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09-18-2006, 05:48 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
1972 25' Tradewind
Merrimakc
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 40
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My Furnace Won't Blow
I have a 72 Tradewind and I have been trying unsucessfully to get the furnace to push hot air. I have turned on the LP, lit the pilot sucessfully and turned up the thermostat.
Nothing seems to happen and I am not sure whether my furnace could be busted (in which case i will pull it out and probably get something newer or maybe a convection heater) It only gets hot around where the pilot is lit but doesn't blow hot air through the vents or even heat up the whole heater box.
I dont want to junk a perfectly good installed furnace if the only thing wrong is me and my uneducated furnace repairs.
Does anyone have any advice on what I can or should check for to properly diagnose this furnace issue?
__________________
A blue beret a day keeps the doctor away. - Wally Byam
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09-18-2006, 05:55 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Naples
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,508
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Spleen,
You should remove the furnace and overhaul it before you junk it! It sounds like your burner is not igniting. The pilot alone will not heat the furnace plenum! If it ignites, YOU'LL KNOW IT as it sounds like a small jet engine. You might have a thermostat problem, a gas valve problem, a clogged gas burner orifice, a bad sail switch or ECO. There isn't much else in there .
Start with the t/stat and work your way in, checking every component for proper operation. You'll find something that isn't right.
PS: Do you have enough propane?
Quote:
Originally Posted by AirSpleen
I have a 72 Tradewind and I have been trying unsucessfully to get the furnace to push hot air. I have turned on the LP, lit the pilot sucessfully and turned up the thermostat.
Nothing seems to happen and I am not sure whether my furnace could be busted (in which case i will pull it out and probably get something newer or maybe a convection heater) It only gets hot around where the pilot is lit but doesn't blow hot air through the vents or even heat up the whole heater box.
I dont want to junk a perfectly good installed furnace if the only thing wrong is me and my uneducated furnace repairs.
Does anyone have any advice on what I can or should check for to properly diagnose this furnace issue?
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__________________
lewster
Solar Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
Victron Solar Components and Inverters, Zamp Solar Panels, LiFeBlue and Battle Born Lithium Batteries, Lifeline AGM Batteries
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09-18-2006, 09:29 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,803
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Make sure you have a working CO detector. The older units can form little pin holes from rust. If that happens, you can die.
Paul Waddell
WDCU/WBCCI/VAC
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09-19-2006, 05:38 PM
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#4
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2 Rivet Member
1972 25' Tradewind
Merrimakc
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 40
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I don't even know if the furnace is worth the trouble. I mean it is heavy and takes up valuable storage space. Would a couple of portable electric heaters do just as good of a job?
__________________
A blue beret a day keeps the doctor away. - Wally Byam
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09-19-2006, 06:09 PM
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#5
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Addicted to Aluminum
1959 18' "Footer"
1964 24' Tradewind
1954 29' Liner
Woodstock
, Georgia
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,015
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i vote electric, too. that's what we use. we've camped in 20 degree weather with one heater in our trade wind, and it was toasty warm.
jp
__________________
8576
there's always room for one more!
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09-20-2006, 05:26 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
West of Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,699
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AirSpleen
I don't even know if the furnace is worth the trouble. I mean it is heavy and takes up valuable storage space. Would a couple of portable electric heaters do just as good of a job?
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That obviously would work as long as you are always going to have electrical hook-ups. If you want to camp farther afield, you'll need a propane heater of one type or another.
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09-30-2006, 06:38 PM
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#7
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2 Rivet Member
1972 25' Tradewind
Merrimakc
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 40
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testing time
Okay. So I have finally gotten my LP tanks replaced and refilled (they weren't up to code.) Now I can confirm that the heater doesn't blow hot air. It doesn't even heat up. The pilot works and stays on but when the thermostat is engaged it remains inactive.
So, I am trying to find a way to test:
A)If the thermostat is working. Is there a way to test it electrically using a volt meter or something?
B)If the blower works. Is there some sort of override where I don't need to rely on the thermostat to trigger the furnace to start pushing hot air?
__________________
A blue beret a day keeps the doctor away. - Wally Byam
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09-30-2006, 07:04 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1976 25' Caravanner
Vintage Kin Owner
Campton
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,113
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The first thing you need to check is if you have power to the furnace . There is a power plug usually on the right side of the furnace as you face it from the inside , mine fell out once . Unplug it and use a test light to see if there is power , if not check fuses . You can by-pass the thermostat by removing it from the wall and putting a jumper across the two wires . If those don't do it , the furnace will have to be removed to check the fan motor , circut board and sail switch . Good luck
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10-07-2006, 08:04 PM
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#9
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2 Rivet Member
Commercial Member
Currently Looking...
east stroudsburg
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 83
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AirSpleen
Okay. So I have finally gotten my LP tanks replaced and refilled (they weren't up to code.) Now I can confirm that the heater doesn't blow hot air. It doesn't even heat up. The pilot works and stays on but when the thermostat is engaged it remains inactive.
So, I am trying to find a way to test:
A)If the thermostat is working. Is there a way to test it electrically using a volt meter or something?
B)If the blower works. Is there some sort of override where I don't need to rely on the thermostat to trigger the furnace to start pushing hot air?
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sounds like the main gas valve is not opening up. Does this got electronic ignition or do you have to light it manually?
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