gas air heater not working

The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an RV or an interest in RVing!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.

kdmccarthy46

Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2024
Posts
5
Location
Sedona, AZ
Hi,
We have a 2015 Tiffin Red and the gas RV propane heater is not working. We have gas, and the gas stove is working. The electric heat pump is working. We are also getting a "water heater fault" signal when we try to heat water with gas heater; the electric water heater is working. As we are traveling in cold temps (12oF) we would like to be able to use the gas rv heater at these temps as heat pump inefficient (at best) at low temp.

Any thoughts?
Thanks so much
Ken
 
Did the gas heater, and the water heater work previously on gas? Or, is this unit new to you?
 
So neither the propane furnace nor the propane water heater work but the stove top does. Does it have a gas oven, and does that work? I ask because the thing the water heater and furnace have in common is high volume gas consumption. The stove top just sips propane in comparison. I'm thinking a faulty gas regulator or gas valve could limit flow. So could a crimp in a gas line if those two appliances share a gas feed.
 
So neither the propane furnace nor the propane water heater work but the stove top does. Does it have a gas oven, and does that work? I ask because the thing the water heater and furnace have in common is high volume gas consumption. The stove top just sips propane in comparison. I'm thinking a faulty gas regulator or gas valve could limit flow. So could a crimp in a gas line if those two appliances share a gas feed.

Even the oven is not a high volume burner. It may only be a 7-10k btu.
The stove burners are 6-8k.
The water heater, depending on the size may be as low as 9kbtu for a 6 gallon and 12k for a 10 gallon.
Furnace 25-35k.
Do the stove top burners have a steady blue flame?
Most RV dealers and propane suppliers can check the regulator.
One other thing to check is the voltage on the gas valves on the devices. They need a minimum of 10.5 volts to operate.
 
I agrfee. Turn off propane at the tank. Have a cup of coffee. Then SLOWLY turn it back on. .If you hear gas flow. STOP.. .when you no longer hear gas flow open a bit more.. Continue till it is FULL OPEN. try furnace.

The other option (And since you are outside it's a good time to check this.

There is a full description of the furnace cycle in the forum Library I wont't repost without a request but

Look and listen. Feel (at least 6" from exhaust port For the furnace to light.

You should hear the blower start.
Then hear the CLICK of the gas solinoid
Then the SNAP SNAP of the ignightor
Then hear it light and feel warm exhaust

IF you do not. Post what you do see, hear and feel
|
Also post what happens if you do. It may happen 3 times then lock out.
 
Hi,
We have a 2015 Tiffin Red and the gas RV propane heater is not working. We have gas, and the gas stove is working. The electric heat pump is working. We are also getting a "water heater fault" signal when we try to heat water with gas heater; the electric water heater is working. As we are traveling in cold temps (12oF) we would like to be able to use the gas rv heater at these temps as heat pump inefficient (at best) at low temp.

Any thoughts?
Thanks so much
Ken
I really appreciate all of the suggestions. Overall, it sounds as if the problem most likely is due to the lack of gas to the propane heater and water heater. This problem became apparent while in the Texas panhandle where temps dropped to 7oF.
The next day we traveled into New Mexico and then Arizona where the temps rose into the low 20s. During that travel I decided to try the gas heater again and to my surprise it worked and worked well. Since arriving in AZ it has continued to work. However, the water heater continues to show "water heater fault" when on gas but not electric.
My question now is why the gas furnace working now? Is it because the outside temp has risen or did some valve start working? And why does the gas water heater continue to show "fault" and not work?

All thoughts greatly appreciated as we are heading for Alaska in a few months and I would like to understand this for departing.

Thanks so much,
Ken
 
So neither the propane furnace nor the propane water heater work but the stove top does. Does it have a gas oven, and does that work? I ask because the thing the water heater and furnace have in common is high volume gas consumption. The stove top just sips propane in comparison. I'm thinking a faulty gas regulator or gas valve could limit flow. So could a crimp in a gas line if those two appliances share a gas feed.
Hello Gary RV_Wizard, I have a problem in sort of the same vein. I have a 2012 Class C Winnebago, ITASCA Cambria for three years and this problem is a first. The rig is plugged into 30 amp electricity while in its bay. I had the electric heat on and we are having a cold spell here in south la. I went into the unit and checked it yesterday and the setting is on electric heat, fan on auto and on hi. The unit is blowing cold air and the thermostat is set at 71. No heat is coming out to the vents. I checked and changed the 15 amp fuse in the fuse panel for Furn, but still no heat. I switched the thermostat to L.P. heat and the unit came up to temp almost immediately. Do you have any suggestions on what is wrong with my electric heat? Please advise.
 
Electric heat is your a/c heat pump, not the gas furnace. An RV heat pump won't produce any heat at all much below about 38 F. outside temperatures. Forget the electric heat and fire up the LP gas furnace.
 
Electric heat is your a/c heat pump, not the gas furnace. An RV heat pump won't produce any heat at all much below about 38 F. outside temperatures. Forget the electric heat and fire up the LP gas furnace.
Thanks Gary, are you saying that i need to replace the heat pump or the electric heat will not work below 38 deg.?
 
If the propane/LP was turned off for more than a week, it requires several minutes for the pipe pressure to equalize, as the pressure is only 0.39psi. Keep attempting to light the water heater and gas furnace.
A peculiar problem with RV gas furnaces is the sail-switch; this switch is connected to a flat metal piece(kinda like a weather vane) that swings when the blower is circulating warm air into the RV. If it's not sensing adequate air flow it will not allow the gas valve to open so the furnace burner will light.
 
Back
Top Bottom