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09-12-2011, 06:35 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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What is the life of an OEM furnace?
I was wondering what the life of an OEM furnace is? How long do they last and how so you know when it is time to change it out?
Perry
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09-12-2011, 06:52 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by perryg114
I was wondering what the life of an OEM furnace is? How long do they last and how so you know when it is time to change it out?
Perry
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Perry.
That sort of depends on how much it was used.
Typically, when the motor fails, that's a good sign to replace the furnace.
But again, a motor can fail prematurely.
Another sign, would be when the furnace is remove, for a complete and proper cleaning, what is the condition of the combustion chamber?
Andy
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09-12-2011, 07:18 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
St. Cloud
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,280
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perryg114 -- what year, length & model Airstream are we talking here?
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09-12-2011, 07:41 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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81, 31ft, Excella II, center bath.
Perry
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09-12-2011, 08:34 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1968 24' Tradewind
Oxford,
, Mississippi
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,564
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Like Andy said, lots of variables but even if the unit looks OK pay close attention to the heat exchanger. My old Trade Wind furnace worked but I let a buddy in the HVAC business look at it just be sure and fix a small micro switch. He found a hole internally in the heat exchanger. That would have allowed combustion gases to mix with warm cabin air-a potentially deadly combination. If in doubt, change it out.
__________________
__________________
Bruce & Rachel
__________________
68 Trade Wind
2001 Toyota Tundra
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09-12-2011, 10:53 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 20
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Kooskia
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,591
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30 years is a long time for any RV appliance like a heater. Often they just get unreliable, or they have a pilot light ignition system that is a PITA to use. A repair is often almost as costly as a new unit. On my '71 Caravel I was getting headaches when using the furnace. I changed it out for a spark ignition one and the headaches and much of the condensation on the windows went away. When I tore it apart I found it had a rusted through combustion chamber, very dangerous.
There is no real answer to the question, but in general I would change one out at about 20 years just because, and due to the possible dangers of a bad one.
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09-13-2011, 09:06 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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Well I may pull it out and inspect everything before using it. I hope I can get it out without having to pull the kitchen counter.
Perry
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09-13-2011, 11:12 AM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
1974 27' Overlander
Sault ste Marie
, Ontario
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 166
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This is what I found when I pulled the front off mine last fall, joint failure and corrosion. Furnace was 37 years old......Phil.
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09-13-2011, 06:07 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 20
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Kooskia
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,591
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A second post from me on the subject. I just now pulled the original furnace on my 22' 1975 Argosy. It did light, run, and heat, but I was not confident of it's condition. Good thing, because when I got it out I found that previous owner(s) had "repaired" and re installed it with great gobs of silicone seal, the wiring had 4 splices in each of the 4 wires, the Suburban recall on the combustion air tube had never been done and the cracks were "sealed" with silicone goop, and I probably dumped 2 cups of rust flakes out of the lighting and inspection hole. The furnace was unsafe, and the PO's repairs were done improperly. I had a replacement furnace of the same age, but of known good condition which I put back in for now.
So, in addition to the age and condition of the furnace, what the previous owner(s) have done is also an issue to be considered. Was it done right, and safe?
I had a cousin and his wife and baby daughter all killed in a (non RV) CO related furnace accident. They bought a cottage in the fall, used it for the first time and were never seen alive again. One PO of the cottage installed a furnace without venting it properly, but got away with it. The second owner made further modifications on the cottage which amplified the original problem, but never used the furnace. The third owner, my cousin, paid for it with his life and his family's life. I am not trying to be over dramatic here, but sometimes safety is a matter of little things going right, or wrong, and what someone else did to repair things.
Furnaces get old, and can need to be replaced even when they seem to be functioning. Heads up.
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09-13-2011, 06:15 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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Good reason for a CO detector as well.
Perry
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09-23-2011, 09:39 PM
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#11
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3 Rivet Member
1969 27' Overlander
Albuquerque
, New Mexico
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 168
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What replacement furnace to use?
I'd like to replace my Surburban furnace from my '69 Overlander.
What furnace is compatible, and will fit under the sink, etc?
Any brands, models recommended?
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09-23-2011, 09:48 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edglenn
I'd like to replace my Surburban furnace from my '69 Overlander.
What furnace is compatible, and will fit under the sink, etc?
Any brands, models recommended?
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The same brand works great, and is compatible with the present Suburban furnace.
Andy
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09-23-2011, 10:51 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 20
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Kooskia
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,591
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edglenn
I'd like to replace my Surburban furnace from my '69 Overlander.
What furnace is compatible, and will fit under the sink, etc?
Any brands, models recommended?
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Most new Suburban NT series furnaces are compatible with the older one you already have. The holes through the wall may even be in the same place. A little research will tell you the specifics. Check the Btuh rating of the old one and look for the same in the new one. Probably will fit with little alteration.
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09-24-2011, 08:02 AM
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#14
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3 Rivet Member
1969 27' Overlander
Albuquerque
, New Mexico
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 168
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OK. Thanks.
I looked at the Suburban NT 30's and NT 40's on EBAY.
I didn't see any info on my exisitng unit for the BTU's.
Is there a rule of thumb for BTU range?
It's a 27' Overlander. Is 30,000 BTU's too much?
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09-24-2011, 08:52 AM
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#15
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2 Rivet Member
1980 31' Excella II
Springfield
, Illinois
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 56
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Bought my new furnace from Andy at Inland RV Center and got the great service that I have come to expect from them. The more I find to repair in my AS the more I am happy with Andy's service.
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09-24-2011, 09:26 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edglenn
OK. Thanks.
I looked at the Suburban NT 30's and NT 40's on EBAY.
I didn't see any info on my exisitng unit for the BTU's.
Is there a rule of thumb for BTU range?
It's a 27' Overlander. Is 30,000 BTU's too much?
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For a 27 foot Airstream, the 30,000 to 32,000 btu furnace, is perfect.
Andy
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09-24-2011, 07:44 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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So any you got any tips of how to remove one of these sucker and check out all the components. First of all how is it bolted in there? I can see hoses running in just about every direction, left, right, under the floor etc. Even if I knew it was in good shape I would take it apart to get all the rat droppings out of it.
Perry
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09-24-2011, 07:56 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1967 26' Overlander
Winston Salem
, North Carolina
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 524
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If you have that feeling in the gut, replace it.
Every unit needs a carbon dioxide detector, smoke detector and a fire extinguisher..
__________________
Greg
Winston Salem, NC
WBCCI 5218,
Corresponding Secretary Piedmont NC Unit 161,
1967 Overlander International.
1979 Avion 30ft rear bath
TV's 88 Chevy Suburban 454, 3:42, TH400
95 Cadillac FW Brougham, LT1,3:42, 7k tow pk.
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09-24-2011, 08:16 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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Well I still have to take it out of there. If the heat exchanger is not cracked I can fix it. It is not a high priority item other than being able to clean under there.
Perry
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09-24-2011, 09:17 PM
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#20
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Silver Mist
Currently Looking...
Riverhead
, New York
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,011
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My original was working but getting noisy and just old, I have detectors but still just wanted a new one.
Did it last fall
What a huge difference quieter by far, cycles less, heats much faster, uses less propane.
Well worth it.
__________________
Bob
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