Furnace just started not working

[Stormy61]

Hi, y'all. I recently purchased a 2016 285 LX Prowler Lynx from the first owner. They had left it sit on a lake in NH for the past 8 years, and spent time in it with their family and grandkids. I'm now living in it full time, in WV. We stayed in it a few times in NH, and the last time was during a cold snap in August before we brought it down here. The last night there, I turned on the furnace, as much to test it out as to warm things up a bit. It worked great, heating the whole place to a comfortable level within 10-15 minutes. I was very pleased, because they rarely used the furnace, I would guess, since they were at the lake between May-Oct, after which the campground closes.

Fast forward to this past week, when we had our first evening where it got a little cooler than normal, on top of 97% humidity from Hurricane Helene pumping the rain in. I thought I'd take the chill off and dry out some of the dampness, so I flipped on the switch for the furnace (all controlled with the same thermostat/blower switch as the AC). The blower came on immediately, and I heard the igniter, but apparently nothing happened with the flame, because I kept hearing it trying to ignite, and no heat was coming from the ducts.

I didn't have to check our propane because we had cooked on the gas stove just before and have since, so I know it's on and full enough. We are on shore power right now, so the igniter wasn't having any issue sparking, but it clearly didn't catch. I've never worked on furnaces, so not sure what to look for, and I know the cool nights will be here before too long and I want to be ready. Any ideas? Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[RoadJunkie]

Is your stove, water heater and/or refer working on propane? Recheck what you think you may know about your propane supply? You may just have some residual air in the line.

 

[jerryjay11]

You may want to try clearing any junk from the igniter with air pressure. Sometimes little critters block the flow of LP from the burner.

 

[Dahillbilly]

from the tools tab above check this out; https://manuals.heartlandowners.org...ps/Furnace_Trouble-Shooting - Gary Brinck.pdf

if the ignitor is clicking & sparking but no flame then the gas valve isn't opening. Sail switch has to close to comlete the circuit for the gas valve to open. Good luck

 

[RoadJunkie]

from the tools tab above check this out; https://manuals.heartlandowners.org/manuals/Troubleshooting Guides and Tips/Furnace_Trouble-Shooting - Gary Brinck.pdf

if the ignitor is clicking & sparking but no flame then the gas valve isn't opening. Sail switch has to close to comlete the circuit for the gas valve to open. Good luck

If the igniter is clicking, then I think the fan has activated the sail switch; The ignitor thinks the fan is running and propane has been asked for and delivered for ignition. If, for whatever reason, there is no ignition the fan and ignitor give up and shut down the heater. Anyway, that's how I understand it works. The OP may have a kink in the system, bad propane valve relay, or any number of reasons why there is no propane at the heater. It may even be the control board that activates the relay.

 

[Roller4tan]

If it was raining and windy the flame may be blown out.

 

[travelin2]

Replace the Sail switch
YouTube is your friend



Lyle

 

[Stormy61]

You may want to try clearing any junk from the igniter with air pressure. Sometimes little critters block the flow of LP from the burner.

Jerry, YES! This is what I was thinking, too. Only -- I'm not sure where, exactly, my furnace itself is located. From the noise I hear when it kicks on, it seems like it's underneath my fridge, but maybe that's just the blower. The exhaust port is there, so I think that's where it is. But if so, I don't know how to get at it to even find the igniter. Should I remove the grille beneath the fridge? If so, then what? How do I locate the igniter, please?

 

[Stormy61]

Replace the Sail switch
YouTube is your friend



Lyle

Thanks, Lyle. Yes, YouTube University has def been a major source of learning since I got on the road as a fulltimer six years ago. This is my fourth rig, so I'm no newb; I just haven't ever worked on the furnace because frankly, my other rigs were so small I never really needed it. I just put on my Buddy heater for a few hours (yes, well-ventilated!) and all was well. But now I'm sitting still in a temperate climate and I know it's gonna get cold soon. It's possible I could just use my little electric space heaters -- I have three -- but would really like to fix this onboard furnace. Have read about the sail switch but don't even know what they look like. As much as I've used YT, it never occurred to me to go there for this (no idea why!). So thanks for the reminder!

 

[Stormy61]

If the igniter is clicking, then I think the fan has activated the sail switch; The ignitor thinks the fan is running and propane has been asked for and delivered for ignition. If, for whatever reason, there is no ignition the fan and ignitor give up and shut down the heater. Anyway, that's how I understand it works. The OP may have a kink in the system, bad propane valve relay, or any number of reasons why there is no propane at the heater. It may even be the control board that activates the relay.

I have downloaded the troubleshooting guide, thank you so much!!

 

[travelin2]

Thanks, Lyle. Yes, YouTube University has def been a major source of learning since I got on the road as a fulltimer six years ago. This is my fourth rig, so I'm no newb; I just haven't ever worked on the furnace because frankly, my other rigs were so small I never really needed it. I just put on my Buddy heater for a few hours (yes, well-ventilated!) and all was well. But now I'm sitting still in a temperate climate and I know it's gonna get cold soon. It's possible I could just use my little electric space heaters -- I have three -- but would really like to fix this onboard furnace. Have read about the sail switch but don't even know what they look like. As much as I've used YT, it never occurred to me to go there for this (no idea why!). So thanks for the reminder!

I have a suburban furnace so make sure of the make & model. Here’s a picture

Lyle

 

[jerryjay11]

My furnace is also located under the fridge. I've had it out a couple times to inspect and do routine maintenance. Pull the 12-volt fuse, remove that intake panel, label and disconnect wiring, disconnect gas line (Caution-be sure to shut LP tank/s valves), remove screws that secure furnace, pull furnace out to gain access to internal components. To identify parts of furnace, do a Google search. When installing you may need to use a broom handle to align the exhaust fittings.

 

[Stormy61]

My furnace is also located under the fridge. I've had it out a couple times to inspect and do routine maintenance. Pull the 12-volt fuse, remove that intake panel, label and disconnect wiring, disconnect gas line (Caution-be sure to shut LP tank/s valves), remove screws that secure furnace, pull furnace out to gain access to internal components. To identify parts of furnace, do a Google search. When installing you may need to use a broom handle to align the exhaust fittings.

YOWZA! I'm so glad I didn't need to do all that, but good to know for future reference! Thank you.

 

[Stormy61]

Okay, thanks for everyone's input. I am embarrassed to report that there was nothing wrong with the furnace, and that, in fact, it did exactly what it's supposed to do. I hadn't realized that in the course of our move, someone stacked a bunch of stuff on a table just outside our rig. A pile of it was directly in front of the furnace heat exhaust! The sail switch must not have tripped because it didn't sense enough of a flow-through of air, so it refused to start up. As soon as I moved it, I tried the switch and it blasted to life with hot-hot-hot air! I'm just lucky it didn't cause a fire. Taught me a good lesson! Thanks again for all your help!

 

[jerryjay11]

Okay, thanks for everyone's input. I am embarrassed to report that there was nothing wrong with the furnace, and that, in fact, it did exactly what it's supposed to do. I hadn't realized that in the course of our move, someone stacked a bunch of stuff on a table just outside our rig. A pile of it was directly in front of the furnace heat exhaust! The sail switch must not have tripped because it didn't sense enough of a flow-through of air, so it refused to start up. As soon as I moved it, I tried the switch and it blasted to life with hot-hot-hot air! I'm just lucky it didn't cause a fire. Taught me a good lesson! Thanks again for all your help!

Good thing the sail switch did its job.