Heater only blowing cold air

[Dave Mazone]

Went camping this past weekend (Nov 4-6) at Shaver Lake, CA. Temps were 20 to 46 degrees throughout our stay. The last night, the heater would only blow cool air. We just bundled up for the night.

Turns out we had plenty of propane; everything else was working. I searched the Ollie sight the next day (found something once) where someone had the same problem. I took off the exterior heater panel and checked connections; all secure. I blew into the compartment with my own breath and force and a very small amount of dust came out (hull 1019 is less than a year old) Turned on the furnace again, and it worked! What's up with that?

[dewdev]

Based on what I have seen on this forum, you may have had some type of a bug that left a web in the area where the flame starts heating the furnace. 

I had the same problem you had a year ago and installed a screen over the furnace outlet, which I saw was recommended on this forum.

I have not had a problem since.

[topgun2]

5 hours ago, Dave Mazone said:

I blew into the compartment with my own breath and force and a very small amount of dust came out (hull 1019 is less than a year old) Turned on the furnace again, and it worked! What's up with that?

A small can of compressed air is your friend.  Just do not use that can and direct the air back into the propane jet.  Dusty roads are not your friend as aren't bugs.  Obviously it only takes a very small amount of dust to "gum up the works".

Bill

[Jim_Oker]

It's also conceivable that the sail switch was being impeded and your messing around in the compartment got just enough dust off of its mechanism that it was able to switch when the air flow started (the sail switch involves a flap - i.e. "sail" - that sits in the flow of cabin air that rushes through the furnace when it's running, and my understanding is that it's meant to ensure that the flame won't go on unless there's sufficient flow through the furnace to keep that flame's heat from building up too high w/in the furnace due to low air flow. BUT the switch is prone to not working properly when it gets gunked up with sufficient amounts of dust or pet hair or such. 

My guess is that it's more likely what dewdev described, though, unless you blow into the area where the fan is that moves the air from the return into the ducts, which is where the switch sits.

[Dave Mazone]

12 hours ago, dewdev said:

Based on what I have seen on this forum, you may have had some type of a bug that left a web in the area where the flame starts heating the furnace. 

I had the same problem you had a year ago and installed a screen over the furnace outlet, which I saw was recommended on this forum.

I have not had a problem since.

Hi Jim,

It was something, but mighty small if so. I had the bug screen installed before I left Hohenwald. I think it was a tiny bit of dust. ???

[Dave Mazone]

9 hours ago, topgun2 said:

A small can of compressed air is your friend.  Just do not use that can and direct the air back into the propane jet.  Dusty roads are not your friend as aren't bugs.  Obviously it only takes a very small amount of dust to "gum up the works".

Bill

Where is the propane jet? I wasn't able to see anything (but I don't know what I'm looking for either)?

[John E Davies]

https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/3248-how-to-service-your-furnace/

John Davies

Spokane WA

[thompsonkd]

I couldn’t find a thread specific to this, so am putting it here…

How are the heather vents removed. Mine collect a fair amount of dust and lint and I’d like to remove them to give them a good cleaning. 

[Steph and Dud B]

30 minutes ago, thompsonkd said:

How are the heather vents removed.

If you're talking about the interior vent louvers, I believe they just snap on. I accidently kicked one off with my foot and I just snapped it back into place.

[thompsonkd]

Yes, I am referring to the vent louvres. They collect a lot of dust and dirt-just wanting to know how to take off and on.