different from what we experienced last winter when we were in the panhandle of Florida with our '86
32' Airstream (no thermopane windows). The night and day time temperatures were warmer than here in
Deming, but we turned on our electric heaters at dusk and seldom turned them off before 10 o'clock
the next morning. 

This December, we have been more comfortable than last December, yet we use our heaters less and the
weather has been colder at night. Thermopane windows are making more of a difference than we
expected. Lesson learned!!   

2 - Before leaving the northeast last September, I installed an indoor outdoor thermometer. Instead
of routing the outdoor sensor to the outer part of the Airstream, I routed it deep among the water
pipes that are well beyond my reach. My objective was to know the temperature around the pipes when
outside temperatures were below freezing and the inside temperature was comfortable. If the electric
heaters did their job consistently, I hoped the furnace thermostat could be set to come on only when
the air temperature around our least accessible water pipes and fresh water tank was in the mid 30s.

I knew we'd be leaving our Airstream in Deming, NM for a week while visiting our son in Colorado
and would be asking someone to look after our trailer and cats. For a week, I wanted the furnace to
run only when the water pipes needed heat and to get power only from the batteries (in case there
was a 120 volt power outage). I already knew the solar panels would recharge the batteries every day
even if the 12 volt propane furnace ran all night. And, I hoped two 40 pound aluminum propane tanks
would be sufficient for the worst case of cold weather.  

As it turned out, the gal (owner of a motorhome) who looked after our Airstream and two cats loved
the thermometer. She was always able to determine that the water pipes were warm even when the
outside temperatures were in the teens. She never worried about our pipes freezing. She was a house
sitter with confidence.

When we returned, she related how other people in the park had frozen pipes during the week we were
gone, but ** HER ** antique Airstream was built to protect its water pipes. Unexpectedly, our
Airstream gave her bragging rights with other RVers in the Recreation Hall while we were away.
<grin>

3 - Granted, these two ideas are small potatoes in the overall scheme of things, but both have been
instrumental this winter to our enjoyment of this 23 year old mechanically mint Airstream. 

Terry
'77 31' Excella 500 
'86 32' Excella
mailto:tylerbears@airstream.net