Heater noise

[Fishnut]

I have a Thor 5th wheel with the large Suburban LP heater. I bought it used. I am getting ready to use it and there is a hi pitched rubbing sound coming out of one of the exterior heater exhaust ducts on the outside. I popped the cover off the heater on the inside and it likes like chambers that ignite and heat, there are two. Upper and lower. When I first turned it on, little flecks of leaves where coming out of the upper exhaust. I presume a bird got in there and built a nest? It is the upper that sounds like a rubbing sound such as something rubbing on a squirrel cage. Does the heater blow directly through the heaters or metal ducts? Can I take it apaart to clean it?
Thanks in advance.

Ron Garner

[Fishnut]

I have a Thor 5th wheel with the large Suburban LP heater. I bought it used. I am getting ready to use it and there is a hi pitched rubbing sound coming out of one of the exterior heater exhaust ducts on the outside. I popped the cover off the heater on the inside and it likes like chambers that ignite and heat, there are two. Upper and lower. When I first turned it on, little flecks of leaves where coming out of the upper exhaust. I presume a bird got in there and built a nest? It is the upper that sounds like a rubbing sound such as something rubbing on a squirrel cage. Does the heater blow directly through the heaters or metal ducts? Can I take it apaart to clean it?
Thanks in advance.

Ron Garner

[xc-mark]

there is a heat exchanger , no combustion air can get into the RV. It amy be poss to clean things out with a leave blower ? if not I would think you can remove it and clean it out. I had to clean my dads atwood furnace, took about 2 hours to get it out clean it and back in and test it.

[Blue74]

I replaced my heater in my old 5th wheel and the new one would squeal. I removed the heater and the blower out of the heater and found that the plastic blower wheel would rub on the housing. I slid the wheel just a bit on the shaft so it would not make contact and the squeal went away.

Paul

[Fishnut]

Thanks guys, I will give that a try. Appreciate your help.

[robertsonthego]

Most of those squirrel cage fans don't have bearings, just bronze bushings. If it's been sitting, they probably dried out. You can try and relube them with a little machine oil but that doesn't always work. Eventually you'll have to replace the motor (or try and find new bushings) Good luck. JR