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Old 03-22-2012, 10:00 PM   #1
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1975 Argosy 26
LIVINGSTON , Texas
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Forced air furnace heating black/gray holding tanks?

After removing the rear bathroom and floor of my 75 argosy 26' TT i found both the black/gray holding tanks. what i found odd at first was a small heat tube was running to each tank from the main forced air furnace vent. the tube looks like it supplied the hot furnace air into the box or area surrounding the tanks. i now know this was most likely meant to prevent freezing of the tanks in cold weather. i have eliminated the forced air furnace, replacing it with an electric heater and possibly radiant floor heating.

If the supply of warm air to the area surrounding the tanks is vital then i need a solution. i don't plain on being in such freezing condition for only a small part of the year if even, but i also would not want the trailer to fail if put in that condition.

My first thoughts were using the original furnace air vent as a new return. with a small electric motor to draw warm air from inside the trailer into the small tubs and to the tank areas as before. or perhaps someone can offer advice on a heating blanket or device for the tanks?
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Old 03-22-2012, 10:55 PM   #2
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Kooskia , Idaho
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I have eliminated them on my trailers. I don't think they bring enough heat down to the tanks to make much difference, and I rarely camp when it in much below freezing. But I have been out in the 20's and had some minor freezing issues with the drain lines prior to the dump valves. That area never gets any heat from those little 2" tubes anyway.

So, my opinion is to not worry about the heat to the tanks. BTW, the holes into the lower areas are great places for mice to get into your rig (along with the drain and vent pipe holes) so do plug them up if you don't use them, and fill in around them if you do.
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Old 03-23-2012, 06:54 AM   #3
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2007 30' Classic
Oswego , Illinois
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I think a small fan, as you suggest, would work fine. I have actually modified my furnace with a low speed PWM variable speed controller so that when I am using electric heat in below freezing weather, I can turn on the furnace blower only (separately from the thermostat switching) and keep a continuous flow of cabin air to the tanks. Haven't used it it really cold weather yet so it is somewhat unproven in its effectiveness. However, if it is really cold, I think I'd need the gas furnace to supplement the electric anyway. The way I have it set up, the thermostat will override the PWM controller and the furnace will come on as normal when required.

Here's the mod install:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f427...ase-74624.html
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Old 03-23-2012, 08:20 PM   #4
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South of the river , Minnesota
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I don't think that the amount of heat that gets to the holding tanks is enough to amount to much. Conduction of heat downward through the floor does the bulk of the work IMO.

On the fresh water tank there is enough heat delivered to the fitting area to prevent freezing and damage, even though the tank itself doesn't get much heat.
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Old 11-23-2016, 12:24 PM   #5
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I use the furnace blower with a variable speed control installed. Here's the thread:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f427...ase-74624.html
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Old 11-23-2016, 04:54 PM   #6
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Box Elder , South Dakota
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What power source are you using for the electric heating? If 120V why not add a tank heating pad on the bottom of each tank?
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Old 11-23-2016, 04:59 PM   #7
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Who you talking to ghaynes?
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Old 11-23-2016, 05:02 PM   #8
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Biloxi , Mississippi
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My trailer uses heat strips for all three tanks.
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Old 11-24-2016, 12:54 PM   #9
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I was asking DearArgosy. OP said they are going to use an electric heater and maybe radiant floor heat. Unless there is something out there in the 12v world then while plugged in or on a generator they could use tank heating pads as installed on some of the AS trailers.
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