Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Propane Furnace
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| Re: [GMCnet] Propane Furnace [message #138886 is a reply to message #138806] |
Sat, 13 August 2011 13:18   |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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| Dolph Santorine wrote on Sat, 13 August 2011 02:14 |
I see a reference to an Atwood unit on the website, but should I check the unit in the coach, or go straight for the replacement?
Thanks.
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Dolph,
If the installed unit is a Solaire (sp?), it is probably bad.
If it is a Suburban, it may be just fine as it is.
It also may have a bad coupler between the fan and combustion chamber - I have seen three now. That can be repaired easily, once you find it. That is much less expensive than replacing the entire unit. (~600$us)
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: [GMCnet] Propane Furnace [message #138901 is a reply to message #138886] |
Sat, 13 August 2011 14:45 |
Dolph Santorine
Messages: 1236
Registered: April 2011
Location: Wheeling, WV
Karma: -41
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Senior Member |
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It's a Sol-Aire (with the funky little, distinctly 70's logo).
Now that I'm tearing into this, what's the failure mode with the Sol-Aire?
On Aug 13, 2011, at 2:18 PM, Matt Colie wrote:
>
>
> Dolph Santorine wrote on Sat, 13 August 2011 02:14
>> I see a reference to an Atwood unit on the website, but should I check the unit in the coach, or go straight for the replacement?
>>
>> Thanks.
>
> Dolph,
>
> If the installed unit is a Solaire (sp?), it is probably bad.
>
> If it is a Suburban, it may be just fine as it is.
> It also may have a bad coupler between the fan and combustion chamber - I have seen three now. That can be repaired easily, once you find it. That is much less expensive than replacing the entire unit. (~600$us)
>
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie
> '73 Glacier 23 Chaumiere (say show-me-air) Just about as stock as you will find
> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
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| Re: [GMCnet] Propane Furnace [message #138902 is a reply to message #138901] |
Sat, 13 August 2011 15:05 |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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My Solaire is still going strong.
Some have reported that the burner gets holes in it. If that happens then you could get exhaust (and carbon monoxide) blown into the motorhome.
I have tested it and also have a CO detector in my GMC.
Its a good unit if it doesn't have holes in the burner. I have a spare one just in case I need to rebuild mine but so far it is going well.
The only thing I have ever had to do was to replace the connector because the 12 v. lead to the furnace had gotten loose and burned the connector years ago.
Emery Stora
On Aug 13, 2011, at 1:45 PM, Dolph Santorine wrote:
> It's a Sol-Aire (with the funky little, distinctly 70's logo).
>
> Now that I'm tearing into this, what's the failure mode with the Sol-Aire?
>
>
> On Aug 13, 2011, at 2:18 PM, Matt Colie wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Dolph Santorine wrote on Sat, 13 August 2011 02:14
>>> I see a reference to an Atwood unit on the website, but should I check the unit in the coach, or go straight for the replacement?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>
>> Dolph,
>>
>> If the installed unit is a Solaire (sp?), it is probably bad.
>>
>> If it is a Suburban, it may be just fine as it is.
>> It also may have a bad coupler between the fan and combustion chamber - I have seen three now. That can be repaired easily, once you find it. That is much less expensive than replacing the entire unit. (~600$us)
>>
>> Matt
>> --
>> Matt & Mary Colie
>> '73 Glacier 23 Chaumiere (say show-me-air) Just about as stock as you will find
>> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
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Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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| Re: [GMCnet] Propane Furnace [message #138903 is a reply to message #138901] |
Sat, 13 August 2011 15:16 |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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My Solaire is still going strong.
Some have reported that the burner gets holes in it. If that happens then you could get exhaust (and carbon monoxide) blown into the motorhome.
I have tested it and also have a CO detector in my GMC.
Its a good unit if it doesn't have holes in the burner. I have a spare one just in case I need to rebuild mine but so far it is going well.
The only thing I have ever had to do was to replace the connector because the 12 v. lead to the furnace had gotten loose and burned the connector years ago.
Emery Stora
On Aug 13, 2011, at 1:45 PM, Dolph Santorine wrote:
> It's a Sol-Aire (with the funky little, distinctly 70's logo).
>
> Now that I'm tearing into this, what's the failure mode with the Sol-Aire?
>
>
> On Aug 13, 2011, at 2:18 PM, Matt Colie wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Dolph Santorine wrote on Sat, 13 August 2011 02:14
>>> I see a reference to an Atwood unit on the website, but should I check the unit in the coach, or go straight for the replacement?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>
>> Dolph,
>>
>> If the installed unit is a Solaire (sp?), it is probably bad.
>>
>> If it is a Suburban, it may be just fine as it is.
>> It also may have a bad coupler between the fan and combustion chamber - I have seen three now. That can be repaired easily, once you find it. That is much less expensive than replacing the entire unit. (~600$us)
>>
>> Matt
>> --
>> Matt & Mary Colie
>> '73 Glacier 23 Chaumiere (say show-me-air) Just about as stock as you will find
>> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: [GMCnet] Propane Furnace [message #138918 is a reply to message #138912] |
Sat, 13 August 2011 17:51 |
Dolph Santorine
Messages: 1236
Registered: April 2011
Location: Wheeling, WV
Karma: -41
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Senior Member |
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My pilot training has me putting "Dead Stop" buttons in about everything that has the possibility of creating CO, but I appreciate the reminder.
The coach has an Atwood CO monitor, but right now it appears to be inoperative. I'll get another one ordered, along with the appropriate number of fire extinguishers.
I'm going pull this thing apart and take a look. There is not much else to it other than the heat exchanger, the blower, and burner/valve.
I'll post some pics.
Dolph
On Aug 13, 2011, at 6:15 PM, Matt Colie wrote:
>
>
> Dolph Santorine wrote on Sat, 13 August 2011 15:45
>> It's a Sol-Aire (with the funky little, distinctly 70's logo).
>>
>> Now that I'm tearing into this, what's the failure mode with the Sol-Aire?
>
> Dolph,
>
> I am glad Emery filled that in as I did not know. I just remembered being told early on that they often failed and were not worth the effort to repair. So, I guess they fail heat exchangers or burners.
>
> I did not believe there were any surviving examples. Leave it to Emery....
>
> A CO monitor is well worth the investment in any case. Get a battery powered unit as the other will kill the house battery when the coach is idle.
>
> My CO alarm is what told me my original heater had a problem.
>
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie
> '73 Glacier 23 Chaumiere (say show-me-air) Just about as stock as you will find
> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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| Re: [GMCnet] Propane Furnace [message #138992 is a reply to message #138819] |
Sun, 14 August 2011 01:43 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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Yes. Mine will drive you out of the coach in the winter. They put out more heat than you'll ever need unless you leave the windows wide open.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Propane Furnace [message #138993 is a reply to message #138903] |
Sun, 14 August 2011 01:49 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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| emerystora wrote on Sat, 13 August 2011 15:16 |
My Solaire is still going strong.
Some have reported that the burner gets holes in it. If that happens then you could get exhaust (and carbon monoxide) blown into the motorhome.
I have tested it and also have a CO detector in my GMC.
Its a good unit if it doesn't have holes in the burner. I have a spare one just in case I need to rebuild mine but so far it is going well.
The only thing I have ever had to do was to replace the connector because the 12 v. lead to the furnace had gotten loose and burned the connector years ago.
Emery Stora
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I also have a Solaire and it is still running great. I also have a CO detector and a spare Solaire for parts. I have a good spare because someone told this person that Solaires were no good so he replaced it. I know several other people with working Solaires in GMC coaches.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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