Getting furnace to work

[tbroton]

Our first fall trip and we don't know how to get the Atwood hydroplane furnace to kick in. We turned thermostat from OFF to On, move desired temp and heard the magnet click in , but no result to heater??? Oh, yes the gas is turned on...

We got it to work last trip on a test run, but neither of us remembet how...

 

[j52wf]

Is it an older model with a pilot that has to be lit manually? If not, it should automatically ignite. First time might take a few tries to clear air from the gas line.

 

[tbroton]

thanks for the reply.

No, it is a 2004 unit.

Is there anyway to "reset" it?

My wife read a string stating there is a reset button. I openned the exterior panel and found a button with a red V on it. Didn't. Help...

The maddening part is it worked on our trst 2 months ago...

 

[SteveC7010]

Our first fall trip and we don't know how to get the Atwood hydroplane furnace to kick in. We turned thermostat from OFF to On, move desired temp and heard the magnet click in , but no result to heater??? Oh, yes the gas is turned on...

We got it to work last trip on a test run, but neither of us remembet how...

The manual for your furnace should be in the FILES section here on Sunline Club. It includes full operating instructions. If you don't have it yet, it's a good idea to do so. If it's not there, the manufacturer's website will have it available in their support area.

RV furnaces all run through a purge cycle when they first turn on, usually by the thermostat. A fan should come on almost immediately and run by itself for a while blowing cold air out through the vents. 30 to 90 seconds is not unusual. When the purge is done, the furnace should fire up and begin to blow hot air into the ducts.

There's a little switch in the furnace called the sail switch. It is integral to the purge cycle, and they are known to fail. Replacement is quick and easy. It's been a while since I worked on an RV furnace, but I believe you can bypass the sail switch to see if the furnace fires up properly.

If you are DIY inclined, I am pretty sure there is a service manual in the FILES area.

 

[JohnGB]

If you have a 2004 unit, then you have a newer all electronic ignition furnace. As Steve stated, once the T stat calls for heat, the blower should run a purge cycle. Then it will attempt to auto ignite the gas, if it is firing and you listen real close you can hear the constant sparking sound and the clunk of the gas valve opening.

And to the sail switch, Yes, yours has one and your camper must either be plugged into shore power (120VAC) and the power converter working or if running on battery only, have a well charged battery to create enough power to run the blower hard enough (fast enough) to close the connection on the sail switch. If the voltage it too low, the blower will run and not much else will happen.

To help you better, we need to know what the furnace does or does not do once you turn on the T stat and the call for heat is above the current temp in the camper. Does the blower run but not ignite or do you not ever get the blower to run?

Some answers to 2 questions helps point you to the next steps.

Hope this helps

John

PS. the sail switch in the newer Atwood furnaces is buried deep inside the blower housing. It is not easy to change. However if you are electrically handy, a volt meter can tell if it is closed to rule it in or not.

 

[SteveC7010]

One more important point that I forgot to mention. If you have the DuoTherm thermostat that looks like the one pictured below, they are notorious for inaccurate settings. You may have to move the temp setting lever way up beyond what you think it should be to get it to close the relay and fire up the furnace.

If that's the case, replacements are available, but run $30 to $50 depending on where you get it. A better solution is a digital thermostat replacement. But let's get your furnace running first. If the thermostat is faulty, we can talk about replacing it later.

 

[tbroton]

Thanks for all the help.

I took it in to Perdido Air and Heating, a local HVAC vendor, and they found a disconnected sensor wire behind the thermostat. How'd that happen?! Hover, it only cost $88. I think anytime you can return with a fix with either a Trailer or boat under a hundred dollars, you're a winner!!!!

 

[Pete 1]

Water heater problem

We are having problems with our water heater staying on. I can light pilot but it will not stay on.

 

[Sunline Fan]

We are having problems with our water heater staying on. I can light pilot but it will not stay on.

Sounds like you might have some spiders in the burner assembly/orifice. Have you cleaned that out lately?

If you pull the tube assembly off, I found a bent paper clip fit in the orifice well. A little compressed air should help clean the rest out.

 

[JohnGB]

Hi Pete,

Did you get your HW heater working? If you are still having problems, please post a brand and model number of the heater so we know which model you have. And a picture with the outside door down of the heater helps too.

Thanks

John

 

[mainah-SUN]

We are having problems with our water heater staying on. I can light pilot but it will not stay on.

If it lights with a decent flame but goes out it's most likely the thermocouple most RV stores will have a replacement.