Furnace filtration yes/no?

[Jeffndaile]

Our 2013 flying cloud, stock furnace from airstream appears to have no air filtration like our home furnace does? Do RV furnaces generally have no filtration and is there instructionon how to best clean the dirt out if were living in our airstream full-time?

[Piggy Bank]

Home furnaces are quite different in design and function than RV furnaces.

Review your furnace owners manual for information on maintenance.

[barrettjl]

I wondered the same thing. Our 2012 FC has a cutout by the furnace which I figured was for the return air intake (where a filter would go). I even went so far as to cut a piece of washable filter and put it there.

However, from looking at the furnace manual it looks like the return air intake is on the exterior. I don't know why there is a cutout on the inside of the trailer, but since it is not the return air intake, I removed the washable filter.

[TG Twinkie]

You furnace recirculates the inside air to heat the coach. Placing a filter anywhere in the duct work will cause restricted airflow and the furnace may overheat.
The combustion air for the furnace burner is drawn from outside the coach then exhausted to the outside. This may be your point of confusion.

[Jeffndaile]

Originally Posted by TG Twinkie

You furnace recirculates the inside air to heat the coach. Placing a filter anywhere in the duct work will cause restricted airflow and the furnace may overheat.
The combustion air for the furnace burner is drawn from outside the coach then exhausted to the outside. This may be your point of confusion.

So the simple answer is no then? Just seems like for the longevity of the unit, a user replaceable filter would be a good thing. I'm assuming the since there is no filter, that cleaning in the spring involves a wild owner with an air hose then:-)

[1973Argosy]

While there are no filters I would suggest you buy the bug screens for the exterior openings. While there have been plenty of debates on the bug screens, I have run them for 16 years with no ill effect. Dirt daubers and wasp love our furnaces and cause failures of furnaces every year. They are very cheap and easy to install insurance in my opinion.

[Boxite]

Originally Posted by 1973Argosy

While there are no filters I would suggest you buy the bug screens for the exterior openings. While there have been plenty of debates on the bug screens, I have run them for 16 years with no ill effect. Dirt daubers and wasp love our furnaces and cause failures of furnaces every year. They are very cheap and easy to install insurance in my opinion.

Absolutely... buy / install bug screens. (I'm looking into inventing a screen for the water heater burner-flue as well.)

[Troutboy]

How/where do you install these big screens?

[joqin]

I used a piece of alum. screen on the inside of my water heater cover. mine is a friction fit, custom tweaked screen and does not interfere with the heater operation. yours may need a washer and a sheet metal screw. same with the furnace. attach screen to outside vent by crimping screen or what ever works for your unit. trailer sits alot between trips and wasps are no fun. ask me how I know! joe q

[1973Argosy]

They have a spring and come with a tool and instructions. Very easy to install. You can buy them at basically any rv store or of course amazon/ebay have them.