How to Repair the Furnace in a Travel Trailer

Travel trailers typically have propane furnaces that run off 12 vdc systems. Repairs needed depend on type and age of furnace installed in the RV. For instance, older models will have a pilot light while newer furnaces are equipped with a direct spark ignition system. The travel trailer owner can do some simple troubleshooting and appropriate fixes, but more involved problems and repairs should be done by certified repairmen. Additionally, you will not want to perform any major repairs yourself if your travel trailer is under warranty as you do not want to do anything that may void your warranty.

Instructions

1

Check your pilot light, if applicable, to see if it is lit. If it is not, make certain the thermocouple is positioned in the pilot flame properly. Another problem that will cause the pilot to not light or stay lit is a faulty regulator. To check for this, observe the flames on your stove. The flame should be mostly blue with little or no yellow. If this is not the case, it is probably a bad regulator, which will also affect your water heater in most cases.

2

Check for a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker if the blower fails to work. If necessary, reset breaker or reconnect power source and check the battery. Check the wires to the thermostat to see that they are all connected and look in working order.

3

Check the anticipator slider adjustment in the thermostat. This device can stop working if the plastic melts and the wire becomes stuck. Look under the thermostat cover for this. If this is the case, the thermostat may need replaced.

4

Make sure all the vents are not blocked and are open, as some systems will not work with even a partial closure of a heating vent. If the blower runs but you are not getting heat, make sure the two contacts in the electronic ignition are about 1/8-inch apart.

5

Check to see if blower motor sounds like it is running correctly. A low speed may be caused by insufficient power, due to low voltage or bad wiring. A noisy fan may indicate a damaged blower wheel or a loose motor.