Keeping Your Van Heater Alive: Maintenance, Options, and What to Watch Out For

Warm inside, wild outside. This is why heater maintenance matters. Cold nights don’t wait for failures. Keep your setup ready for the mountains.

Nothing ruins a trip faster than a heater that quits when the temperature drops. And unfortunately, heaters don’t die when you’re at home—they die at 2 a.m., in the mountains, when you really need them.

Good news: a little maintenance goes a long way. Whether you’re running diesel, gas, Espar, Velit, or some off-brand Amazon special, the rules are the same—keep it clean, keep it burning hot, and never let fuel sit idle.

Here’s how to make sure your van heater fires up every time you hit the switch:

1. Run it Regularly

Every combustion heater needs exercise.

• Fire it up once a month

• Run it 30–60 minutes at full power

Why? Because heaters hate short cycles. Running it hot burns off carbon, keeps the glow plug clean, and moves fuel through the entire system. Let it sit all winter and you’ll be fighting clogs, startup failures, or raw fuel pooling in the chamber.

2. Check the Air Intake & Exhaust

Your heater needs to breathe.

• Look for mud, dust, snow, bugs, soot, or road debris

• Make sure the combustion tube and exhaust are clear

• Clean or replace screens or filters if you have them

Blocked airflow = messy burn = carbon buildup = heater death. If the exhaust gets plugged, the heater will shut itself down—or try to, and choke itself full of soot.

3. Inspect the Fuel Line & Pump

This is where most heater failures start.

• Look for cracks, leaks, or air bubbles in the line

• Verify the pump angle is correct

• Make sure the connector is fully seated and powered

• If there’s a small inline fuel filter, clean or replace it

Heaters need steady fuel flow. Any air in the line—and the burner won’t ignite consistently.

4.Electrical Checks

Heat takes power. Poor power = failed starts.

• Tighten every terminal and ground

• Look for corrosion

• Check the inline fuse

• Keep your batteries fully charged- this can make or break your adventure

Major 2,000-Hour Service

If your heater is a few years old or sees heavy winter use, it’s time to rebuild it before it leaves you freezing.

Replace:

• Glow plug

• Screen

• Fuel filter

• Gaskets

Deep clean:

• Combustion chamber

• Heat exchanger

• Internal housing
  

Do this on schedule and these heaters will run for thousands of hours without drama.

Heater Options We Trust

Plenty of heaters exist, but these two brands consistently deliver real-world reliability—not just brochure promises.

VELIT Gasoline/Diesel Air Heater 14000BTU 4000W

Velit Air Heater

• Gas or Diesel

• 4kW output

• ~120W startup, 20–40W while running

Great for larger vans, Class B+, and small Class C builds. Hot, efficient, and powerful enough to heat real interior volume, not just a bench seat.

Link: velitcamping.com (4kW model)

Espar Airtronic S3

Espar Airtronic S3

• Gas or Diesel

• 2kW output

• ~100W startup, 11–30W while running

Rock-solid engineering, whisper-quiet, and one of the most reliable combustion heaters on the planet. Perfect for daily vanlife, cold-weather camping, or anyone who wants OEM-grade performance.

Link: heatso.com (S3 B2L kit)

Final Word: It's More Than Looks—It's Function

If you only remember one thing, remember this:

Heaters die from neglect—not use.

1. Run it monthly. 

2. Keep the intake and exhaust clean. 

3. Watch the fuel line. 

4. Do the 2,000-hour service before it leaves you stuck in the cold.

If your heater is acting up—or you’d rather have a pro do the messy work—Savage Campervans can service, repair, or replace your system and get you winter-ready.

Contact Us for More Info