Electronic Fireplace Question

[SarahW]

Our Bounder came with a factory installed electronic fireplace that is very effective as a heater. I'm concerned because the wall behind the fireplace (in the bathroom) becomes quite warm...even HOT, when the fireplace is operating. Should I be concerned about this? I'm going to contact the fireplace manufacturer, but I'm wondering if anyone else with an electronic fireplace has noticed a lot of heat in the wall behind it?

[Clifftall]

That doesn't sound good. I would also notify FW in writing.

[RickO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clifftall That doesn't sound good. I would also notify FW in writing.

Ditto. We have the fireplace in our Itasca DP and love it but the walls stay cool.

Rick

[LVJ58]

Something doesn't seem to be right as all the heat should be directed out the front. You could have a potential fire hazard. We also have an electric fireplace in our coach, but only area that gets hot is the top metal grill on the front where the fan blows heat from the resistant heating coils through the grill.

I would definitely have it checked out before leaving it run for an extended period of time.

Good luck and let us know your findings..

[Clifftall]

Hey Sarah. I was in your model Bounder yesterday at the Tampa Super Show and they had the fireplace on and the wall behind it was hot just as you posted about. Have you found out anything yet about this situation?

["007"]

You should have copies of the following PFD's
#1 Installation
#2 Trouble Shooting Guide
#3 Users Guide
#4 Warranty

Within all this information there is nothing to indicate you should have a heat or fire possibility from the enclosed fireplace.
There is though some information in installation section #1 that should be looked at.
The fireplace has vents on side walls and should have a space to floor under for air circulation to keep cool.
The enclosure built by coach MFG should have the vents not blocked and air can flow around the enclosed enclosure for cooling.
There should be no insulation or other means preventing the air circulation or you may get I will say over heating of surface wall areas.
If you look at the installation box enclosure the back of fireplace will have no wall surface near back wall of fireplace only finished wall of adjoining room.
As long as all vents are free to provide air flow circulation you should be OK.
You may have to pull out fireplace to check vents for no blockage.
None of the material mentions the hot adjoining wall surface because I would guess the MFG followed their installation instructions correctly.
If you have any dough's I would give fireplace MFG a call with your concerns.

[SarahW]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clifftall Hey Sarah. I was in your model Bounder yesterday at the Tampa Super Show and they had the fireplace on and the wall behind it was hot just as you posted about. Have you found out anything yet about this situation?

Hey Cliff. No, I haven't. The response from Fleetwood was that possibly more insulation is needed and to take the moho to the dealer for service. We have not had the chance to take it in yet.

Did you mention the heat to any of the Fleetwood reps?? I'm wondering what their response would be. Thanks.

[SarahW]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 007";1056753]You should have copies of the following PFD's #1 [B][URL="http://comnet2.newmarcorp.com/instance1Env77NEWMAR/html/images/fireplaceig.pdf Installation[/URL][/B] #2 Trouble Shooting Guide #3 Users Guide #4 Warranty Within all this information there is nothing to indicate you should have a heat or fire possibility from the enclosed fireplace. There is though some information in installation section #1 that should be looked at. The fireplace has vents on side walls and should have a space to floor under for air circulation to keep cool. The enclosure built by coach MFG should have the vents not blocked and air can flow around the enclosed enclosure for cooling. There should be no insulation or other means preventing the air circulation or you may get I will say over heating of surface wall areas. If you look at the installation box enclosure the back of fireplace will have no wall surface near back wall of fireplace only finished wall of adjoining room. As long as all vents are free to provide air flow circulation you should be OK. You may have to pull out fireplace to check vents for no blockage. None of the material mentions the hot adjoining wall surface because I would guess the MFG followed their installation instructions correctly. If you have any dough's I would give fireplace MFG a call with your concerns.

Thanks. We do have all the manuals but naturally we don't have any knowledge of how the unit was installed. (Regarding whether it was done properly, that is.) I'm pretty sure the fireplace manufacturer is going to advise us to take the moho to the dealer, where they will have to pull out the fireplace to check the vents, etc. (Since the coach is only 3 months old, it is still under warranty so we won't attempt to pull it out ourselves.)

I appreciate your help very much.

[Clifftall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SarahW Hey Cliff. No, I haven't. The response from Fleetwood was that possibly more insulation is needed and to take the moho to the dealer for service. We have not had the chance to take it in yet. Did you mention the heat to any of the Fleetwood reps?? I'm wondering what their response would be. Thanks.

FW has a full time rep at Lazy Days. I did ask her and she never heard of a problem before. I'll follow up with her however I don't think she likes me as I gave her my comments on some of the new models/ changes.

[SarahW]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clifftall FW has a full time rep at Lazy Days. I did ask her and she never heard of a problem before. I'll follow up with her however I don't think she likes me as I gave her my comments on some of the new models/ changes.

The Fleetwood telephone rep I talked to said he had never heard of this issue either. Well...now they have, lol. I dread the dealer service visit and that they will have to remove the wood trim pieces, etc. to get the fireplace out. Ugh.

[Clifftall]

Is that fire place standard or an option?

[SarahW]

It's an option.

[Clifftall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SarahW It's an option.

I was thinking they were std. as they were in about every coach at the show. How much is the option? Sounds like it would be nice to have. It's been in the 30's the last two nights in sunny Fl. Winter is now over till next week when another cold front is expected. Wish those Northerners would keep the cold to themselves and stop sending it here. Nothing worse than an ex Northerner like me complaining. HEE HEE.

[SarahW]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clifftall I was thinking they were std. as they were in about every coach at the show. How much is the option? Sounds like it would be nice to have. It's been in the 30's the last two nights in sunny Fl. Winter is now over till next week when another cold front is expected. Wish those Northerners would keep the cold to themselves and stop sending it here. Nothing worse than an ex Northerner like me complaining. HEE HEE.

You know, I really have no idea how much it cost. Our moho was on the dealer's lot, so we pretty much made the deal on it as it sat. Being newbies, we didn't know about the "build sheet" until they handed it to us when we took delivery. I found out which items were options on the Fleetwood website. (Sorry I don't have the window sticker; it's locked inside the moho across town with all the other manuals that I'd like to be looking over right now.)

The fireplace really is very nice to have; it puts out enough heat to keep the living area very comfortable when the temp is around 40 outside. I'm guessing they are putting them in the coaches because they are one of those items that people like me are easily wowed by...haha.