This is becoming too much for me!!!

[Oregon Coyote]

Ted (or his alter-ego) is saying nice things on the forum. Burk is posting. Mike's head is going to explode. Gail & John can't find a thing wrong with their new coach. Alpine went one-piece. Dealers are smiling. The sun came out in Yakima. This forum is becoming...well... just too darn like "Happy Feet".

OC (Norm)

[Oregon Coyote]

Ted (or his alter-ego) is saying nice things on the forum. Burk is posting. Mike's head is going to explode. Gail & John can't find a thing wrong with their new coach. Alpine went one-piece. Dealers are smiling. The sun came out in Yakima. This forum is becoming...well... just too darn like "Happy Feet".

OC (Norm)

[hrhuggie]

OC,
I havent been on the forum for a few days and was just about to catch up. Thanks for recapping everything for me.... saved me a few minutes of my precious retired time

[gjstacy]

Okay, Okay! There was one thing wrong...we still can't figure out why our furnace (yes, we are behind the times...no hydro-hot) stops working when we need it most. Every time the temp drops to the mid-30s or below, when we need heat the most, the furnace quits delivering warm air. They changed the thermostat, checked all of the wiring, and replaced the propane regulator. We thought that would take care of it, but unfortunately, on the way home the temp dropped to 28 and we woke up to 37 inside the coach!

So, after we get home from the SoCal Hemet rally, we are going to take our new baby to Camping World to see if they can figure it out. WRV had offered to replace the furnace, but we really thought the regulator replacement would solve the issue. Goes to show what we know!

[lundy]

Gail and John, re. your furnace. I learned something at the DDR about propane and cold. I had installed a blue-flame heater (free-standing)which would stop working when needed the most. I learned that some propane dealers will mix butane with their propane which raised the freezing temp of the propane. Have you noticed on a BBQ using the 16oz bottles of propane, how much frost accumulates on the bottle. The same can happen on the large tanks if using large volumes of propane. When tested by a flow pressure meter, I had plenty of pressure but it would still freeze up. My regulator tested fine, also. You might call a propane dealer, to ask if they have heard anything like this before. I had purchased my propane at Flying J in the N.W. in the summer and they are know to mix their propane.

[Ted III]

GAIL & JOHN: Did you really have to give him that satisfaction!

Ted

[Ted III]

GAIL & JOHN: What Lundy says is definitely a fact. It does have to do with the volume of propane used. We have had a problem in our shops to get the heat up with large propane heaters. If they need a great deal of volume they will definitely freeze up. I would truly like to know what solution they come up with. I am surprised that our heaters in the motor home would pull that much volume.

[Tom and Patty]

I've heard of moisture in the tank. That can freeze the orifice(sp?). Shutting down the propane supply. There is a thread on the MH forum discussing that situation.

I can fix it real quick.

You shouldn't be RV'ing in freezing weather!!

You gotta love "OC"

You know, it could be Carol not Ted

[Tom and Patty]

Here is one of many threads regarding propane freeze up, searched by "moisture propane"

http://irv2.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2486094452/m/...176075305#1176075305

[MacandSandy]

To OC, just to let you know all coaches coming off the line are not defect free, like Gail and Johns. I took delivery of ours on 2/19/07. A 36FDTS SE. My list of Quality problems continues to grow.

Mac

[Ted III]

My Friend!!!!

Ted

[gjstacy]

Thanks Lundy, Ted & Tom! We will definitely explore some of these options, and I will read through the thread you supplied, Tom. It is strange that we have never had this problem before with over 6 years of RVing w/ a propane furnace, even in cold temps. Of course, Tom, you have the right idea...just avoid those horribly cold temps. I know some of you wouldn't think 28 is all that cold, but us desert dwellers are wimps!

Mac, I'm so sorry that you are having issues! I hope all gets resolved to your satisfaction.

[gjstacy]

Okay, I just looked at Tom's link, and the first thing posted talked about other propane fueled appliances not working for him either, so that pointed right away to the propane. We didn't think of trying to turn on a stovetop burner...that would have been a great way to test it. We did have hot water, but we were plugged in while at the factory, so that doesn't help the diagnostics.

I'll let you all know if we find the solution to the problem.

[Larry Barnhart]

The problem could be the new regulator wasn't adjusted. The furance and stove need to be on when the regulator has the testing equipment showing the water column pressure. Was this done for you. chevman