Community Forums

frederick w · 08-27-2010, 05:05 PM

My 31 ft. Flair has heated water holding tanks.
How are they heated?
Are they heated only when the MH is moving?
Do they continue to be heated when parked
and hooked up to shore power?

Thank You

Fred Rubio from Pasco, Wa. a friend of Bill W.

frankdamp · 08-27-2010, 08:22 PM

Fred:

We just bought a used (2002) Georgetown that has their "Arctic Pack". The documentation is less than lucid, but it appears that the potable, grey and black tanks (and maybe some of the plumbing) are heated by elements controlled by a "Frost-stat" that turns the power on to the heating elements at about 34 degrees ambient.

I haven't been able to determine, yet, whether these are 115V elements. Georgetown's owners' manual covers so many different configurations and is so general, that I can't determine what we've got. I suspect they are 115V and so mains voltage would be needed. They may be 12V, in which case they'd run the house batteries to zero in a very short time.

frederick w · 08-27-2010, 08:49 PM

Hi
Frankdamp
A RV tech will be doing some work on my MH in two
weeks. I will ask him and then get back with you
on forum.
Fred Rubio from Pasco, Wa.

Luv2go · 08-27-2010, 09:40 PM

Both 12V and 120V tank heating pads are made, in most installations they stick on the bottom of the tanks. Note that the Georgetown may use one type and the Flair may use the other type. It may be possible to see the pads and/or the wiring and trace it back to the wire that feeds it, if it looks like house wire (NM cable) and goes into an electrical box it most likely will be 120V, if it is two separate wires it will most likely be 12V.

Stewart

ljr869 · 09-05-2010, 11:25 AM

Don't know what year your unit is but on mine there is a duct from the heater (furnace) that terminates near all the tanks. So they're only 'heated' when the furnace is on.

OneRVer · 09-05-2010, 12:29 PM

Mine is the same way. Heated by the furnace. I believe the heating duct's are wrapped around the tanks. As a matter of fact, I have owned two motor homes and both were set up this way. So Fred, I hear you are wanting to leave the desert and move to the mountains. Go luck with you new adventure.

FormerBoater · 09-15-2010, 11:25 AM

On our 98 American Eagle the tanks are also only heated by the propane furnace vents that are in the baggage compartment.

As your coach is a Fleetwood product like ours, I would imagine that it is the same.

Dave

frederick w · 10-30-2010, 03:50 PM

Thanks guys for the info.

A RV tech said that a duct from the furnace supplies
heat to the tanks. Good to know as I may be caught
in a cold climate for a month or two when we move.

Fred from Pasco, WA.

2000 Fleetwood Flair

JOMARFL (FMCA 401058) · 10-31-2010, 04:41 AM

How would I tell if our 08 Fiesta has heated tanks or are they heated once the heater is on in the house? Was this even an option on ours I wonder?
Thanks

HD4Mark · 10-31-2010, 06:22 AM

Our class C had 12V glued to the bottom of the tanks. Not a good idea to use when the engine wasn't running since it would quickly drain the batteries. I found out that is how they were after one started to become unglued and we noticed it hanging down.

Our class A has a heat duct from the furnace in the bay as others have mentioned.

frederick w · 10-31-2010, 06:23 AM

Hi Papa John and Mother Mary
I got alot of info from Fleetwood; Phone No. 877-294-6773.
248-588-5300.
Do you by chance have the build sheet showing all the std.
items and options?

Fred from Pasco, WA. Tea Party and friend of Bill W.

RovinOn · 11-01-2010, 11:36 AM

My tanks are heated by the furnace as well,,, nothing special,and I believe that my 90 Bounder was the same way.

Howard Rawley · 12-20-2010, 01:35 PM

Fred,

I think you will find your utility compartments in basement are heated by your furnace (s). All recent (15 + ?) year Bounders, Southwinds, Pace Arrow, etc use the furnaces to heat the basement areas with tanks ... not all the basement compartments, but those with tanks. On our 01 southwind the rear furnace heats the aft utility compartment with the waste tanks; front furnace heats area with fresh water tank.

Manual essentially says to set furnace on 65 for outside temps of 10-35, then add a degree for each degree drop in outside temp .... ie 5* outside, thermostat on 70*.

We have dry camped as low as 4* outside on batteries only .... next night was -4* and we were plugged into shore power .... worked fine.

You could verify your rig by putting a thermometer in the utility compartment, noting temp and then run furnace for a while and recheck. When it is cold you can feel the warmth if you open one of the bay doors.

Remote reading thermometers are a good way to go to monitor the utility areas for temp.

We also keep the hot water heater running when we are in freezing temps. Or at least keep an eye on the hot water and cycle on as needed.

Howard
01 Southwind
F53 V10
Colorado