Urgent: Furnace not working. Cold!

[StarvingHyena]

I think that the exterior access door for the furnace is an excellent addition. Anybody know if a retro fit could be done?

I don't have my trailer nearby so I cant go look.

Thanks,
Tom

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by StarvingHyena

I think that the exterior access door for the furnace is an excellent addition. Anybody know if a retro fit could be done?

I don't have my trailer nearby so I cant go look.

Thanks,
Tom

Bad news. The answer is not easily as the furnace with the exterior access panel is a different model. It could be done but it would require a LOT of part replacements.

Once you added up the costs, it would be cheaper just to buy another furnace and sell the one you have.

I did do one mod on my AFSAD12 that helped. The first time I pulled the furnace to get to the sail switch, it was difficult to get out. It turned out that there is a small black plastic panel at the back of the furnace that the lower lip of the panel was catching on the wood furnace support shelf and not allowing the furnace to slide out.

I trimmed the edge of the panel and that made it much easier to get the furnace out. Take a look at the unmodified pic and you can see where the black plastic panel extends below the bottom of the furnace on the right - that was what was catching on the edge of the shelf. After trimming the excess, the furnace was much easier to get out.

[Eggscape]

Originally Posted by StarvingHyena

I think that the exterior access door for the furnace is an excellent addition. Anybody know if a retro fit could be done?

I don't have my trailer nearby so I cant go look.

Thanks,
Tom

I am sure others are getting tired of see this but...since you asked.
You can put in your own hatch for about $15. This link will will take you to the thread of interest...good luck.
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tml#post282940

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Eggscape

I am sure others are getting tired of see this but...since you asked.
You can put in your own hatch for about $15. This link will will take you to the thread of interest...good luck.
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tml#post282940

The thing is that even the most die hard forum members, , do miss some posts so re-posting a mod that potentially makes life easier is the thing to do.

If I didn't have exterior access I'd do that mod in a flash.

Ron

[CharlesPou]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I don't think it matters much which furnace you have ( or fridge ) if you don't have it serviced as recommended in the manuals.

what do you do for service?, I'm not aware there is anything to service?, more info please. cheers

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by CharlesPou

what do you do for service?, I'm not aware there is anything to service?, more info please. cheers

Have you read the manual?

I've had the fridge serviced once, after eight years and the furnace never. So, I can't complain if it fails.

[CharlesPou]

I think I read the manual. I'm looked at so much about the furnace, can't really recall? thanks for verifying probably no annual maintenance, cheers

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by CharlesPou

thanks for verifying probably no annual maintenance, cheers

Not what I was recommending.

[SWCO]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Not what I was recommending.

Exactly what annual furnace maintenance are you recommending?

[cpaharley2008]

I thought the newer models have a furnace access on the exterior now?

[fudge_brownie]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

Agreed. That’s what I’m trying to point out. Very few issues seem to have been reported about the original Atwood 8012-II furnaces.

I think you maybe correct. I experienced a failed sail switch, as I know several others did, but that was about the extent of it. A PITA to swap out the sail switch, at least a couple of hours, and since that model has been discontinued the switch may become difficult to find.

Just recently I had another failure of that model furnace but I was able to trace it back to the Escape installed wiring. The wire nut connections, even with tape wrapped around them, had become separated. No power means no furnace. Cannot blame that on Atwood.

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by fudge_brownie

Just recently I had another failure of that model furnace but I was able to trace it back to the Escape installed wiring. The wire nut connections, even with tape wrapped around them, had become separated. No power means no furnace. Cannot blame that on Atwood.

I'm a strong advocate for the twist, solder, heat shrink method of connecting wires. Those type of connections are pretty much, once done, forget about connections.

Where the wires may need to be disconnected at some point, I have been installing these. At $4 a set, they are not going to break the bank and the connectors are rugged enough that they should be reliable over time. I cut the wires in the middle of the connector and use them as pigtails to connect the circuit keeping in mind that the hot positive side of the connection should be the female pin.

https://www.amazon.com/iGreely-Autom.../dp/B07CQ3R3BD

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by SWCO

Exactly what annual furnace maintenance are you recommending?

My furnace manual is in a binder in the trailer and I'm not in the trailer.

You may not have the same furnace as I, so I'd see your furnace manual.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by fudge_brownie

I think you maybe correct. I experienced a failed sail switch, as I know several others did, but that was about the extent of it. A PITA to swap out the sail switch, at least a couple of hours, and since that model has been discontinued the switch may become difficult to find.

Many of these older Atwood furnaces in use so I don't expect parts to disappear for some time but they already do appear to be a bit more difficult to find when you search the 36134 part number.

Here is one place they are available:
https://pdxrvwholesale.com/products/...l-switch-36134

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

I'm a strong advocate for the twist, solder, heat shrink method of connecting wires. Those type of connections are pretty much, once done, forget about connections.

Where the wires may need to be disconnected at some point, I have been installing these.
https://www.amazon.com/iGreely-Autom.../dp/B07CQ3R3BD

Is there any other way of connecting wires?

I also use those connectors for items that may need to be disconnected, especially on a regular basis. Much better than spade connectors.

Ron

[SouthernCamper]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

is a video by Reace that explains the sail switch. It is a version of the furnace that has outside access - yours (like mine) is old enough that to get to the switch you must pull the furnace. There are also videos in the series that cover removal, reinsertion, etc.

We're trying to check our sail switch by accesssing the panel in the video you linked, but I don't have that same panel. Our camper is a 2018, will I need to pull out the heater? Thanks!

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by SouthernCamper

We're trying to check our sail switch by accesssing the panel in the video you linked, but I don't have that same panel. Our camper is a 2018, will I need to pull out the heater? Thanks!

Unfortunately you'll need to pull out the furnace.